Polycomb protein ZmEMF1a restricts endosperm proliferation and directs differentiation via stage‐specific H2Aub1 and H3K27me3 landscapes in maize

Abstract

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins serve as pivotal epigenetic repressors that govern the transcriptional programs underlying cell growth and differentiation. However, their functional roles in maize endosperm remain largely unexplored. Here, we characterize the recessive maize small‐kernel mutant sks1, which exhibits persistent endosperm cell hyperproliferation and compromised cell expansion during grain filling. Map‐based cloning reveals that SKS1 encodes ZmEMF1a, a PcG protein that physically interacts with subunits of both PRC1 and PRC2. Integrated ChIP‐seq and RNA‐seq analyses were performed to investigate its epigenetic regulatory functions. ZmEMF1a orchestrates a stage‐specific epigenetic regulatory program: it predominantly mediates H3K27me3 deposition at 6 d after pollination (DAP), while coordinately regulating the deposition of both H3K27me3 and H2Aub1 at 10 DAP. Loss of ZmEMF1a leads to ectopic hyperproliferation of differentiated endosperm tissues, specifically the basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL) and aleurone (AL), as well as elevated vitamin B content in the endosperm. Collectively, these findings establish ZmEMF1a as an epigenetic regulator that balances endosperm proliferation, cell fate specification, and nutrient accumulation through stage‐specific histone modifications, thereby offering promising targets for enhancing maize yield and nutritional quality.