Epigenetic inheritance of acquired traits through DNA methylation

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.

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Intergenerational epigenetic inheritance in reef-building corals

10.1101/269076 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

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.

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DNA METHYLATION IN PLANTS

Journal of Global Innovations in Agriculture Sciences ◽

10.22194/jgias/9.9543 ◽

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

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

G3 Genes|Genome|Genetics ◽

10.1534/g3.120.401189 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 1629-1637 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

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.

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

International Immunology ◽

10.1093/intimm/dxn062 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 20 (8) ◽

pp. 1041-1055 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

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

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

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2015.0682 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 282 (1811) ◽

pp. 20150682 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

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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