Genome-Wide DNA Methylation and Transcriptome Analyses Reveal Epigenetic and Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Sex Maintenance of Adult Chinese Alligator

The sexes of Chinese alligators are determined during embryonic development and remain fixed thereafter. In this study, we investigated the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying sex maintenance in Chinese alligators through RNA sequencing and bisulfite sequencing data analyses of the adult gonads. We identified the genes and pathways (e. g., DMRT1-SOX9-AMH pathway for males and oocyte meiotic maturation pathway for females) involved in male and female sex maintenance and gonadal development of adult Chinese alligators. In contrast to their expression patterns in the embryo, both DMRT1 and the steroid hormone biosynthesis related genes showed a male-biased expression in adult gonads. The overall DNA methylation density and level were higher in testes than in ovaries. Hypermethylation in the gene bodies enhanced the expression of male-biased genes (such as DMRT1-SOX9-AMH and steroid hormone biosynthesis related genes) in the testis, as opposed to the normalization of gene expression. Our results provide insights into the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying sex maintenance in adult Chinese alligators, and are expected to contribute to the development of scientific programs for the successful conservation of this endangered species.

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A Bayesian Approach for Analysis of Whole-Genome Bisulfite Sequencing Data Identifies Disease-Associated Changes in DNA Methylation

Genetics ◽

10.1534/genetics.116.195008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 205 (4) ◽

pp. 1443-1458 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Owen J. L. Rackham ◽

Sarah R. Langley ◽

Thomas Oates ◽

Eleni Vradi ◽

Nathan Harmston ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Bayesian Approach ◽

Bisulfite Sequencing ◽

Whole Genome ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing ◽

Genome Bisulfite Sequencing ◽

Bisulfite Sequencing Data

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Epigenetic Modifications During Sex Change Repress Gonadotropin Stimulation of Cyp19a1a in a Teleost Ricefield Eel (Monopterus albus)

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2012-2220 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 154 (8) ◽

pp. 2881-2890 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Yang Zhang ◽

Shen Zhang ◽

Zhixin Liu ◽

Lihong Zhang ◽

Weimin Zhang

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Binding Protein ◽

Sex Change ◽

Gonadal Development ◽

Proximal Region ◽

Histone Deacetylation ◽

Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽

Gonadal Differentiation ◽

Stimulation Of

Abstract In vertebrates, cytochrome P450 aromatase, encoded by cyp19a1, converts androgens to estrogens and plays important roles in gonadal differentiation and development. The present study examines whether epigenetic mechanisms are involved in cyp19a1a expression and subsequent gonadal development in the hermaphroditic ricefield eel. The expression of the ricefield eel cyp19a1a was stimulated by gonadotropin via the cAMP pathway in the ovary but not the ovotestis or testis. The CpG within the cAMP response element (CRE) of the cyp19a1a promoter was hypermethylated in the ovotestis and testis compared with the ovary. The methylation levels of CpG sites around CRE in the distal region (region II) and around steroidogenic factor 1/adrenal 4 binding protein sites and TATA box in the proximal region (region I) were inversely correlated with cyp19a1a expression during the natural sex change from female to male. In vitro DNA methylation decreased the basal and forskolin-induced activities of cyp19a1a promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that histone 3 (Lys9) in both regions I and II of the cyp19a1a promoter were deacetylated and trimethylated in the testis, and in contrast to the ovary, phosphorylated CRE-binding protein failed to bind to these regions. Lastly, the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine reversed the natural sex change of ricefield eels. These results suggested that epigenetic mechanisms involving DNA methylation and histone deacetylation and methylation may abrogate the stimulation of cyp19a1a by gonadotropins in a male-specific fashion. This may be a mechanism widely used to drive natural sex change in teleosts as well as gonadal differentiation in other vertebrates.

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DNA methylation analysis using bisulfite sequencing data

Computational Genomics with R ◽

10.1201/9780429084317-10 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 367-392

Author(s):

Altuna Akalin

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Bisulfite Sequencing ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Methylation Analysis ◽

Bisulfite Sequencing Data ◽

Dna Methylation Analysis

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Therapeutic Effect and Metabolic Mechanism of A Selenium-Polysaccharide from Ziyang Green Tea on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym10111269 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1269 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Changzhuan Shao ◽

Jing Song ◽

Shanguang Zhao ◽

Hongke Jiang ◽

Baoping Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Therapeutic Effect ◽

Green Tea ◽

Metabolic Pathways ◽

Steroid Hormone ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Urine Metabolites ◽

Steroid Hormone Biosynthesis ◽

Hormone Biosynthesis ◽

Metabolic Mechanism

Ziyang green tea was considered a medicine food homology plant to improve chronic fatigue Ssyndrome (CFS) in China. The aim of this research was to study the therapeutic effect of selenium-polysaccharides (Se-TP) from Ziyang green tea on CFS and explore its metabolic mechanism. A CFS-rats model was established in the present research and Se-TP was administrated to evaluate the therapeutic effect on CFS. Some serum metabolites including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), blood lactate acid (BLA), corticosterone (CORT), and aldosterone (ALD) were checked. Urine metabolites were analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Multivariate statistical analysis was also used to check the data. The results selected biomarkers that were entered into the MetPA database to analyze their corresponding metabolic pathways. The results demonstrated that Se-TP markedly improved the level of BUN and CORT in CFS rats. A total of eight differential metabolites were detected in GC-MS analysis, which were benzoic acid, itaconic acid, glutaric acid, 4-acetamidobutyric acid, creatine, 2-hydroxy-3-isopropylbutanedioic acid, l-dopa, and 21-hydroxypregnenolone. These differential metabolites were entered into the MetPA database to search for the corresponding metabolic pathways and three related metabolic pathways were screened out. The first pathway was steroid hormone biosynthesis. The second was tyrosine metabolism, and the third was arginine-proline metabolism. The 21-hydroxypregnenolone level of rats in the CFS group markedly increased after the Se-TP administration. In conclusion, Se-TP treatments on CFS rats improved their condition. Its metabolic mechanism was closely related to that which regulates the steroid hormone biosynthesis.

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The mediation of pigeon egg production by regulating the steroid hormone biosynthesis of pigeon ovarian granulosa cells

Poultry Science ◽

10.1016/j.psj.2020.06.048 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 99 (11) ◽

pp. 6075-6083

Author(s):

Ying Wang ◽

Hai-ming Yang ◽

Chen Zi ◽

Jing Gu ◽

Zhiyue Wang

Keyword(s):

Granulosa Cells ◽

Egg Production ◽

Steroid Hormone ◽

Steroid Hormone Biosynthesis ◽

Ovarian Granulosa Cells ◽

Hormone Biosynthesis

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Untargeted Metabolomics and Steroid Signatures in Urine of Male Pattern Baldness Patients after Finasteride Treatment for a Year

Metabolites ◽

10.3390/metabo10040131 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 131 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yu Ra Lee ◽

Eunju Im ◽

Haksoon Kim ◽

Bark Lynn Lew ◽

Woo-Young Sim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Steroid Hormone ◽

Normal Subjects ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Male Pattern Baldness ◽

Steroid Hormone Biosynthesis ◽

Physiological Alterations ◽

Urinary Androgens ◽

Hormone Biosynthesis ◽

One Year ◽

Male Pattern

Male pattern baldness (MPB) has been associated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) expression. Finasteride treats MPB by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase and blocking DHT production. In this study, we aimed to identify metabolic differences in urinary metabolomics profiles between MPB patients after a one-year treatment with finasteride and healthy controls. Untargeted and targeted metabolomics profiling was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). We hypothesized that there would be changes in overall metabolite concentrations, especially steroids, in the urine of hair loss patients treated with finasteride and normal subjects. Untargeted analysis indicated differences in steroid hormone biosynthesis. Therefore, we conducted targeted profiling for steroid hormone biosynthesis to identify potential biomarkers, especially androgens and estrogens. Our study confirmed the differences in the concentration of urinary androgens and estrogens between healthy controls and MPB patients. Moreover, the effect of finasteride was confirmed by the DHT/T ratio in urine samples of MPB patients. Our metabolomics approach provided insight into the physiological alterations in MPB patients who have been treated with finasteride for a year and provided evidence for the association of finasteride and estrogen levels. Through a targeted approach, our results suggest that urinary estrogens must be studied in relation to MPB and post-finasteride syndrome.

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