IDENTIFYING THE TARGETS OF MOP1

MOP1 is an RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase that functions in the production of 24-nt siRNAs. It uses RNA-polymerse IV (Pol-IV) transcripts as substrates to generate double stranded RNA products that are used downstream to target specific loci for silencing through DNA-methylation and chromatin modification. MOP1 has been shown to physically associate with Pol-IV which puts it in close proximity with chromatin regulated by this complex. By using a Chromatin Immunoprecipitation approach, DNA associated with a FLAG-tagged MOP1 can be recovered and sequenced yielding a genome-wide map of Pol-IV:MOP1 interaction. This data will be used to identify DNA binding motifs and further characterize targets of RNA-dependent DNA-methylation which will allow us to better understand an early step in this epigenetic pathway.