The complex architecture and epigenomic impact of plant T-DNA insertions

Scientists detected structural irregularities, unwanted changes and T-DNA (transfer DNA from plasmids) integration by using whole genome sequencing methods after transformation of the plant using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens plasmid. They used a novel sequencing method called Nanopore long-read DNA sequencing technology, that enables the sequencing of long stretches of DNA. Apparently, the integration of T-DNA can result in an unintended restructuring of large DNA segments like inversions, deletions and insertions in the plants genome.
Furthermore, the scientists showed unintended changes of epigenetic modifications in the region of the T-DNA integration site, which can lead to an altered gene expression.