Global epigenomic analysis indicates that Epialleles contribute to Allele-specific expression via Allele-specific histone modifications in hybrid rice

Background For heterozygous genes, alleles on the chromatin from two different parents exhibit histone modification variations known as allele-specific histone modifications (ASHMs). The regulation of allele-specific gene expression (ASE) by ASHMs has been reported in animals. However, to date, the regulation of ASE by ASHM genes remains poorly understood in higher plants.