scholarly journals Epigenetic inheritance of DNA methylation changes in fish living in hydrogen sulfide–rich springs

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (26) ◽  
pp. e2014929118
Author(s):  
Joanna L. Kelley ◽  
Michael Tobler ◽  
Daniel Beck ◽  
Ingrid Sadler-Riggleman ◽  
Corey R. Quackenbush ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Hydrogen Sulfide ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Environmental Stressor ◽  
Southern Mexico ◽  
Poecilia Mexicana ◽  
Two Generations ◽  
Laboratory Populations ◽  
Males And Females

Environmental factors can promote phenotypic variation through alterations in the epigenome and facilitate adaptation of an organism to the environment. Although hydrogen sulfide is toxic to most organisms, the fish Poecilia mexicana has adapted to survive in environments with high levels that exceed toxicity thresholds by orders of magnitude. Epigenetic changes in response to this environmental stressor were examined by assessing DNA methylation alterations in red blood cells, which are nucleated in fish. Males and females were sampled from sulfidic and nonsulfidic natural environments; individuals were also propagated for two generations in a nonsulfidic laboratory environment. We compared epimutations between the sexes as well as field and laboratory populations. For both the wild-caught (F0) and the laboratory-reared (F2) fish, comparing the sulfidic and nonsulfidic populations revealed evidence for significant differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs). More importantly, there was over 80% overlap in DMRs across generations, suggesting that the DMRs have stable generational inheritance in the absence of the sulfidic environment. This is an example of epigenetic generational stability after the removal of an environmental stressor. The DMR-associated genes were related to sulfur toxicity and metabolic processes. These findings suggest that adaptation of P. mexicana to sulfidic environments in southern Mexico may, in part, be promoted through epigenetic DNA methylation alterations that become stable and are inherited by subsequent generations independent of the environment.

scholarly journals Nurse cell-derived small RNAs define paternal epigenetic inheritance in Arabidopsis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jincheng Long ◽  
James Walker ◽  
Wenjing She ◽  
Billy Aldridge ◽  
Hongbo Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Small Rnas ◽  
Nurse Cell ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Genome Integrity ◽  
Nurse Cells ◽  
Male Germline ◽  
Methylation Patterns

AbstractThe plant male germline undergoes DNA methylation reprogramming, which methylates genes de novo and thereby alters gene expression and facilitates meiosis. Why reprogramming is limited to the germline and how specific genes are chosen is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that genic methylation in the male germline, from meiocytes to sperm, is established by germline-specific siRNAs transcribed from transposons with imperfect sequence homology. These siRNAs are synthesized by meiocyte nurse cells (tapetum) via activity of the tapetum-specific chromatin remodeler CLASSY3. Remarkably, tapetal siRNAs govern germline methylation throughout the genome, including the inherited methylation patterns in sperm. Finally, we demonstrate that these nurse cell-derived siRNAs (niRNAs) silence germline transposons, thereby safeguarding genome integrity. Our results reveal that tapetal niRNAs are sufficient to reconstitute germline methylation patterns and drive extensive, functional methylation reprogramming analogous to piRNA-mediated reprogramming in animal germlines.

scholarly journals Intergenerational epigenetic inheritance in reef-building corals

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Jin Liew ◽  
Emily J. Howells ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Craig T. Michell ◽  
John A. Burt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Intergenerational Transmission ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Cpg Methylation ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Transgenerational Inheritance ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Methylation Patterns ◽  
Hypermethylated Genes

MainThe notion that intergenerational or transgenerational inheritance operates solely through genetic means is slowly being eroded: epigenetic mechanisms have been shown to induce heritable changes in gene activity in plants1,2and metazoans1,3. Inheritance of DNA methylation provides a potential pathway for environmentally induced phenotypes to contribute to evolution of species and populations1–4. However, in basal metazoans, it is unknown whether inheritance of CpG methylation patterns occurs across the genome (as in plants) or as rare exceptions (as in mammals)4. Here, we demonstrate genome-wide intergenerational transmission of CpG methylation patterns from parents to sperm and larvae in a reef-building coral. We also show variation in hypermethylated genes in corals from distinct environments, indicative of responses to variations in temperature and salinity. These findings support a role of DNA methylation in the transgenerational inheritance of traits in corals, which may extend to enhancing their capacity to adapt to climate change.

DNA METHYLATION IN PLANTS

2021 ◽  
pp. 109-114
Author(s):  
Adil Altaf ◽  
Ahmad Zada
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Plant Tissues ◽  
Developmental Abnormalities ◽  
Process Use ◽  
Model Plant Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽  
Methylation Patterns ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Generation Sequencing

Common DNA methylation controls gene expression and preserves genomic integrity. Mal methylation can cause developmental abnormalities in the plants. Multiple enzymes carrying out de novo methylation, methylation maintenance, and active demethylation culminate in a particular DNA methylation state. Next-generation sequencing advances and computational methods to analyze the data. The model plant Arabidopsis thaliana was used to study DNA methylation patterns, epigenetic inheritance, and plant methylation. Plant DNA methylation research reveals methylation patterns and describing variations in plant tissues. Determining the kinetics of DNA methylation in diverse plant tissues is also a new field. However, it is vital to understand regulatory and developmental decisions and use plant model species to develop new commercial crops; that are more resistant to stress and yield more. There are several methods available for assessing DNA methylation data. The performance of several techniques is assessed in A. thaliana, which has a smaller genome than hexaploid bread wheat. Keywords: DNA methylation, plants, process, use and benefits

scholarly journals Extending the Genotype in Brachypodium by Including DNA Methylation Reveals a Joint Contribution with Genetics on Adaptive Traits

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1629-1637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven R. Eichten ◽  
Akanksha Srivastava ◽  
Adam J. Reddiex ◽  
Diep R. Ganguly ◽  
Alison Heussler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Phenotypic Variation ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Genetic Differences ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Joint Contribution

Epigenomic changes have been considered a potential missing link underlying phenotypic variation in quantitative traits but is potentially confounded with the underlying DNA sequence variation. Although the concept of epigenetic inheritance has been discussed in depth, there have been few studies attempting to directly dissect the amount of epigenomic variation within inbred natural populations while also accounting for genetic diversity. By using known genetic relationships between Brachypodium lines, multiple sets of nearly identical accession families were selected for phenotypic studies and DNA methylome profiling to investigate the dual role of (epi)genetics under simulated natural seasonal climate conditions. Despite reduced genetic diversity, appreciable phenotypic variation was still observable in the measured traits (height, leaf width and length, tiller count, flowering time, ear count) between as well as within the inbred accessions. However, with reduced genetic diversity there was diminished variation in DNA methylation within families. Mixed-effects linear modeling revealed large genetic differences between families and a minor contribution of DNA methylation variation on phenotypic variation in select traits. Taken together, this analysis suggests a limited but significant contribution of DNA methylation toward heritable phenotypic variation relative to genetic differences.

Structure of the testis and spermatogenesis of the viviparous teleost Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae) from an active sulfur spring cave in Southern Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 280 (10) ◽  
pp. 1537-1547
Author(s):  
Aarón Torres‐Martínez ◽  
Liliana Ruiz de Dios ◽  
Arlette Hernández‐Franyutti ◽  
Mari Carmen Uribe ◽  
Wilfrido Contreras Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Southern Mexico ◽  
Poecilia Mexicana

scholarly journals Inter-generational consequences for growing Caenorhabditis elegans in liquid

2019 ◽  
Vol 374 (1770) ◽  
pp. 20180125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itamar Lev ◽  
Roberta Bril ◽  
Yunan Liu ◽  
Lucila Inés Ceré ◽  
Oded Rechavi
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Evolutionary Medicine ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Generational Effects ◽  
Large Populations ◽  
Two Generations ◽  
Generational Changes ◽  
In The Wild

In recent years, studies in Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes have shown that different stresses can generate multigenerational changes. Here, we show that worms that grow in liquid media, and also their plate-grown progeny, are different from worms whose ancestors were grown on plates. It has been suggested that C. elegans might encounter liquid environments in nature, although actual observations in the wild are few and far between. By contrast, in the laboratory, growing worms in liquid is commonplace, and often used as an alternative to growing worms on agar plates, to control the composition of the worms' diet, to starve (and synchronize) worms or to grow large populations for biochemical assays. We found that plate-grown descendants of M9 liquid medium-grown worms were longer than control worms, and the heritable effects were already apparent very early in development. We tested for the involvement of different known epigenetic inheritance mechanisms, but could not find a single mutant in which these inter-generational effects are cancelled. While we found that growing in liquid always leads to inter-generational changes in the worms’ size, trans-generational effects were found to be variable, and in some cases, the effects were gone after one to two generations. These results demonstrate that standard cultivation conditions in early life can dramatically change the worms' physiology in adulthood, and can also affect the next generations. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Developing differences: early-life effects and evolutionary medicine’.

scholarly journals Seasonal Stability and Dynamics of DNA Methylation in Plants in a Natural Environment

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ito ◽  
Nishio ◽  
Tarutani ◽  
Emura ◽  
Honjo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Repetitive Sequences ◽  
Epigenetic Mark ◽  
Stable Gene ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Arabidopsis Halleri ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Single Clone ◽  
Intergenic Regions ◽  
Stable Gene Expression

: DNA methylation has been considered a stable epigenetic mark but may respond to fluctuating environments. However, it is unclear how they behave in natural environments. Here, we analyzed seasonal patterns of genome-wide DNA methylation in a single clone from a natural population of the perennial Arabidopsis halleri. The genome-wide pattern of DNA methylation was primarily stable, and most of the repetitive regions were methylated across the year. Although the proportion was small, we detected seasonally methylated cytosines (SeMCs) in the genome. SeMCs in the CHH context were detected predominantly at repetitive sequences in intergenic regions. In contrast, gene-body CG methylation (gbM) itself was generally stable across seasons, but the levels of gbM were positively associated with seasonal stability of RNA expression of the genes. These results suggest the existence of two distinct aspects of DNA methylation in natural environments: sources of epigenetic variation and epigenetic marks for stable gene expression.

scholarly journals Epigenetic inheritance of DNA methylation limits activation-induced expression of FOXP3 in conventional human CD25-CD4+ T cells

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 1041-1055 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Nagar ◽  
H. Vernitsky ◽  
Y. Cohen ◽  
D. Dominissini ◽  
Y. Berkun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Induced Expression

scholarly journals When is incomplete epigenetic resetting in germ cells favoured by natural selection?

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1811) ◽  
pp. 20150682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Uller ◽  
Sinead English ◽  
Ido Pen
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Generation Time ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Stochastic Noise ◽  
Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Early Embryos ◽  
Adaptive Role

Resetting of epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation, in germ cells or early embryos is not always complete. Epigenetic states may therefore persist, decay or accumulate across generations. In spite of mounting empirical evidence for incomplete resetting, it is currently poorly understood whether it simply reflects stochastic noise or plays an adaptive role in phenotype determination. Here, we use a simple model to show that incomplete resetting can be adaptive in heterogeneous environments. Transmission of acquired epigenetic states prevents mismatched phenotypes when the environment changes infrequently relative to generation time and when maternal and environmental cues are unreliable. We discuss how these results may help to interpret the emerging data on transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in plants and animals.

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