Epigenetics in Insects: Genome Regulation and the Generation of Phenotypic Diversity

Glastad, Karl M.; Hunt, Brendan G.; Goodisman, Michael A. D.

doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-011118-111914

Cited by 133 publications

(112 citation statements)

References 153 publications

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“…Noteworthy, alternative epigenetic components (e.g. histone tail modifications) ensure proper developmental processes and the shaping of phenotypic variation and more particularly when DNA methylation is absent or poorly present in organisms' genomes (Glastad, Hunt, & Goodisman, 2019). In these species, other epigenetic components should be accounted for in conservation epigenetics.…”

Section: Limitati On S and Per S Pec Tive Smentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking epigenetics and biological conservation: Towards a conservation epigenetics perspective

et al. 2019

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Biodiversity conservation is a global issue where the challenge is to integrate all levels of biodiversity to ensure the long‐term evolutionary potential and resilience of biological systems. Genetic approaches have largely contributed to conservation biology by defining “conservation entities” accounting for their evolutionary history and adaptive potential, the so‐called evolutionary significant units (ESUs). Yet, these approaches only loosely integrate the short‐term ecological history of organisms. Here, we argue that epigenetic variation, and more particularly DNA methylation, represents a molecular component of biodiversity that directly links the genome to the environment. As such, it provides the required information on the ecological background of organisms for an integrative field of conservation biology. We synthesize knowledge about the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in (a) orchestrating fundamental development alternatives in organisms, (b) enabling individuals to respond in real‐time to selection pressures and (c) improving ecosystem stability and functioning. Using practical examples in conservation biology, we illustrate the relevance of DNA methylation (a) as biomarkers of past and present environmental stress events as well as biomarkers of physiological conditions of individuals; (b) for documenting the ecological structuring/clustering of wild populations and hence for better integrating ecology into ESUs; (c) for improving conservation translocations; and (d) for studying landscape functional connectivity. We conclude that an epigenetic conservation perspective will provide environmental managers the possibility to refine ESUs, to set conservation plans taking into account the capacity of organisms to rapidly cope with environmental changes, and hence to improve the conservation of wild populations. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

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Section: Limitati On S and Per S Pec Tive Smentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking epigenetics and biological conservation: Towards a conservation epigenetics perspective

et al. 2019

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“…In particular, DNA methylation in the insects has been understudied. This is unfortunate, as there is extensive variation in levels of DNA methylation, from undetectable levels of methylation to 5 mC detection at around 15% of CpGs, across the insect tree of life (Bewick et al, 2016;Glastad et al, 2019). Variation exists in the amount of methylated DNA as well as the enzymatic toolkit required to establish and maintain it (Bewick et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

More Than DNA Methylation: Does Pleiotropy Drive the Complex Pattern of Evolution of Dnmt1?

et al. 2020

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DNA methylation is an important chromatin modification that can stably alter gene expression in cells and maintain genome integrity in plants and vertebrates. The function of DNA methylation outside of these well-studied systems, however, is unclear. Insects, in particular, represent an understudied group. Variation in the level of DNA methylation and gains and losses in the maintenance methyltransferase, DNMT1, across the insect tree of life suggests that there is much we don't understand about DMNT1 function and evolution. One constant across the studies examining patterns of Dnmt1 expression in insects is that expression is consistently high in reproductive tissues compared to somatic tissue. The explanation for this has been that DNMT1 is required in tissues that have high levels of cell division. Our previous study found that downregulation of Dnmt1 expression in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus results in the expected reduction of DNA methylation, no global changes in gene expression reflecting changes in DNA methylation, and the loss of the ability to produce viable oocytes. Here, we show that females treated with ds-Dnmt1 RNA during larval development have a more extreme phenotype; they lack oocytes entirely but develop a normal somatic ovary. Our results indicate a specific role for DNMT1 in the formation of gametes and are consistent with data from other systems, including Tribolium castaneum, a species does not have DNA methylation. We propose that DNMT1 has multiple functional roles in addition to methylating DNA, which explains its complex patterns of evolution.

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“…In particular, DNA methylation in the insects has been understudied. This is unfortunate, as there is extensive variation 34 in levels of DNA methylation, from no methylation to high methylation, across the insect tree of life 35 (Bewick et al 2016, Glastad et al 2019. Variation exists in the amount of methylated DNA as well 36 as the enzymatic toolkit required to establish and maintain it (Bewick et al 2016).…”

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confidence: 99%

More than DNA methylation: does pleiotropy drive the complex pattern of evolution ofDnmt1?

Amukamara

Washington

Sanchez

et al. 2019

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9DNA methylation is an important chromatin modification that can stably alter gene expression in 10 cells and maintain genome integrity in plants and vertebrates. The function of DNA methylation 11 outside of these well-studied systems, however, is unclear. Insects, in particular, represent an 12 understudied group. Variation in the level of DNA methylation and gains and losses in the 13 maintenance methyltransferase, DNMT1, across the insect tree of life suggests that there is much we 14don't understand about DMNT1 function and evolution. One constant across the studies examining 15 patterns of Dnmt1 expression in insects is that expression is consistently high in reproductive tissues 16 compared to somatic tissue. The explanation for this has been that DNMT1 is required in tissues that 17have high levels of cell division. Our previous study found that downregulation of Dnmt1 expression 18 in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus results in the expected reduction of DNA methylation, no 19global changes in gene expression reflecting changes in DNA methylation, and the loss of the ability 20 to produce viable oocytes. Here, we show that females treated with ds-Dnmt1 RNA during larval 21 development have a more extreme phenotype; they lack oocytes entirely but develop a normal 22 somatic ovary. Our results indicate a specific role for DNMT1 in the formation of gametes and are 23 consistent with data from other systems, including Tribolium castaneum, a species does not have 24 DNA methylation. We propose that DNMT1 has multiple functional roles in addition to methylating 25 DNA, which explains its complex patterns of evolution, and suggests that previous inferences of 26 causation from associations are premature. 27

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Epigenetics in Insects: Genome Regulation and the Generation of Phenotypic Diversity

Cited by 133 publications

References 153 publications

Linking epigenetics and biological conservation: Towards a conservation epigenetics perspective

Linking epigenetics and biological conservation: Towards a conservation epigenetics perspective

More Than DNA Methylation: Does Pleiotropy Drive the Complex Pattern of Evolution of Dnmt1?

More than DNA methylation: does pleiotropy drive the complex pattern of evolution ofDnmt1?

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