1
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Carmona-Aldana F, Yong LW, Reinberg D, Desplan C. Phenomenon of reproductive plasticity in ants. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 63:101197. [PMID: 38583769 PMCID: PMC11139587 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2024.101197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Ant colonies are organized in castes with distinct behaviors that together allow the colony to strive. Reproduction relies on one or a few queens that stay in the nest producing eggs, while females of the worker caste do not reproduce and instead engage in colony maintenance and brood caretaking. Yet, in spite of this clear separation of functions, workers can become reproductive under defined circumstances. Here, we review the context in which workers become reproductive, exhibiting asexual or sexual reproduction depending on the species. Remarkably, the activation of reproduction in these workers can be quite stable, with changes that include behavior and a dramatic extension of lifespan. We compare these changes between species that do or do not have a queen caste. We discuss how the mechanisms underlying reproductive plasticity include changes in hormonal functions and in epigenetic configurations. Further studies are warranted to elucidate not only how reproductive functions have been gradually restricted to the queen caste during evolution but also how reproductive plasticity remains possible in workers of some species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luok Wen Yong
- Department of Biology, New York University, NY 10003, USA
| | - Danny Reinberg
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA.
| | - Claude Desplan
- Department of Biology, New York University, NY 10003, USA; Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, Abu Dhabi 51133, United Arab Emirates.
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2
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Pyenson BC, Rehan SM. Gene regulation supporting sociality shared across lineages and variation in complexity. Genome 2024; 67:99-108. [PMID: 38096504 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2023-0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Across evolutionary lineages, insects vary in social complexity, from those that exhibit extended parental care to those with elaborate divisions of labor. Here, we synthesize the sociogenomic resources from hundreds of species to describe common gene regulatory mechanisms in insects that regulate social organization across phylogeny and levels of social complexity. Different social phenotypes expressed by insects can be linked to the organization of co-expressing gene networks and features of the epigenetic landscape. Insect sociality also stems from processes like the emergence of parental care and the decoupling of ancestral genetic programs. One underexplored avenue is how variation in a group's social environment affects the gene expression of individuals. Additionally, an experimental reduction of gene expression would demonstrate how the activity of specific genes contributes to insect social phenotypes. While tissue specificity provides greater localization of the gene expression underlying social complexity, emerging transcriptomic analysis of insect brains at the cellular level provides even greater resolution to understand the molecular basis of social insect evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandra M Rehan
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
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3
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Renard T, Martinet B, De Souza Araujo N, Aron S. DNA methylation extends lifespan in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20232093. [PMID: 38052245 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations are a primary hallmark of ageing. In mammals, age-related epigenetic changes alter gene expression profiles, disrupt cellular homeostasis and physiological functions and, therefore, promote ageing. It remains unclear whether ageing is also driven by epigenetic mechanisms in invertebrates. Here, we used a pharmacological hypomethylating agent (RG108) to evaluate the effects of DNA methylation (DNAme) on lifespan in an insect-the bumblebee Bombus terrestris. RG108 extended mean lifespan by 43% and induced the differential methylation of genes involved in hallmarks of ageing, including DNA damage repair and chromatin organization. Furthermore, the longevity gene sirt1 was overexpressed following the treatment. Functional experiments demonstrated that SIRT1 protein activity was positively associated with lifespan. Overall, our study indicates that epigenetic mechanisms are conserved regulators of lifespan in both vertebrates and invertebrates and provides new insights into how DNAme is involved in the ageing process in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaut Renard
- Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue Paul Héger - CP 160/12, Bruxelles 1000, Belgium
| | - Baptiste Martinet
- Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue Paul Héger - CP 160/12, Bruxelles 1000, Belgium
| | - Natalia De Souza Araujo
- Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue Paul Héger - CP 160/12, Bruxelles 1000, Belgium
| | - Serge Aron
- Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue Paul Héger - CP 160/12, Bruxelles 1000, Belgium
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4
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Sorek M, Berger SL. Neuromodulators and neuroepigenetics of social behavior in ants. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1528:5-12. [PMID: 37581481 PMCID: PMC10592194 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Eusocial insects exemplify a remarkable system of division of labor within the same colony. This behavioral range, which is sometimes accompanied by morphological or physiological differences, provides an opportunity to study the relationship between complex behaviors and their underlying molecular mechanisms. This is especially true in ants because certain genera have an elaborate caste system and can dramatically change their stereotypical behavior over their lifetime. Recent studies experimentally alter ant behavior over short times, thus opening the study of underlying plasticity pathways. The molecular underpinnings of these behaviors are neuromodulators as well as the regulation of chromatin. Here, we concisely review the current understanding of the relationship between neuromodulators, epigenetics, and social behavior in ants. We discuss future directions in light of experimental limitations of the ant system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matan Sorek
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Shelley L. Berger
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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5
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Ju L, Glastad KM, Sheng L, Gospocic J, Kingwell CJ, Davidson SM, Kocher SD, Bonasio R, Berger SL. Hormonal gatekeeping via the blood-brain barrier governs caste-specific behavior in ants. Cell 2023; 186:4289-4309.e23. [PMID: 37683635 PMCID: PMC10807403 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Here, we reveal an unanticipated role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in regulating complex social behavior in ants. Using scRNA-seq, we find localization in the BBB of a key hormone-degrading enzyme called juvenile hormone esterase (Jhe), and we show that this localization governs the level of juvenile hormone (JH3) entering the brain. Manipulation of the Jhe level reprograms the brain transcriptome between ant castes. Although ant Jhe is retained and functions intracellularly within the BBB, we show that Drosophila Jhe is naturally extracellular. Heterologous expression of ant Jhe into the Drosophila BBB alters behavior in fly to mimic what is seen in ants. Most strikingly, manipulation of Jhe levels in ants reprograms complex behavior between worker castes. Our study thus uncovers a remarkable, potentially conserved role of the BBB serving as a molecular gatekeeper for a neurohormonal pathway that regulates social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linyang Ju
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Karl M Glastad
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Lihong Sheng
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Janko Gospocic
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Urology and Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Callum J Kingwell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Shawn M Davidson
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Sarah D Kocher
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Lewis-Sigler Institute for Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Roberto Bonasio
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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6
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Ferguson ST, Bakis I, Edwards ND, Zwiebel LJ. Age and Task Modulate Olfactory Sensitivity in the Florida Carpenter Ant Camponotus floridanus. INSECTS 2023; 14:724. [PMID: 37754692 PMCID: PMC10532128 DOI: 10.3390/insects14090724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Age-related changes in behavior and sensory perception have been observed in a wide variety of animal species. In ants and other eusocial insects, workers often progress through an ordered sequence of olfactory-driven behavioral tasks. Notably, these behaviors are plastic, and workers adapt and rapidly switch tasks in response to changing environmental conditions. In the Florida carpenter ant, smaller minors typically perform most of the work needed to maintain the colony, while the larger majors are specialized for nest defense and rarely engage in these routine tasks. Here, we investigate the effects of age and task group on olfactory responses to a series of odorant blends in minor and major worker castes. Consistent with their respective roles within the colony, we observed significant age-associated shifts in the olfactory responses of minors as they transitioned between behavioral states, whereas the responses of majors remained consistently low regardless of age. Furthermore, we have identified a unitary compound, 3-methylindole, which elicited significantly higher responses and behavioral aversion in minor nurses than in similarly aged foragers suggesting that this compound may play an important role in brood care. Taken together, our results suggest that age- and task-associated shifts in olfactory physiology may play a critical role in the social organization of ant colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Laurence J. Zwiebel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (S.T.F.); (I.B.); (N.D.E.)
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7
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Okwaro LA, Korb J. Epigenetic regulation and division of labor in social insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 58:101051. [PMID: 37164259 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Analogous to multicellular organisms, social insect colonies are characterized by division of labor with queens and workers reflecting germline and soma, respectively. In multicellular organisms, such division is achieved through epigenetic factors regulating cell differentiation during development. Analogously, epigenetic regulation is postulated to regulate caste differences in social insects. We summarize recent findings about the role of epigenetics in social insects, focusing on DNA methylation and histone modifications. We specifically address (i) queen versus worker caste differentiation, (ii) queen versus worker caste differences, and (iii) division of labor among workers. Our review provides an overview of an exciting and controversially discussed field in developmental and molecular biology. It shows that our current understanding about the role of epigenetics in regulating division of labor in social insects is still fragmentary but that refined methods with well-replicated samples and targeted questions offer promising insights into this emerging field of socio-epigenomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis A Okwaro
- University of Freiburg, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Judith Korb
- University of Freiburg, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
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8
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Lacy KD, Kronauer DJC. Evolution: How sweat bees gained and lost eusociality. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R770-R773. [PMID: 37490864 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Eusocial insects divide labor between reproductive and non-reproductive individuals. The molecular mechanisms underlying the evolution of these castes have remained mysterious. A comparative genomic study of sweat bees points to a familiar factor as a regulator of behavioral specialization: juvenile hormone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kip D Lacy
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Daniel J C Kronauer
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA.
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9
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Ferguson ST, Bakis I, Edwards ND, Zwiebel LJ. Age and Task Modulate Olfactory Sensitivity in the Florida Carpenter Ant Camponotus floridanus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.18.549561. [PMID: 37503123 PMCID: PMC10370051 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.18.549561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Age-related changes in behavior and sensory perception have been observed in a wide variety of animal species. In ants and other eusocial insects, workers often progress through an ordered sequence of olfactory-driven behavioral tasks. Notably, these behaviors are plastic, and workers adapt and rapidly switch tasks in response to changing environmental conditions. In the Florida carpenter ant, smaller minors typically perform most of the work needed to maintain the colony while the larger majors are specialized for nest defense and rarely engage in these routine tasks. Here, we investigate the effects of age and task group on olfactory responses to a series of odorant blends in minor and major worker castes. Consistent with their respective roles within the colony, we observed significant age-associated shifts in the olfactory responses of minors as they transitioned between behavioral states, whereas the responses of majors remained consistently low regardless of age. Furthermore, we identified a unitary compound, 3-methylindole, which elicited significantly higher responses and behavioral aversion in minor nurses than in similarly aged foragers suggesting that this compound may play an important role in brood care. Taken together, our results suggest that age- and task-associated shifts in olfactory physiology may play a critical role in the social organization of ant colonies. Simple Summary Florida carpenter ants ( Camponotus floridanus ) live in colonies comprised of thousands of workers. The smallest workers, known as minors, engage in routine tasks such as nursing and foraging while the largest workers, known as majors, are thought to be soldiers specialized for defending the nest. How ant colonies allocate their workforce to address the dynamic and ever-changing needs of the colonies remains an open question in the field, but current evidence suggests that ant social behavior likely results from a combination of genetic/epigenetic, physiological, and systems-level processes. Here, we extend these studies by investigating the role of olfactory sensitivity in regulating ant behavior. Minor workers exhibited significant shifts in olfactory sensitivity and odor coding as they aged and switched tasks. The olfactory sensitivity of majors, however, remained relatively stable as they aged. From these studies, we also identified a single compound, 3-methylindole, which elicited significantly higher olfactory responses and aversive behavior in nurses compared to foragers, suggesting that this chemical may have a role in brood care. Overall, these studies support the hypothesis that changes in olfactory sensitivity play an important role in regulating social behavior in ants.
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10
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Glastad KM, Roessler J, Gospocic J, Bonasio R, Berger SL. Long ant life span is maintained by a unique heat shock factor. Genes Dev 2023; 37:398-417. [PMID: 37257919 PMCID: PMC10270196 DOI: 10.1101/gad.350250.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Eusocial insect reproductive females show strikingly longer life spans than nonreproductive female workers despite high genetic similarity. In the ant Harpegnathos saltator (Hsal), workers can transition to reproductive "gamergates," acquiring a fivefold prolonged life span by mechanisms that are poorly understood. We found that gamergates have elevated expression of heat shock response (HSR) genes in the absence of heat stress and enhanced survival with heat stress. This HSR gene elevation is driven in part by gamergate-specific up-regulation of the gene encoding a truncated form of a heat shock factor most similar to mammalian HSF2 (hsalHSF2). In workers, hsalHSF2 was bound to DNA only upon heat stress. In gamergates, hsalHSF2 bound to DNA even in the absence of heat stress and was localized to gamergate-biased HSR genes. Expression of hsalHSF2 in Drosophila melanogaster led to enhanced heat shock survival and extended life span in the absence of heat stress. Molecular characterization illuminated multiple parallels between long-lived flies and gamergates, underscoring the centrality of hsalHSF2 to extended ant life span. Hence, ant caste-specific heat stress resilience and extended longevity can be transferred to flies via hsalHSF2. These findings reinforce the critical role of proteostasis in health and aging and reveal novel mechanisms underlying facultative life span extension in ants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl M Glastad
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Julian Roessler
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Janko Gospocic
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Roberto Bonasio
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA;
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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11
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Werner MS, Loschko T, King T, Reich S, Theska T, Franz-Wachtel M, Macek B, Sommer RJ. Histone 4 lysine 5/12 acetylation enables developmental plasticity of Pristionchus mouth form. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2095. [PMID: 37055396 PMCID: PMC10102330 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37734-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Development can be altered to match phenotypes with the environment, and the genetic mechanisms that direct such alternative phenotypes are beginning to be elucidated. Yet, the rules that govern environmental sensitivity vs. invariant development, and potential epigenetic memory, remain unknown. Here, we show that plasticity of nematode mouth forms is determined by histone 4 lysine 5 and 12 acetylation (H4K5/12ac). Acetylation in early larval stages provides a permissive chromatin state, which is susceptible to induction during the critical window of environmental sensitivity. As development proceeds deacetylation shuts off switch gene expression to end the critical period. Inhibiting deacetylase enzymes leads to fixation of prior developmental trajectories, demonstrating that histone modifications in juveniles can carry environmental information to adults. Finally, we provide evidence that this regulation was derived from an ancient mechanism of licensing developmental speed. Altogether, our results show that H4K5/12ac enables epigenetic regulation of developmental plasticity that can be stored and erased by acetylation and deacetylation, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Werner
- Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Tobias Loschko
- Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Thomas King
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Shelley Reich
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Tobias Theska
- Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | | | - Boris Macek
- Proteome Center Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Ralf J Sommer
- Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, 72076, Germany.
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12
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Jones BM, Rubin BER, Dudchenko O, Kingwell CJ, Traniello IM, Wang ZY, Kapheim KM, Wyman ES, Adastra PA, Liu W, Parsons LR, Jackson SR, Goodwin K, Davidson SM, McBride MJ, Webb AE, Omufwoko KS, Van Dorp N, Otárola MF, Pham M, Omer AD, Weisz D, Schraiber J, Villanea F, Wcislo WT, Paxton RJ, Hunt BG, Aiden EL, Kocher SD. Convergent and complementary selection shaped gains and losses of eusociality in sweat bees. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:557-569. [PMID: 36941345 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02001-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Sweat bees have repeatedly gained and lost eusociality, a transition from individual to group reproduction. Here we generate chromosome-length genome assemblies for 17 species and identify genomic signatures of evolutionary trade-offs associated with transitions between social and solitary living. Both young genes and regulatory regions show enrichment for these molecular patterns. We also identify loci that show evidence of complementary signals of positive and relaxed selection linked specifically to the convergent gains and losses of eusociality in sweat bees. This includes two pleiotropic proteins that bind and transport juvenile hormone (JH)-a key regulator of insect development and reproduction. We find that one of these proteins is primarily expressed in subperineurial glial cells that form the insect blood-brain barrier and that brain levels of JH vary by sociality. Our findings are consistent with a role of JH in modulating social behaviour and suggest that eusocial evolution was facilitated by alteration of the proteins that bind and transport JH, revealing how an ancestral developmental hormone may have been co-opted during one of life's major transitions. More broadly, our results highlight how evolutionary trade-offs have structured the molecular basis of eusociality in these bees and demonstrate how both directional selection and release from constraint can shape trait evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beryl M Jones
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Benjamin E R Rubin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Olga Dudchenko
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Callum J Kingwell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - Ian M Traniello
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Z Yan Wang
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Karen M Kapheim
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Eli S Wyman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Per A Adastra
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Weijie Liu
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Lance R Parsons
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - S RaElle Jackson
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Katharine Goodwin
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Shawn M Davidson
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Matthew J McBride
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Andrew E Webb
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Kennedy S Omufwoko
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Nikki Van Dorp
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Mauricio Fernández Otárola
- Biodiversity and Tropical Ecology Research Center (CIBET) and School of Biology, University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Melanie Pham
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Arina D Omer
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David Weisz
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joshua Schraiber
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Illumina Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Illumina Inc, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Fernando Villanea
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - William T Wcislo
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - Robert J Paxton
- Institute of Biology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany
| | - Brendan G Hunt
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Erez Lieberman Aiden
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sarah D Kocher
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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13
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Yang CH, Fagnocchi L, Apostle S, Wegert V, Casaní-Galdón S, Landgraf K, Panzeri I, Dror E, Heyne S, Wörpel T, Chandler DP, Lu D, Yang T, Gibbons E, Guerreiro R, Bras J, Thomasen M, Grunnet LG, Vaag AA, Gillberg L, Grundberg E, Conesa A, Körner A, Pospisilik JA. Independent phenotypic plasticity axes define distinct obesity sub-types. Nat Metab 2022; 4:1150-1165. [PMID: 36097183 PMCID: PMC9499872 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00629-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Studies in genetically 'identical' individuals indicate that as much as 50% of complex trait variation cannot be traced to genetics or to the environment. The mechanisms that generate this 'unexplained' phenotypic variation (UPV) remain largely unknown. Here, we identify neuronatin (NNAT) as a conserved factor that buffers against UPV. We find that Nnat deficiency in isogenic mice triggers the emergence of a bi-stable polyphenism, where littermates emerge into adulthood either 'normal' or 'overgrown'. Mechanistically, this is mediated by an insulin-dependent overgrowth that arises from histone deacetylase (HDAC)-dependent β-cell hyperproliferation. A multi-dimensional analysis of monozygotic twin discordance reveals the existence of two patterns of human UPV, one of which (Type B) phenocopies the NNAT-buffered polyphenism identified in mice. Specifically, Type-B monozygotic co-twins exhibit coordinated increases in fat and lean mass across the body; decreased NNAT expression; increased HDAC-responsive gene signatures; and clinical outcomes linked to insulinemia. Critically, the Type-B UPV signature stratifies both childhood and adult cohorts into four metabolic states, including two phenotypically and molecularly distinct types of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Hsiang Yang
- Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Vanessa Wegert
- Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Kathrin Landgraf
- Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, University Hospital for Children & Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ilaria Panzeri
- Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Erez Dror
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Steffen Heyne
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
- Roche Diagnostics Deutschland, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Till Wörpel
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Di Lu
- Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Tao Yang
- Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Elizabeth Gibbons
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Rita Guerreiro
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Jose Bras
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Martin Thomasen
- Department of Endocrinology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Louise G Grunnet
- Department of Endocrinology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Allan A Vaag
- Department of Endocrinology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
- Lund University Diabetes Centre, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Linn Gillberg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elin Grundberg
- Genomic Medicine Center, Children's Mercy Research Institute, Children's Mercy Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Ana Conesa
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
- Microbiology and Cell Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Antje Körner
- Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, University Hospital for Children & Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - J Andrew Pospisilik
- Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany.
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14
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Abbot P. Defense in Social Insects: Diversity, Division of Labor, and Evolution. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 67:407-436. [PMID: 34995089 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-082521-072638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
All social insects defend their colony from predators, parasites, and pathogens. In Oster and Wilson's classic work, they posed one of the key paradoxes about defense in social insects: Given the universal necessity of defense, why then is there so much diversity in mechanisms? Ecological factors undoubtedly are important: Predation and usurpation have imposed strong selection on eusocial insects, and active defense by colonies is a ubiquitous feature of all social insects. The description of diverse insect groups with castes of sterile workers whose main duty is defense has broadened the purview of social evolution in insects, in particular with respect to caste and behavior. Defense is one of the central axes along which we can begin to organize and understand sociality in insects. With the establishment of social insect models such as the honey bee, new discoveries are emerging regarding the endocrine, neural, and gene regulatory mechanisms underlying defense in social insects. The mechanisms underlying morphological and behavioral defense traits may be shared across diverse groups, providing opportunities for identifying both conserved and novel mechanisms at work. Emerging themes highlight the context dependency of and interaction between factors that regulate defense in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Abbot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA;
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15
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Choppin M, Feldmeyer B, Foitzik S. Histone acetylation regulates the expression of genes involved in worker reproduction in the ant Temnothorax rugatulus. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:871. [PMID: 34861814 PMCID: PMC8642982 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08196-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In insect societies, queens monopolize reproduction while workers perform tasks such as brood care or foraging. Queen loss leads to ovary development and lifespan extension in workers of many ant species. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this phenotypic plasticity remain unclear. Recent studies highlight the importance of epigenetics in regulating plastic traits in social insects. Thus, we investigated the role of histone acetylation in regulating worker reproduction in the ant Temnothorax rugatulus. We removed queens from their colonies to induce worker fecundity, and either fed workers with chemical inhibitors of histone acetylation (C646), deacetylation (TSA), or the solvent (DMSO) as control. We monitored worker number for six weeks after which we assessed ovary development and sequenced fat body mRNA. Results Workers survived better in queenless colonies. They also developed their ovaries after queen removal in control colonies as expected, but not in colonies treated with the chemical inhibitors. Both inhibitors affected gene expression, although the inhibition of histone acetylation using C646 altered the expression of more genes with immunity, fecundity, and longevity functionalities. Interestingly, these C646-treated workers shared many upregulated genes with infertile workers from queenright colonies. We also identified one gene with antioxidant properties commonly downregulated in infertile workers from queenright colonies and both C646 and TSA-treated workers from queenless colonies. Conclusion Our results suggest that histone acetylation is involved in the molecular regulation of worker reproduction, and thus point to an important role of histone modifications in modulating phenotypic plasticity of life history traits in social insects. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-08196-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Choppin
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Barbara Feldmeyer
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Molecular Ecology, Senckenberg, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Susanne Foitzik
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
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16
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Gospocic J, Glastad KM, Sheng L, Shields EJ, Berger SL, Bonasio R. Kr-h1 maintains distinct caste-specific neurotranscriptomes in response to socially regulated hormones. Cell 2021; 184:5807-5823.e14. [PMID: 34739833 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral plasticity is key to animal survival. Harpegnathos saltator ants can switch between worker and queen-like status (gamergate) depending on the outcome of social conflicts, providing an opportunity to study how distinct behavioral states are achieved in adult brains. Using social and molecular manipulations in live ants and ant neuronal cultures, we show that ecdysone and juvenile hormone drive molecular and functional differences in the brains of workers and gamergates and direct the transcriptional repressor Kr-h1 to different target genes. Depletion of Kr-h1 in the brain caused de-repression of "socially inappropriate" genes: gamergate genes were upregulated in workers, whereas worker genes were upregulated in gamergates. At the phenotypic level, loss of Kr-h1 resulted in the emergence of worker-specific behaviors in gamergates and gamergate-specific traits in workers. We conclude that Kr-h1 is a transcription factor that maintains distinct brain states established in response to socially regulated hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janko Gospocic
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Urology and Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Karl M Glastad
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lihong Sheng
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Emily J Shields
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Urology and Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Roberto Bonasio
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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17
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Glastad KM, Ju L, Berger SL. Tramtrack acts during late pupal development to direct ant caste identity. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009801. [PMID: 34550980 PMCID: PMC8489709 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A key question in the rising field of neuroepigenetics is how behavioral plasticity is established and maintained in the developing CNS of multicellular organisms. Behavior is controlled through systemic changes in hormonal signaling, cell-specific regulation of gene expression, and changes in neuronal connections in the nervous system, however the link between these pathways is unclear. In the ant Camponotus floridanus, the epigenetic corepressor CoREST is a central player in experimentally-induced reprogramming of caste-specific behavior, from soldier (Major worker) to forager (Minor worker). Here, we show this pathway is engaged naturally on a large genomic scale during late pupal development targeting multiple genes differentially expressed between castes, and central to this mechanism is the protein tramtrack (ttk), a DNA binding partner of CoREST. Caste-specific differences in DNA binding of ttk co-binding with CoREST correlate with caste-biased gene expression both in the late pupal stage and immediately after eclosion. However, we find a unique set of exclusive Minor-bound genes that show ttk pre-binding in the late pupal stage preceding CoREST binding, followed by caste-specific gene repression on the first day of eclosion. In addition, we show that ttk binding correlates with neurogenic Notch signaling, and that specific ttk binding between castes is enriched for regulatory sites associated with hormonal function. Overall our findings elucidate a pathway of transcription factor binding leading to a repressive epigenetic axis that lies at the crux of development and hormonal signaling to define worker caste identity in C. floridanus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl M Glastad
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States of America.,Epigenetics Institute; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States of America
| | - Linyang Ju
- Epigenetics Institute; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States of America.,Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States of America
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States of America.,Epigenetics Institute; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States of America.,Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States of America
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18
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Sieriebriennikov B, Reinberg D, Desplan C. A molecular toolkit for superorganisms. Trends Genet 2021; 37:846-859. [PMID: 34116864 PMCID: PMC8355152 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2021.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Social insects, such as ants, bees, wasps, and termites, draw biologists' attention due to their distinctive lifestyles. As experimental systems, they provide unique opportunities to study organismal differentiation, division of labor, longevity, and the evolution of development. Ants are particularly attractive because several ant species can be propagated in the laboratory. However, the same lifestyle that makes social insects interesting also hampers the use of molecular genetic techniques. Here, we summarize the efforts of the ant research community to surmount these hurdles and obtain novel mechanistic insight into the biology of social insects. We review current approaches and propose novel ones involving genomics, transcriptomics, chromatin and DNA methylation profiling, RNA interference (RNAi), and genome editing in ants and discuss future experimental strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan Sieriebriennikov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Danny Reinberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Claude Desplan
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
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19
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Sieber KR, Dorman T, Newell N, Yan H. (Epi)Genetic Mechanisms Underlying the Evolutionary Success of Eusocial Insects. INSECTS 2021; 12:498. [PMID: 34071806 PMCID: PMC8229086 DOI: 10.3390/insects12060498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Eusocial insects, such as bees, ants, and wasps of the Hymenoptera and termites of the Blattodea, are able to generate remarkable diversity in morphology and behavior despite being genetically uniform within a colony. Most eusocial insect species display caste structures in which reproductive ability is possessed by a single or a few queens while all other colony members act as workers. However, in some species, caste structure is somewhat plastic, and individuals may switch from one caste or behavioral phenotype to another in response to certain environmental cues. As different castes normally share a common genetic background, it is believed that much of this observed within-colony diversity results from transcriptional differences between individuals. This suggests that epigenetic mechanisms, featured by modified gene expression without changing genes themselves, may play an important role in eusocial insects. Indeed, epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, have been shown to influence eusocial insects in multiple aspects, along with typical genetic regulation. This review summarizes the most recent findings regarding such mechanisms and their diverse roles in eusocial insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayli R. Sieber
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (K.R.S.); (T.D.); (N.N.)
| | - Taylor Dorman
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (K.R.S.); (T.D.); (N.N.)
| | - Nicholas Newell
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (K.R.S.); (T.D.); (N.N.)
| | - Hua Yan
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (K.R.S.); (T.D.); (N.N.)
- Center for Smell and Taste, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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20
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Abstract
Social behavior is one of the most fascinating and complex behaviors in humans and animals. A fundamental process of social behavior is communication among individuals. It relies on the capability of the nervous system to sense, process, and interpret various signals (e.g., pheromones) and respond with appropriate decisions and actions. Eusocial insects, including ants, some bees, some wasps, and termites, display intriguing cooperative social behavior. Recent advances in genetic and genomic studies have revealed key genes that are involved in pheromone synthesis, chemosensory perception, and physiological and behavioral responses to varied pheromones. In this review, we highlight the genes and pathways that regulate queen pheromone-mediated social communication, discuss the evolutionary changes in genetic systems, and outline prospects of functional studies in sociobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Yan
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
- Center for Smell and Taste, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
| | - Jürgen Liebig
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
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21
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Opachaloemphan C, Mancini G, Konstantinides N, Parikh A, Mlejnek J, Yan H, Reinberg D, Desplan C. Early behavioral and molecular events leading to caste switching in the ant Harpegnathos. Genes Dev 2021; 35:410-424. [PMID: 33602869 PMCID: PMC7919410 DOI: 10.1101/gad.343699.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ant societies show a division of labor in which a queen is in charge of reproduction while nonreproductive workers maintain the colony. In Harpegnathos saltator, workers retain reproductive ability, inhibited by the queen pheromones. Following the queen loss, the colony undergoes social unrest with an antennal dueling tournament. Most workers quickly abandon the tournament while a few workers continue the dueling for months and become gamergates (pseudoqueens). However, the temporal dynamics of the social behavior and molecular mechanisms underlining the caste transition and social dominance remain unclear. By tracking behaviors, we show that the gamergate fate is accurately determined 3 d after initiation of the tournament. To identify genetic factors responsible for this commitment, we compared transcriptomes of different tissues between dueling and nondueling workers. We found that juvenile hormone is globally repressed, whereas ecdysone biosynthesis in the ovary is increased in gamergates. We show that molecular changes in the brain serve as earliest caste predictors compared with other tissues. Thus, behavioral and molecular data indicate that despite the prolonged social upheaval, the gamergate fate is rapidly established, suggesting a robust re-establishment of social structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Comzit Opachaloemphan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - Giacomo Mancini
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
| | | | - Apurva Parikh
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
| | - Jakub Mlejnek
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
| | - Hua Yan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - Danny Reinberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - Claude Desplan
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
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22
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabor Egervari
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Karl M Glastad
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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23
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Yi SJ, Kim K. New Insights into the Role of Histone Changes in Aging. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218241. [PMID: 33153221 PMCID: PMC7662996 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is the progressive decline or loss of function at the cellular, tissue, and organismal levels that ultimately leads to death. A number of external and internal factors, including diet, exercise, metabolic dysfunction, genome instability, and epigenetic imbalance, affect the lifespan of an organism. These aging factors regulate transcriptome changes related to the aging process through chromatin remodeling. Many epigenetic regulators, such as histone modification, histone variants, and ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factors, play roles in chromatin reorganization. The key to understanding the role of gene regulatory networks in aging lies in characterizing the epigenetic regulators responsible for reorganizing and potentiating particular chromatin structures. This review covers epigenetic studies on aging, discusses the impact of epigenetic modifications on gene expression, and provides future directions in this area.
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24
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Villagra C, Frías-Lasserre D. Epigenetic Molecular Mechanisms in Insects. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 49:615-642. [PMID: 32514997 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-020-00777-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Insects are the largest animal group on Earth both in biomass and diversity. Their outstanding success has inspired genetics and developmental research, allowing the discovery of dynamic process explaining extreme phenotypic plasticity and canalization. Epigenetic molecular mechanisms (EMMs) are vital for several housekeeping functions in multicellular organisms, regulating developmental, ontogenetic trajectories and environmental adaptations. In Insecta, EMMs are involved in the development of extreme phenotypic divergences such as polyphenisms and eusocial castes. Here, we review the history of this research field and how the main EMMs found in insects help to understand their biological processes and diversity. EMMs in insects confer them rapid response capacity allowing insect either to change with plastic divergence or to keep constant when facing different stressors or stimuli. EMMs function both at intra as well as transgenerational scales, playing important roles in insect ecology and evolution. We discuss on how EMMs pervasive influences in Insecta require not only the control of gene expression but also the dynamic interplay of EMMs with further regulatory levels, including genetic, physiological, behavioral, and environmental among others, as was earlier proposed by the Probabilistic Epigenesis model and Developmental System Theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Villagra
- Instituto de Entomología, Univ Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Santiago, Chile.
| | - D Frías-Lasserre
- Instituto de Entomología, Univ Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Santiago, Chile
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