Frederick Meins

Frederick Meins

Plant epigenetics and RNA silencing

My long-term interest is epigenetic modifications and their role in determination. As a graduate student at Rockefeller University, I decided to work on plants because it was possible to distinguish between epigenetic changes and genetic mutations by genetic analysis of plants regenerated from individual somatic cells. I am particularly fond of work started in the 1970's at Princeton University and the University of Illinois-Urbana that established the existence of cell-heritable determination in plants, overturned the commonly accepted idea that plant cells "forget" their determined state in culture, and led to a mathematical framework for estimating cellular variation rates in tissues. Later we showed certain cultured cells also undergo exceeding rapid epigenetic changes that are then inherited as a Mendelian trait. These findings suggested a plausible explanation for the extreme plasticity of determination in plants and showed that certain epigenetic states in production of growth factors can be transmitted to the next sexual generation.

The 1980s were the start of an exciting period at FMI. The groups of Ingo Potrykus, Barbara Hohn, and Thomas Hohn made pioneering advances in the area of plant genetic transformation. My group focussed on the function of chitinases and Beta-1,3-glucanases in plant innate immunity. Our collaborations with Thomas Boller, who later joined the FMI, and the Ciba-Geigy/ Novartis plant pathology groups led to influential contributions relevant to the evolution of plant gene families, intracellular transport and targeting of proteins, pathogenesis-related signalling pathways, and the function of Beta-1,3-glucanases in viral pathogenesis, cell-to-cell communication, and seed germination.

My interest returned to epigenetics in the late 1980s when we and several other groups discovered what is now called RNA interference (RNAi) in transgenic plants. We discovered that RNAi in plants is an epigenetic form of RNA degradation that persists during somatic development and is transmitted through meiosis. We proposed that this type of epigenetic silencing is maintained by self-sustained production of a sequence-specific "silencing activator" above a critical threshold concentration. Strong support for this threshhold hypothesis came from our finding that siRNAs introduced into cells trigger sustained production of secondary siRNAs from the same target. Rapid progress –particularly after the first small RNAs were cloned in 2000– has established the importance of RNA-silencing in animals and the presence in plants of silencing networks with shared components and overlapping functions. Our most recent work deals with the organization of these networks and the function of microRNAs. For details on this and our earlier work follow the link to "List of Publications".

I retired from FMI in May 2007 after 27 years of continuous support by Ciba-Geigy and then the Novartis Research Foundation. Their blind faith and the remarkable atmosphere, exceptional academic freedom, and resources they provided at FMI allowed me to explore uncharted areas and tackle challenging research problems. I'm particularly proud that many young, talented scientists associated with my group over the years have gone on to establish their own research groups and make important scientific contributions. As an emeritus member, I plan to continue teaching, helping young people, and exploring the "epigenetic landscape" - but with a bit more time to enjoy grandchildren. For a more personal account of my work and the people involved, follow the link to SCIENTIFIC AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

Chrispeels,M.J. and Meins,F.J. (2014) Armin Braun- A Biographical Memoir of the National Academy of Sciences

Washington: National Academy of Sciences Press, pp. 1-25

Si-Ammour,A., Windels,D., Arn-Bouldoires,E., Kutter,C., Ailhas,J., Meins,F., and Vazquez,F. (2011) miR393 and Secondary siRNAs Regulate Expression of the TIR1/AFB2 Auxin Receptor Clade and Auxin-Related Development of Arabidopsis Leaves

Plant Physiol. 157, 683-691

Blevins T, Rajeswaran R, Aregger M, Borah BK, Schepetilnikov M, Baerlocher L, Farinelli L, Meins F Jr, Hohn T, Pooggin MM (2011) Massive production of small RNAs from a non-coding region of Cauliflower mosaic virus in plant defense and viral counter-defense.

Nucleic Acids Res. 39:5003-5014

Blevins T, Pontes O, Pikaard CS, Meins F Jr. (2009) Heterochromatic siRNAs and DDM1 independently silence aberrant 5S rDNA transcripts in Arabidopsis

PLoS One. 2009 Jun 16;4(6):e5932

Vazquez F, Blevins T, Ailhas J, Boller T, Meins F Jr (2008) Evolution of Arabidopsis MIR genes generates novel microRNA classes

Nucl Acids Res 36: 6429-6438

Kutter C, Schob H, Stadler M, Meins F Jr, Si-Ammour A (2007) MicroRNA-mediated regulation of stomatal development in Arabidopsis

Plant Cell 19:2417-2429

Blevins T, Rajeswaran R, Shivaprasad PV, Beknazariants D, Si-Ammour A, Park HS, Vazquez F, Robertson D, Meins F Jr, Hohn T, Pooggin MM (2006) Four plant Dicers mediate viral small RNA biogenesis and DNA virus induced silencing

Nucl Acids Res 34:6233-6246

Meins F Jr, Thomas M (2003) Meiotic transmission of epigenetic changes in the cell-division factor requirement of plant cells

Development 130:6201-6208

Klahre U, Crété P, Leuenberger SA, Iglesias VA, Meins F (2002) High molecular weight RNAs and small interfering RNAs induce systemic posttranscriptional gene silencing in plants

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99:11981-11986

Di Serio F, Schöb H, Iglesias A, Tarina C,Bouldoires E, Meins F Jr (2001) Sense and antisense-mediated gene silencing in tobacco is inhibited by the same viral suppressors and is associated with accumulation of small RNAs

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98:6506-6510

Bucher GL, Tarina C, Heinlein M, Di Serio F,Meins F Jr, Iglesias A (2001) Local expression of enzymatically active class I beta-13-glucanase enhances symptoms of TMVinfection in tobacco

Plant J 28:361-369

Meins F Jr (1996) Epigenetic modifications and gene silencing in plants In: Russo VEA, Martienssen RA, Riggs AD (eds) Epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., pp 415-442

Kunz C, Schöb H, Stam M, Kooter JM, Meins F Jr (1996) Developmentally regulated silencing and reactivation of tobacco chitinase transgene expression

Plant J 10:437-450

Beffa R, Szell M, Meuwly P, Pay A, Vögeli-Lange R, Métraux J-P, Neuhaus G, Meins F Jr, Nagy F (1995) Cholera toxin elevates pathogen resistance and induces pathogenesis-related gene expression in tobacco

EMBO J 14:5753-5761

Hart CM, Nagy F, Meins F Jr (1993) A 61 bp enhancer element of the tobacco beta-1,3-glucanase B gene interacts with one or more regulated nuclear proteins

Plant Mol Biol 21:121-131

Beffa RS, Neuhaus J-M, Meins F Jr (1993) Physiological compensation in antisense transformants: Specific induction of an ersatz glucan endo-1,3-beta-glucosidase in plants infected with necrotizing viruses

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90:8792-8796

Sticher L, Hofsteenge J, Milani A, Neuhaus J-M, Meins F Jr (1992) Vacuolar chitinases of tobacco: A new class of hydroxyproline-containing proteins

Science 257:655-657

Neuhaus J-M, Sticher L, Meins F Jr, Boller T (1991) A short C-terminal sequence necessary and sufficient for the targeting of chitinases to the plant vacuole

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88:10362-10366

Shinshi H, Wenzler H, Neuhaus JM, Felix G, Hofsteenge J, Meins F Jr (1988) Evidence for N- and C-terminal processing of a plant defense- related enzyme. Primary structure of tobacco prepro-beta- 1,3-glucanase

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85:5541-5545

Shinshi H, Mohnen D, Meins F Jr (1987) Regulation of a plant pathogenesis-related enzyme: Inhibition of chitinase and chitinase mRNA accumulation in cultured tobacco tissues by auxin and cytokinin

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 84:89-93

Hansen CE, Meins F Jr (1986) Evidence for a cellular gene with potential oncogenic activity in plants

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83:2492-2495

Pengelly W, Meins F Jr (1977) A specific radio-immunoassay for nanogram quantities of the auxin, indole-3-acetic acid

Planta 136:173-180

Binns A, Meins F Jr (1973) Habituation of tobacco pith cells for factors promoting cell division is heritable and potentially reversible

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 70:2660-2662

PhD students

Todd Blevins (2001-2007)
Claudia Kutter (2003-2007)
Yang Ping Lee (2004-2007)
Eugene Glazov (1999-2003)
Corina Wirdnam (1998-2003)
Hanspeter Schoeb (1995-2003)
Vivian Suarez Domenech (1994-2000)
Corinne Frundt (1991-1998)
Christian Kunz (1992-1996)
Alain Denis Meyer (1988-1995)
Marianne Van Buuren (1986-1991)
Roland Aebi (1985-1990)
Christoph Sperisen (1985-1990)
Carl Erik Hansen (1982-1986)
Debra Mohnen (1981-1985)
Jurg (Georg) Felix (1980-1984)

Postdoctoral fellows

Franck Vazquez (2005-2007)
Azeddine Si-Ammour (2002-2007)
Konstantina Boutsika Muckenschnabel (2003-2007)
Quanan Hu (2001-2005)
Corinne Keichinger (2002-2004)
Hanspeter Schoeb (2004)
Ulrich Klahre (1999-2002)
Andreas Gisel (1999-2002)
Stéphane Bourque (2000-2001)
Francesco Di Serio (1998-2000)
Victor Alejandro Iglesias (1996-2000)
Patrice Crete (1996-1999)
Hauke Holtorf (1995-1999)
Andreas Hewelt (1995-1998)
Gerhard Leubner-Metzger (1993-1998)
Takanari Ichikawa (1992-1997)
Rafael Arango-Isaza (1994-1995)
Roland Beffa (1991-1994)
Lilian Sticher (1989-1993)
Regina Vogeli-Lange (1991-1993)
Graig M. Hart (1988-1992)
Susan C. Flores (1987-1990)
Ursula G. Hinz (1986-1990)
Denis Keefe (1987-1990)
Ann Powell (1988-1990)
Jean-Marc Neuhaus (1984-1988)
Jurg (Georg) Felix (1984-1987)
Paul Norman (1986-1987)
Hideaki Shinshi (1984-1986)
Herman C. Wenzler (1981-1986)
James Allen (1982-1985)

Technical/Research associates

Jerome Ailhas (2005-2007)
Estelle Arn (2000-2007)
Esther Lanz (2006-2007)
Heike Schley (2005)
Razel Arpagaus (2004-2005)
Martin Regenass (2004)
Maja Brenner (2003-2004)
Adran Lutz (2004)
Monique Thomas-Seldran (1985-2003)
Rosa Waldvogel (1995-1999)
Alfred Milani (1970-1996)
Stefan Eberhard (1979-1985)
Francisco Martin (1981-1982)

Undergraduates

Magali Perret (2005-2007)
Simona Bieri (2004-2006)
Sina Henrichs (2006)
Elzbieta Kowalska (2004-2006)
Keovilay Chanthavinout (2005)
Dominik Ziegler (2004-2005)
Elena Anastasiou (2001-2003)
Till Albrecht (2001)
Gregor Bucher (1997-1999)
Sabrina Leuenberger (1998-1999)
Michael Riemann (1998)
Enea Rezzonico (1994-1995)
Hanspeter Schoeb (1995)
Katarina Alanne (1992)
Nathalie Flury (1991-1992)
Andreas Magli (1991-1992)
Bernt Uwe Fischer (1989-1991)
Carl F. Horton (1986-1987)
Regina Vogeli-Lange (1985-1986)
Jeffrey F. Harper (1981)
James Thompson (1981)

Visiting scientists

Francesco Di Serio (2007)
Francesco Di Serio (2003)
Roshani Shakya (1999-2000)
Jun Tsubota (1993-1994)
Christine Wright (1993-1994)
Urs Vogeli (1985-1986)
Karl Gordon Lark (1984-1985)
Alan Jones (1981-1982)

Education

1969
PhD, The Rockefeller University, New York
1964
S.B.(Honors) in Chemistry and Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago

Positions held

2002-2006
Deputy Director and Dean of Students, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel
1990-
Professor (a.o.) for Plant Developmental Biology, University of Basel, Basel
1980-2007
Senior Group Leader, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel
1980-1982
Professor of Botany and of Genetics and Development, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
1976-1980
Associate Professor of Botany and of Genetics and Development, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
1969-1976
Assistant Professor of Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J., USA

Honors

2005-
Member, Program Advisory Committee, Malaysian Palm Oil Board
2000
ISI designated top110 cited researchers, 1981-99 in Plant/ animal sciences
1998
Senior Visiting Scholar, Japanese Ministry of Education
1994
Plant Sciences Lecture, Leiden University
1986
Tansley Lecture, University of Edinburgh
1980-1981
Sigma Xi National Lecturer
1977-1980
Founding member, Plant Genetic Mechanisms Panel, US Department of Agriculture
1964-1969
National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow
1964-1965
Woodrow Wilson Foundation Honorary Fellow