1
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Levis NA, Ragsdale EJ. A histone demethylase links the loss of plasticity to nongenetic inheritance and morphological change. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8439. [PMID: 38114491 PMCID: PMC10730525 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44306-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasticity is a widespread feature of development, enabling phenotypic change based on the environment. Although the evolutionary loss of plasticity has been linked both theoretically and empirically to increased rates of phenotypic diversification, molecular insights into how this process might unfold are generally lacking. Here, we show that a regulator of nongenetic inheritance links evolutionary loss of plasticity in nature to changes in plasticity and morphology as selected in the laboratory. Across nematodes of Diplogastridae, which ancestrally had a polyphenism, or discrete plasticity, in their feeding morphology, we use molecular evolutionary analyses to screen for change associated with independent losses of plasticity. Having inferred a set of ancestrally polyphenism-biased genes from phylogenetically informed gene-knockouts and gene-expression comparisons, selection signatures associated with plasticity's loss identify the histone H3K4 di/monodemethylase gene spr-5/LSD1/KDM1A. Manipulations of this gene affect both sensitivity and variation in plastic morphologies, and artificial selection of manipulated lines drive multigenerational shifts in these phenotypes. Our findings thus give mechanistic insight into how traits are modified as they traverse the continuum of greater to lesser environmental sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Levis
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
| | - Erik J Ragsdale
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
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2
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Emerson FJ, Lee SS. Chromatin: the old and young of it. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1270285. [PMID: 37877123 PMCID: PMC10591336 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1270285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging affects nearly all aspects of our cells, from our DNA to our proteins to how our cells handle stress and communicate with each other. Age-related chromatin changes are of particular interest because chromatin can dynamically respond to the cellular and organismal environment, and many modifications at chromatin are reversible. Changes at chromatin occur during aging, and evidence from model organisms suggests that chromatin factors could play a role in modulating the aging process itself, as altering proteins that work at chromatin often affect the lifespan of yeast, worms, flies, and mice. The field of chromatin and aging is rapidly expanding, and high-resolution genomics tools make it possible to survey the chromatin environment or track chromatin factors implicated in longevity with precision that was not previously possible. In this review, we discuss the state of chromatin and aging research. We include examples from yeast, Drosophila, mice, and humans, but we particularly focus on the commonly used aging model, the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, in which there are many examples of chromatin factors that modulate longevity. We include evidence of both age-related changes to chromatin and evidence of specific chromatin factors linked to longevity in core histones, nuclear architecture, chromatin remodeling, and histone modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siu Sylvia Lee
- Lee Lab, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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3
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Sturm Á, Saskői É, Hotzi B, Tarnóci A, Barna J, Bodnár F, Sharma H, Kovács T, Ari E, Weinhardt N, Kerepesi C, Perczel A, Ivics Z, Vellai T. Downregulation of transposable elements extends lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5278. [PMID: 37644049 PMCID: PMC10465613 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40957-9] [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: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Mobility of transposable elements (TEs) frequently leads to insertional mutations in functional DNA regions. In the potentially immortal germline, TEs are effectively suppressed by the Piwi-piRNA pathway. However, in the genomes of ageing somatic cells lacking the effects of the pathway, TEs become increasingly mobile during the adult lifespan, and their activity is associated with genomic instability. Whether the progressively increasing mobilization of TEs is a cause or a consequence of ageing remains a fundamental problem in biology. Here we show that in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the downregulation of active TE families extends lifespan. Ectopic activation of Piwi proteins in the soma also promotes longevity. Furthermore, DNA N6-adenine methylation at TE stretches gradually rises with age, and this epigenetic modification elevates their transcription as the animal ages. These results indicate that TEs represent a novel genetic determinant of ageing, and that N6-adenine methylation plays a pivotal role in ageing control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ádám Sturm
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), 1117, Budapest, Hungary
- Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH)-ELTE Genetics Research Group, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Éva Saskői
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bernadette Hotzi
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Tarnóci
- Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH)-ELTE Genetics Research Group, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Barna
- Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH)-ELTE Genetics Research Group, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Bodnár
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Himani Sharma
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tibor Kovács
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Eszter Ari
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), 1117, Budapest, Hungary
- HCEMM-BRC Metabolic Systems Biology Research Group, 6726, Szeged, Hungary
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Temesvári krt. 62, 6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Nóra Weinhardt
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csaba Kerepesi
- Institute for Computer Science and Control (SZTAKI), 1111, Budapest, Hungary
- Brigham and Women's Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - András Perczel
- Laboratory of Structural Chemistry and Biology & Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA)-ELTE Protein Modelling Research Group, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Ivics
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul Ehrlich Institute, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | - Tibor Vellai
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), 1117, Budapest, Hungary.
- Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH)-ELTE Genetics Research Group, 1117, Budapest, Hungary.
- Vellab Biotech Ltd., 6722, Szeged, Hungary.
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4
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Abay-Nørgaard S, Tapia MC, Zeijdner M, Kim JH, Won KJ, Porse B, Salcini AE. Inter and transgenerational impact of H3K4 methylation in neuronal homeostasis. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202301970. [PMID: 37225426 PMCID: PMC10209521 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202301970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic marks and associated traits can be transmitted for one or more generations, phenomena known respectively as inter- or transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. It remains unknown if genetically and conditionally induced aberrant epigenetic states can influence the development of the nervous system across generations. Here, we show, using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system, that alteration of H3K4me3 levels in the parental generation, caused by genetic manipulation or changes in parental conditions, has, respectively, trans- and intergenerational effects on H3K4 methylome, transcriptome, and nervous system development. Thus, our study reveals the relevance of H3K4me3 transmission and maintenance in preventing long-lasting deleterious effects in nervous system homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Abay-Nørgaard
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marta Cecylia Tapia
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mandoh Zeijdner
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jeonghwan Henry Kim
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kyoung Jae Won
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bo Porse
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology, DanStem, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Elisabetta Salcini
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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5
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Croft JC, Colunga A, Solh L, Dillon MK, Lee TWS. Pharyngeal pumping rate does not reflect lifespan extension in C. elegans transgenerational longevity mutants. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2023; 2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.000719. [PMID: 36793895 PMCID: PMC9923420 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications must be reprogrammed with each new generation. In Caenorhabditis elegans , defects in histone methylation reprogramming allow for the transgenerational acquisition of longevity. For example, mutations in the putative H3K9 demethylase JHDM-1 extend lifespan after six to ten generations. We noticed that long-lived jhdm-1 mutants appear healthier than wild-type animals from the same generation. To quantify health, we compared the common metric of pharyngeal pumping rate at specific adult ages between early-gen populations with normal lifespans and late-gen populations with long lifespans. Longevity did not affect pumping rate, but long-lived mutants stop pumping at a younger age, suggesting a possible conservation of energy to extend lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime C. Croft
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Arthur Colunga
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Lea Solh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Michaela K. Dillon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Teresa Wei-sy Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA
,
Correspondence to: Teresa Wei-sy Lee (
)
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6
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Garcia G, Bar‐Ziv R, Averbukh M, Dasgupta N, Dutta N, Zhang H, Fan W, Moaddeli D, Tsui CK, Castro Torres T, Alcala A, Moehle EA, Hoang S, Shalem O, Adams PD, Thorwald MA, Higuchi‐Sanabria R. Large-scale genetic screens identify BET-1 as a cytoskeleton regulator promoting actin function and life span. Aging Cell 2023; 22:e13742. [PMID: 36404134 PMCID: PMC9835578 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The actin cytoskeleton is a three-dimensional scaffold of proteins that is a regulatory, energyconsuming network with dynamic properties to shape the structure and function of the cell. Proper actin function is required for many cellular pathways, including cell division, autophagy, chaperone function, endocytosis, and exocytosis. Deterioration of these processes manifests during aging and exposure to stress, which is in part due to the breakdown of the actin cytoskeleton. However, the regulatory mechanisms involved in preservation of cytoskeletal form and function are not well-understood. Here, we performed a multipronged, cross-organismal screen combining a whole-genome CRISPR-Cas9 screen in human fibroblasts with in vivo Caenorhabditis elegans synthetic lethality screening. We identified the bromodomain protein, BET-1, as a key regulator of actin function and longevity. Overexpression of bet-1 preserves actin function at late age and promotes life span and healthspan in C. elegans. These beneficial effects are mediated through actin preservation by the transcriptional regulator function of BET-1. Together, our discovery assigns a key role for BET-1 in cytoskeletal health, highlighting regulatory cellular networks promoting cytoskeletal homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilberto Garcia
- Leonard Davis School of GerontologyUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Raz Bar‐Ziv
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteThe University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Maxim Averbukh
- Leonard Davis School of GerontologyUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Nirmalya Dasgupta
- Aging, Cancer and Immuno‐oncology ProgramSanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery InstituteLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Naibedya Dutta
- Leonard Davis School of GerontologyUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hanlin Zhang
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteThe University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Wudi Fan
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteThe University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Darius Moaddeli
- Leonard Davis School of GerontologyUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - C. Kimberly Tsui
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteThe University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Toni Castro Torres
- Leonard Davis School of GerontologyUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Athena Alcala
- Leonard Davis School of GerontologyUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Erica A. Moehle
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteThe University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sally Hoang
- Leonard Davis School of GerontologyUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ophir Shalem
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Peter D. Adams
- Aging, Cancer and Immuno‐oncology ProgramSanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery InstituteLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Max A. Thorwald
- Leonard Davis School of GerontologyUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ryo Higuchi‐Sanabria
- Leonard Davis School of GerontologyUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
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7
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Rothi MH, Greer EL. From correlation to causation: The new frontier of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2200118. [PMID: 36351255 PMCID: PMC9772138 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
While heredity is predominantly controlled by what deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences are passed from parents to their offspring, a small but growing number of traits have been shown to be regulated in part by the non-genetic inheritance of information. Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance is defined as heritable information passed from parents to their offspring without changing the DNA sequence. Work of the past seven decades has transitioned what was previously viewed as rare phenomenology, into well-established paradigms by which numerous traits can be modulated. For the most part, studies in model organisms have correlated transgenerational epigenetic inheritance phenotypes with changes in epigenetic modifications. The next steps for this field will entail transitioning from correlative studies to causal ones. Here, we delineate the major molecules that have been implicated in transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in both mammalian and non-mammalian models, speculate on additional molecules that could be involved, and highlight some of the tools which might help transition this field from correlation to causation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Hafiz Rothi
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston MA, USA
| | - Eric Lieberman Greer
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston MA, USA
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8
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Sun B, Sherrin M, Roy R. Unscheduled epigenetic modifications cause genome instability and sterility through aberrant R-loops following starvation. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 51:84-98. [PMID: 36504323 PMCID: PMC9841415 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During starvation, organisms modify both gene expression and metabolism to adjust to the energy stress. We previously reported that Caenorhabditis elegans lacing AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) exhibit transgenerational reproductive defects associated with abnormally elevated trimethylated histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) levels in the germ line following recovery from acute starvation. Here, we show that these H3K4me3 marks are significantly increased at promoters, driving aberrant transcription elongation resulting in the accumulation of R-loops in starved AMPK mutants. DNA-RNA immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing (DRIP-seq) analysis demonstrated that a significant proportion of the genome was affected by R-loop formation. This was most pronounced in the promoter-transcription start site regions of genes, in which the chromatin was modified by H3K4me3. Like H3K4me3, the R-loops were also found to be heritable, likely contributing to the transgenerational reproductive defects typical of these mutants following starvation. Strikingly, AMPK mutant germ lines show considerably more RAD-51 (the RecA recombinase) foci at sites of R-loop formation, potentially sequestering them from their roles at meiotic breaks or at sites of induced DNA damage. Our study reveals a previously unforeseen role of AMPK in maintaining genome stability following starvation. The downstream effects of R-loops on DNA damage sensitivity and germline stem cell integrity may account for inappropriate epigenetic modification that occurs in numerous human disorders, including various cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Sun
- To whom correspondence should be addressed.
| | - McLean Sherrin
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Richard Roy
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Richard Roy. Tel: +1 514 398 6437;
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9
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Li H, Zeng L, Wang C, Shi C, Li Y, Peng Y, Chen H, Zhang J, Cheng B, Chen C, Xiang M, Huang Y. Review of the toxicity and potential molecular mechanisms of parental or successive exposure to environmental pollutants in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 311:119927. [PMID: 35970344 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollutants such as heavy metals, nano/microparticles, and organic compounds have been detected in a wide range of environmental media, causing long-term exposure in various organisms and even humans through breathing, contacting, ingestion, and other routes. Long-term exposure to environmental pollutants in organisms or humans promotes exposure of offspring to parental and environmental pollutants, and subsequently results in multiple biological defects in the offspring. This review dialectically summarizes and discusses the existing studies using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism to explore the multi/transgenerational toxicity and potential underlying molecular mechanisms induced by environmental pollutants following parental or successive exposure patterns. Parental and successive exposure to environmental pollutants induces various biological defects in C. elegans across multiple generations, including multi/transgenerational developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and metabolic disturbances, which may be transmitted to progeny through reactive oxygen species-induced damage, epigenetic mechanisms, insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling pathway. This review aims to arouse researchers' interest in the multi/transgenerational toxicity of pollutants and hopes to explore the possible long-term effects of environmental pollutants on organisms and even humans, as well as to provide constructive suggestions for the safety and management of emerging alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Lingjun Zeng
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Chen Wang
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China.
| | - Chongli Shi
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Yeyong Li
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Yi Peng
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Haibo Chen
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Biao Cheng
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Chao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Biomedical Nanotechnology Center, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, PR China
| | - Minghui Xiang
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Yuan Huang
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
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10
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Riyahi J, Abdoli B, Gelfo F, Petrosini L, Khatami L, Meftahi GH, Haghparast A. Multigenerational effects of paternal spatial training are lasting in the F1 and F2 male offspring. Behav Pharmacol 2022; 33:342-354. [PMID: 35502983 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies on intergenerational transmission of learning and memory performances demonstrated that parental spatial training before fertilization could facilitate learning and memory in the offspring, but many questions remain unclarified. Essential issues regarding whether and how long the effects of parental training in a task can last in several generations, and whether learning a task repeated in the successive generations can enhance a load of multigenerational effects. In the present study, the spatial performances of F1 and F2 generations of male offspring of fathers or grandfathers spatially trained in the Morris Water Maze were evaluated and compared with the performance of a control sample matched for age and sex. Further, to investigate the memory process in F1 and F2 male offspring, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), p-ERK1/2 and acetylated histone 3 lysine 14 (H3K14) expression levels in the hippocampus were analyzed. The findings showed that paternal training reduced escape latencies and increased time spent in the target quadrant by F1 and F2 male offspring. Besides, paternal spatial training repeated in two generations did not enhance the beneficial effects on offspring's spatial performances. These findings were supported by neurobiologic data showing that paternal training increased BDNF and p-ERK1/2 in the hippocampus of F1 and F2 male offspring. Furthermore, the hippocampal level of acetylated H3K14 increased in the offspring of spatially trained fathers, reinforcing the hypothesis that the augmented histone acetylation might play an essential role in the inheritance of spatial competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Riyahi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences
| | - Behrouz Abdoli
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science and Technology in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Francesca Gelfo
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation
- Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Leila Khatami
- School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | | | - Abbas Haghparast
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
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11
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Ren X, Tian S, Meng Q, Kim HM. Histone Demethylase AMX-1 Regulates Fertility in a p53/CEP-1 Dependent Manner. Front Genet 2022; 13:929716. [PMID: 35846143 PMCID: PMC9280695 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.929716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone methylation shapes the epigenetic configuration and adjusts multiple fundamental nuclear processes, including transcription, cell cycle control and DNA repair. The absence of histone demethylase LSD1/SPR-5 leads to progressive fertility defects as well as a reduction in brood size. Similarly, C. elegans LSD2 homolog AMX-1 has been implicated in regulating H3K4me2 and maintaining interstrand crosslinks (ICL) susceptibility. However, the mechanisms of how lack of AMX-1 induces sterility have not been addressed so far. This study investigated the histone demethylase AMX-1 in C. elegans and uncovered how amx-1 contributes to sterility in a p53/CEP-1 dependent manner. We show that while sterility in spr-5 mutants exhibited progressive over generations, amx-1 mutants displayed non-transgenerational fertility defects. Also, amx-1 mutants exhibited a reduced number of sperms and produced low brood size (LBS) or sterile worms that retain neither sperms nor germline nuclei, suggesting that fertility defects originated from germline development failure. Surprisingly, sterility exhibited in amx-1 was mediated by p53/CEP-1 function. Consistent with this result, upregulation of Piwi expression in amx-1 mutants suggested that AMX-1 is essential for germline development by regulating Piwi gene expressions. We propose that AMX-1 is required for proper Piwi expression and transposon silencing in a p53/CEP-1 dependent manner; thus, the absence of AMX-1 expression leads to defective meiotic development and sterility. This study elucidates how LSD2/AMX-1 contributes to sterility, therefore, expanding the boundaries of histone demethylase function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Ren
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Sisi Tian
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qinghao Meng
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hyun-Min Kim
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Division of Natural and Applied Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, China
- *Correspondence: Hyun-Min Kim,
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12
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O’Brown ZK, Greer EL. N6-methyladenine: A Rare and Dynamic DNA Mark. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1389:177-210. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-11454-0_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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13
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Burton NO, Greer EL. Multigenerational epigenetic inheritance: Transmitting information across generations. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 127:121-132. [PMID: 34426067 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Inherited epigenetic information has been observed to regulate a variety of complex organismal phenotypes across diverse taxa of life. This continually expanding body of literature suggests that epigenetic inheritance plays a significant, and potentially fundamental, role in inheritance. Despite the important role these types of effects play in biology, the molecular mediators of this non-genetic transmission of information are just now beginning to be deciphered. Here we provide an intellectual framework for interpreting these findings and how they can interact with each other. We also define the different types of mechanisms that have been found to mediate epigenetic inheritance and to regulate whether epigenetic information persists for one or many generations. The field of epigenetic inheritance is entering an exciting phase, in which we are beginning to understand the mechanisms by which non-genetic information is transmitted to, and deciphered by, subsequent generations to maintain essential environmental information without permanently altering the genetic code. A more complete understanding of how and when epigenetic inheritance occurs will advance our understanding of numerous different aspects of biology ranging from how organisms cope with changing environments to human pathologies influenced by a parent's environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas O Burton
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK; Center for Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA.
| | - Eric L Greer
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School Initiative for RNA Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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14
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Hsu CL, Lo YC, Kao CF. H3K4 Methylation in Aging and Metabolism. EPIGENOMES 2021; 5:14. [PMID: 34968301 PMCID: PMC8594702 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes5020014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
During the process of aging, extensive epigenetic alterations are made in response to both exogenous and endogenous stimuli. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge regarding one such alteration, H3K4 methylation (H3K4me), as it relates to aging in different species. We especially highlight emerging evidence that links this modification with metabolic pathways, which may provide a mechanistic link to explain its role in aging. H3K4me is a widely recognized marker of active transcription, and it appears to play an evolutionarily conserved role in determining organism longevity, though its influence is context specific and requires further clarification. Interestingly, the modulation of H3K4me dynamics may occur as a result of nutritional status, such as methionine restriction. Methionine status appears to influence H3K4me via changes in the level of S-adenosyl methionine (SAM, the universal methyl donor) or the regulation of H3K4-modifying enzyme activities. Since methionine restriction is widely known to extend lifespan, the mechanistic link between methionine metabolic flux, the sensing of methionine concentrations and H3K4me status may provide a cogent explanation for several seemingly disparate observations in aging organisms, including age-dependent H3K4me dynamics, gene expression changes, and physiological aberrations. These connections are not yet entirely understood, especially at a molecular level, and will require further elucidation. To conclude, we discuss some potential H3K4me-mediated molecular mechanisms that may link metabolic status to the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Ling Hsu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan;
| | - Yi-Chen Lo
- Graduate Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;
| | - Cheng-Fu Kao
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan;
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15
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Frolows N, Ashe A. Small RNAs and chromatin in the multigenerational epigenetic landscape of Caenorhabditis elegans. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200112. [PMID: 33866817 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, it was thought that the only heritable information transmitted from one individual to another was that encoded in the DNA sequence. However, it has become increasingly clear that this is not the case and that the transmission of molecules from within the cytoplasm of the gamete also plays a significant role in heritability. The roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans, has emerged as one of the leading model organisms in which to study the mechanisms of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI). Collaborative efforts over the past few years have revealed that RNA molecules play a critical role in transmitting transgenerational responses, but precisely how they do so is as yet uncertain. In addition, the role of histone modifications in epigenetic inheritance is increasingly apparent, and RNA and histones interact in a way that we do not yet fully understand. Furthermore, both exogenous and endogenous RNA molecules, as well as other environmental triggers, are able to induce heritable epigenetic changes that affect transcription across the genome. In most cases, these epigenetic changes last only for a handful of generations, but occasionally can be maintained much longer: perhaps indefinitely. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the role of RNA and histones in TEI, as well as making clear the gaps in our knowledge. We also speculate on the evolutionary implications of epigenetic inheritance, particularly in the context of a short-lived, clonally propagating species. This article is part of the theme issue 'How does epigenetics influence the course of evolution?'
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya Frolows
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.,CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Sydney, New South Wales, 2113, Australia
| | - Alyson Ashe
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
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16
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How do histone modifications contribute to transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in C. elegans? Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 48:1019-1034. [PMID: 32539084 DOI: 10.1042/bst20190944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Gene regulatory information can be inherited between generations in a phenomenon termed transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI). While examples of TEI in many animals accumulate, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has proven particularly useful in investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon. In C. elegans and other animals, the modification of histone proteins has emerged as a potential carrier and effector of transgenerational epigenetic information. In this review, we explore the contribution of histone modifications to TEI in C. elegans. We describe the role of repressive histone marks, histone methyltransferases, and associated chromatin factors in heritable gene silencing, and discuss recent developments and unanswered questions in how these factors integrate with other known TEI mechanisms. We also review the transgenerational effects of the manipulation of histone modifications on germline health and longevity.
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17
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Carpenter BS, Lee TW, Plott CF, Rodriguez JD, Brockett JS, Myrick DA, Katz DJ. Caenorhabditis elegans establishes germline versus soma by balancing inherited histone methylation. Development 2021; 148:dev.196600. [PMID: 33462111 DOI: 10.1242/dev.196600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Formation of a zygote is coupled with extensive epigenetic reprogramming to enable appropriate inheritance of histone methylation and prevent developmental delays. In Caenorhabditis elegans, this reprogramming is mediated by the H3K4me2 demethylase SPR-5 and the H3K9 methyltransferase, MET-2. In contrast, the H3K36 methyltransferase MES-4 maintains H3K36me2/3 at germline genes between generations to facilitate re-establishment of the germline. To determine whether the MES-4 germline inheritance pathway antagonizes spr-5; met-2 reprogramming, we examined the interaction between these two pathways. We found that the developmental delay of spr-5; met-2 mutant progeny is associated with ectopic H3K36me3 and the ectopic expression of MES-4-targeted germline genes in somatic tissues. Furthermore, the developmental delay is dependent upon MES-4 and the H3K4 methyltransferase, SET-2. We propose that MES-4 prevents crucial germline genes from being repressed by antagonizing maternal spr-5; met-2 reprogramming. Thus, the balance of inherited histone modifications is necessary to distinguish germline versus soma and prevent developmental delay.This article has an associated 'The people behind the papers' interview.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon S Carpenter
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
| | - Teresa W Lee
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
| | - Caroline F Plott
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
| | - Juan D Rodriguez
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
| | - Jovan S Brockett
- Department of Biology, Oglethorpe University, Atlanta GA 30319, USA
| | - Dexter A Myrick
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
| | - David J Katz
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
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18
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Sławińska N, Krupa R. Molecular Aspects of Senescence and Organismal Ageing-DNA Damage Response, Telomeres, Inflammation and Chromatin. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020590. [PMID: 33435578 PMCID: PMC7827783 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells can become senescent in response to stress. Senescence is a process characterised by a stable proliferative arrest. Sometimes it can be beneficial—for example, it can suppress tumour development or take part in tissue repair. On the other hand, studies show that it is also involved in the ageing process. DNA damage response (DDR) is triggered by DNA damage or telomere shortening during cell division. When left unresolved, it may lead to the activation of senescence. Senescent cells secrete certain proteins in larger quantities. This phenomenon is referred to as senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). SASP can induce senescence in other cells; evidence suggests that overabundance of senescent cells contributes to ageing. SASP proteins include proinflammatory cytokines and metalloproteinases, which degrade the extracellular matrix. Shortening of telomeres is another feature associated with organismal ageing. Older organisms have shorter telomeres. Restoring telomerase activity in mice not only slowed but also partially reversed the symptoms of ageing. Changes in chromatin structure during senescence include heterochromatin formation or decondensation and loss of H1 histones. During organismal ageing, cells can experience heterochromatin loss, DNA demethylation and global histone loss. Cellular and organismal ageing are both complex processes with many aspects that are often related. The purpose of this review is to bring some of these aspects forward and provide details regarding them.
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Wei CC, Yen PL, Chaikritsadakarn A, Huang CW, Chang CH, Liao VHC. Parental CuO nanoparticles exposure results in transgenerational toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans associated with possible epigenetic regulation. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 203:111001. [PMID: 32888585 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Environmental nanomaterials contamination is a great concern for organisms including human. Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are widely used in a huge range of applications which might pose potential risk to organisms. This study investigated the in vivo transgenerational toxicity on development and reproduction with parental CuO NPs exposure in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The results showed that CuO NPs (150 mg/L) significantly reduced the body length of parental C. elegans (P0). Only about 1 mg/L Cu2+ (~0.73%) were detected from 150 mg/L CuO NPs in 0.5X K-medium after 48 h. In transgenerational assays, CuO NPs (150 mg/L) parental exposure significantly induced developmental and reproductive toxicity in non-exposed C. elegans progeny (CuO NPs free) on body length (F1) and brood size (F1 and F2), respectively. In contrast, parental exposure to Cu2+ (1 mg/L) did not cause transgenerational toxicity on growth and reproduction. This suggests that the transgenerational toxicity was mostly attributed to the particulate form of CuO NPs. Moreover, qRT-PCR results showed that the mRNA levels of met-2 and spr-5 genes were significantly decreased at P0 and F1 upon only maternal exposure to CuO NPs (150 mg/L), suggesting the observed transgenerational toxicity was associated with possible epigenetic regulation in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Cheng Wei
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd., Taipei, 100, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd., Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Ling Yen
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Amornrat Chaikritsadakarn
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Wei Huang
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Han Chang
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Vivian Hsiu-Chuan Liao
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
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20
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Wang S, Meyer DH, Schumacher B. H3K4me2 regulates the recovery of protein biosynthesis and homeostasis following DNA damage. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2020; 27:1165-1177. [DOI: 10.1038/s41594-020-00513-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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21
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Epigenetic Clock: DNA Methylation in Aging. Stem Cells Int 2020; 2020:1047896. [PMID: 32724310 PMCID: PMC7366189 DOI: 10.1155/2020/1047896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging, which is accompanied by decreased organ function and increased disease incidence, limits human lifespan and has attracted investigators for thousands of years. In recent decades, with the rapid development of biology, scientists have shown that epigenetic modifications, especially DNA methylation, are key regulators involved in this process. Regular fluctuations in global DNA methylation levels have been shown to accurately estimate biological age and disease prognosis. In this review, we discuss recent findings regarding the relationship between variations in DNA methylation level patterns and aging. In addition, we introduce the known mechanisms by which DNA methylation regulators affect aging and related diseases. As more studies uncover the mechanisms by which DNA methylation regulates aging, antiaging interventions and treatments for related diseases may be developed that enable human life extension.
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22
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Zhang S, Li F, Zhou T, Wang G, Li Z. Caenorhabditis elegans as a Useful Model for Studying Aging Mutations. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:554994. [PMID: 33123086 PMCID: PMC7570440 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.554994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Caenorhabditis elegans genome possesses homologs of about two-thirds of all human disease genes. Based on its physiological aging characteristics and superiority, the use of C. elegans as a model system for studies on aging, age-related diseases, mechanisms of longevity, and drug screening has been widely acknowledged in recent decades. Lifespan increasing mutations in C. elegans were found to delay aging by impinging several signaling pathways and related epigenetic modifications, including the insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. Interestingly, dietary restriction (DR) has been shown to increase the lifespan of numerous metazoans and protect them from multiple age-related pathologies. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. In recent decades, C. elegans has been used as a unique model system for high-throughput drug screening. Here, we review C. elegans mutants exhibiting increased in lifespan and age-dependent changes under DR, as well as the utility of C. elegans for drug screening. Thus, we provide evidence for the use of this model organism in research on the prevention of aging.
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23
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Lee TWS, David HS, Engstrom AK, Carpenter BS, Katz DJ. Repressive H3K9me2 protects lifespan against the transgenerational burden of COMPASS activity in C. elegans. eLife 2019; 8:e48498. [PMID: 31815663 PMCID: PMC7299346 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In Caenorhabditis elegans, mutations in WDR-5 and other components of the COMPASS H3K4 methyltransferase complex extend lifespan and enable its inheritance. Here, we show that wdr-5 mutant longevity is itself a transgenerational trait that corresponds with a global enrichment of the heterochromatin factor H3K9me2 over twenty generations. In addition, we find that the transgenerational aspects of wdr-5 mutant longevity require the H3K9me2 methyltransferase MET-2, and can be recapitulated by removal of the putative H3K9me2 demethylase JHDM-1. Finally, we show that the transgenerational acquisition of longevity in jhdm-1 mutants is associated with accumulating genomic H3K9me2 that is inherited by their long-lived wild-type descendants at a subset of loci. These results suggest that heterochromatin facilitates the transgenerational establishment and inheritance of a complex trait. Based on these results, we propose that transcription-coupled H3K4me via COMPASS limits lifespan by encroaching upon domains of heterochromatin in the genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Wei-sy Lee
- Department of Cell BiologyEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
| | - Heidi Shira David
- Department of Cell BiologyEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
| | | | | | - David John Katz
- Department of Cell BiologyEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
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24
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Parkhitko AA, Jouandin P, Mohr SE, Perrimon N. Methionine metabolism and methyltransferases in the regulation of aging and lifespan extension across species. Aging Cell 2019; 18:e13034. [PMID: 31460700 PMCID: PMC6826121 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Methionine restriction (MetR) extends lifespan across different species and exerts beneficial effects on metabolic health and inflammatory responses. In contrast, certain cancer cells exhibit methionine auxotrophy that can be exploited for therapeutic treatment, as decreasing dietary methionine selectively suppresses tumor growth. Thus, MetR represents an intervention that can extend lifespan with a complementary effect of delaying tumor growth. Beyond its function in protein synthesis, methionine feeds into complex metabolic pathways including the methionine cycle, the transsulfuration pathway, and polyamine biosynthesis. Manipulation of each of these branches extends lifespan; however, the interplay between MetR and these branches during regulation of lifespan is not well understood. In addition, a potential mechanism linking the activity of methionine metabolism and lifespan is regulation of production of the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine, which, after transferring its methyl group, is converted to S-adenosylhomocysteine. Methylation regulates a wide range of processes, including those thought to be responsible for lifespan extension by MetR. Although the exact mechanisms of lifespan extension by MetR or methionine metabolism reprogramming are unknown, it may act via reducing the rate of translation, modifying gene expression, inducing a hormetic response, modulating autophagy, or inducing mitochondrial function, antioxidant defense, or other metabolic processes. Here, we review the mechanisms of lifespan extension by MetR and different branches of methionine metabolism in different species and the potential for exploiting the regulation of methyltransferases to delay aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey A. Parkhitko
- Department of GeneticsBlavatnik InstituteHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusetts
| | - Patrick Jouandin
- Department of GeneticsBlavatnik InstituteHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusetts
| | - Stephanie E. Mohr
- Department of GeneticsBlavatnik InstituteHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusetts
| | - Norbert Perrimon
- Department of GeneticsBlavatnik InstituteHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusetts
- Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBostonMassachusetts
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25
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Liberman N, Wang SY, Greer EL. Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance: from phenomena to molecular mechanisms. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019; 59:189-206. [PMID: 31634674 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2019.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Inherited information not encoded in the DNA sequence can regulate a variety of complex phenotypes. However, how this epigenetic information escapes the typical epigenetic erasure that occurs upon fertilization and how it regulates behavior is still unclear. Here we review recent examples of brain related transgenerational epigenetic inheritance and delineate potential molecular mechanisms that could regulate how non-genetic information could be transmitted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Liberman
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA 02115, USA
| | - Simon Yuan Wang
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA 02115, USA
| | - Eric Lieberman Greer
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA 02115, USA.
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26
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Zullo JM, Drake D, Aron L, O'Hern P, Dhamne SC, Davidsohn N, Mao CA, Klein WH, Rotenberg A, Bennett DA, Church GM, Colaiácovo MP, Yankner BA. Regulation of lifespan by neural excitation and REST. Nature 2019; 574:359-364. [PMID: 31619788 PMCID: PMC6893853 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1647-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms that extend lifespan in humans are poorly understood. Here we show that extended longevity in humans is associated with a distinct transcriptome signature in the cerebral cortex that is characterized by downregulation of genes related to neural excitation and synaptic function. In Caenorhabditis elegans, neural excitation increases with age and inhibition of excitation globally, or in glutamatergic or cholinergic neurons, increases longevity. Furthermore, longevity is dynamically regulated by the excitatory-inhibitory balance of neural circuits. The transcription factor REST is upregulated in humans with extended longevity and represses excitation-related genes. Notably, REST-deficient mice exhibit increased cortical activity and neuronal excitability during ageing. Similarly, loss-of-function mutations in the C. elegans REST orthologue genes spr-3 and spr-4 elevate neural excitation and reduce the lifespan of long-lived daf-2 mutants. In wild-type worms, overexpression of spr-4 suppresses excitation and extends lifespan. REST, SPR-3, SPR-4 and reduced excitation activate the longevity-associated transcription factors FOXO1 and DAF-16 in mammals and worms, respectively. These findings reveal a conserved mechanism of ageing that is mediated by neural circuit activity and regulated by REST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Zullo
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Derek Drake
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liviu Aron
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patrick O'Hern
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sameer C Dhamne
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Noah Davidsohn
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chai-An Mao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William H Klein
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexander Rotenberg
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - George M Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Bruce A Yankner
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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27
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Romero-Bueno R, de la Cruz Ruiz P, Artal-Sanz M, Askjaer P, Dobrzynska A. Nuclear Organization in Stress and Aging. Cells 2019; 8:cells8070664. [PMID: 31266244 PMCID: PMC6678840 DOI: 10.3390/cells8070664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The eukaryotic nucleus controls most cellular processes. It is isolated from the cytoplasm by the nuclear envelope, which plays a prominent role in the structural organization of the cell, including nucleocytoplasmic communication, chromatin positioning, and gene expression. Alterations in nuclear composition and function are eminently pronounced upon stress and during premature and physiological aging. These alterations are often accompanied by epigenetic changes in histone modifications. We review, here, the role of nuclear envelope proteins and histone modifiers in the 3-dimensional organization of the genome and the implications for gene expression. In particular, we focus on the nuclear lamins and the chromatin-associated protein BAF, which are linked to Hutchinson–Gilford and Nestor–Guillermo progeria syndromes, respectively. We also discuss alterations in nuclear organization and the epigenetic landscapes during normal aging and various stress conditions, ranging from yeast to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Romero-Bueno
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucia/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Patricia de la Cruz Ruiz
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucia/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Marta Artal-Sanz
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucia/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Peter Askjaer
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucia/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain.
| | - Agnieszka Dobrzynska
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucia/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain.
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Erwin AA, Blumenstiel JP. Aging in the Drosophila ovary: contrasting changes in the expression of the piRNA machinery and mitochondria but no global release of transposable elements. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:305. [PMID: 31014230 PMCID: PMC6480902 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5668-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Evolutionary theory indicates that the dynamics of aging in the soma and reproductive tissues may be distinct. This difference arises from the fact that only the germline lineage establishes future generations. In the soma, changes in the landscape of heterochromatin have been proposed to have an important role in aging. This is because redistribution of heterochromatin during aging has been linked to the derepression of transposable elements and an overall loss of somatic gene regulation. A role for changes in the chromatin landscape in the aging of reproductive tissues is less well established. Whether or not epigenetic factors, such as heterochromatin marks, are perturbed in aging reproductive tissues is of interest because, in special cases, epigenetic variation may be heritable. Using mRNA sequencing data from late-stage egg chambers in Drosophila melanogaster, we characterized the landscape of altered gene and transposable element expression in aged reproductive tissues. This allowed us to test the hypothesis that reproductive tissues may differ from somatic tissues in their response to aging. Results We show that age-related expression changes in late-stage egg chambers tend to occur in genes residing in heterochromatin, particularly on the largely heterochromatic 4th chromosome. However, these expression differences are seen as both decreases and increases during aging, inconsistent with a general loss of heterochromatic silencing. We also identify an increase in expression of the piRNA machinery, suggesting an age-related increased investment in the maintenance of genome stability. We further identify a strong age-related reduction in the expression of mitochondrial transcripts. However, we find no evidence for global TE derepression in reproductive tissues. Rather, the observed effects of aging on TEs are primarily strain and family specific. Conclusions These results identify unique responses in somatic versus reproductive tissue with regards to aging. As in somatic tissues, female reproductive tissues show reduced expression of mitochondrial genes. In contrast, the piRNA machinery shows increased expression during aging. Overall, these results also indicate that global loss of TE control observed in other studies may be unique to the soma and sensitive to genetic background and TE family. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5668-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra A Erwin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA.
| | - Justin P Blumenstiel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA.
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Supplementing Genistein for Breeder Hens Alters the Fatty Acid Metabolism and Growth Performance of Offsprings by Epigenetic Modification. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2019; 2019:9214209. [PMID: 31049141 PMCID: PMC6458848 DOI: 10.1155/2019/9214209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The experiment was designed to clarify the effect and molecular mechanism of maternal genistein (GEN) on the lipid metabolism and developmental growth of offspring chicks. Laying broiler breeder (LBB) hens were supplemented with 40 mg/kg genistein (GEN), while the control group was fed with the low-soybean meal diet. The offspring chicks were grouped according to the mother generation with 8 replicates each. Hepatic transcriptome data revealed 3915 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, P adjusted < 0.05, fold change > 1.5 or fold change < 0.67) between chicks in the two groups. Maternal GEN activated the GH-IGF1-PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which promoted the developmental processes and cellular amino acid metabolic processes, as well as inhibited the apoptotic process. GEN treatment significantly increased the weight gain, breast muscle percentage, and liver index in chicks. PANTHER clustering analysis suggested that maternal GEN enhanced the antioxidant activity of chicks by the upregulation of gene (SOD3, MT1, and MT4) expression. Accordingly, the activities of T-AOC and T-SOD in the liver were increased after GEN treatment. The overrepresentation tests revealed that maternal GEN influenced the glycolysis, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, acyl-coenzyme A metabolism, lipid transport, and cholesterol metabolism in the chick livers. Hepatic cholesterol and long-chain fatty acid were significantly decreased after GEN treatment. However, the level of arachidonic acid was higher in the livers of the GEN-treated group compared with the CON group. Moreover, GEN treatment enhanced fatty acid β-oxidation and upregulated PPARδ expression in the chick liver. ChIP-qPCR analysis indicated that maternal GEN might induce histone H3-K36 trimethylation in the promoter region of PPARδ gene (PPARD) through Iws1, methyltransferases. It also induced histone H4-K12 acetylation at the PPARD promoter through MYST2, which activated the PPAR signaling pathways in the chick livers. In summary, supplementing LBB hens with GEN can alter lipid metabolism in the offspring chicks through epigenetic modification and improve the antioxidative capability as well as growth performance.
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Kako K, Kim JD, Fukamizu A. Emerging impacts of biological methylation on genetic information. J Biochem 2019; 165:9-18. [PMID: 30219914 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvy075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The central dogma of molecular biology explains the fundamental flow of genetic information for life. Although genome sequence (DNA) itself is a static chemical signature, it includes multiple layers of information composed of mRNA, tRNA, rRNA and small RNAs, all of which are involved in protein synthesis and is passing from parents to offspring via DNA. Methylation is a biologically important modification, because DNA, RNAs and proteins, components of the central dogma, are methylated by a set of methyltransferases. Recent works focused on understanding a variety of biological methylation have shed light on new regulation of cellular functions. In this review, we briefly discuss some of those recent findings of methylation, including DNA, RNAs and proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichiro Kako
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.,Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Jun-Dal Kim
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Fukamizu
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.,International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS), University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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31
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Norouzitallab P, Baruah K, Vanrompay D, Bossier P. Can epigenetics translate environmental cues into phenotypes? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 647:1281-1293. [PMID: 30180336 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Revised: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/04/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Living organisms are constantly exposed to wide ranges of environmental cues. They react to these cues by undergoing a battery of phenotypic responses, such as by altering their physiological and behavioral traits, in order to adapt and survive in the changed environments. The adaptive response of a species induced by environmental cues is typically thought to be associated with its genetic diversity such that higher genetic diversity provides increased adaptive potential. This originates from the general consensus that phenotypic traits have a genetic basis and are subject to Darwinian natural selection and Mendelian inheritance. There is no doubt about the validity of these principles, supported by the successful introgression of specific traits during (selective) breeding. However, a range of recent studies provided fascinating evidences suggesting that environmental effects experienced by an organism during its lifetime can have marked influences on its phenotype, and additionally the organism can pass on the acquired phenotypes to its subsequent generations through non-genetic mechanisms (also termed as epigenetic mechanism) - a notion that dates back to Lamarck and has been controversial ever since. In this review, we describe how the epigenetics has reshaped our long perception about the inheritance/development of phenotypes within organisms, contrasting with the classical gene-based view of inheritance. We particularly highlighted recent developments in our understanding of inheritance of parental environmental induced phenotypic traits in multicellular organisms under different environmental conditions, and discuss how modifications of the epigenome contribute to the determination of the adult phenotype of future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Norouzitallab
- Laboratory for Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure 653, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Laboratory of Aquaculture &Artemia Reference Center, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure 653, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
| | - Kartik Baruah
- Laboratory of Aquaculture &Artemia Reference Center, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure 653, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Daisy Vanrompay
- Laboratory for Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure 653, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Peter Bossier
- Laboratory of Aquaculture &Artemia Reference Center, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure 653, Ghent 9000, Belgium
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Abstract
Research in the field of gerontology has traditionally focused on later life stages. There is increasing evidence, however, that both the rate of age-related functional decline and the later-life health status can be programmed during early development. The central role of epigenetic mechanisms (methylation of DNA, histone modifications and regulation by non-coding RNAs) in mediating these long-term effects has been elucidated. Both rate and direction of age-associated change of epigenetic patterns (“epigenetic drift”) were shown to be largely dependent on early-life environmental conditions. Inter-individual divergences in epigenetic profiles may arise following the stochastic errors in maintaining epigenetic marks, but they may also be adaptively mediated by specific environmental cues. Recent cohort studies indicate that ticking rate of epigenetic clock, estimated by a DNA methylation-based methods, may be developmentally adjusted, and that individual’s discrepancies among epigenetic and chronological age would be likely programmed early in development. In this Perspective article, recent findings suggesting the importance of early-life determinants for life-course dynamics of epigenetic drift are summarized and discussed.
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Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Aging is a complex trait that is influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Although many cellular and physiological changes have been described to occur with aging, the precise molecular causes of aging remain unknown. Given the biological complexity and heterogeneity of the aging process, understanding the mechanisms that underlie aging requires integration of data about age-dependent changes that occur at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organismal levels. Recent Advances: The development of high-throughput technologies such as next-generation sequencing, proteomics, metabolomics, and automated imaging techniques provides researchers with new opportunities to understand the mechanisms of aging. Using these methods, millions of biological molecules can be simultaneously monitored during the aging process with high accuracy and specificity. CRITICAL ISSUES Although the ability to produce big data has drastically increased over the years, integration and interpreting of high-throughput data to infer regulatory relationships between biological factors and identify causes of aging remain the major challenges. In this review, we describe recent advances and survey emerging omics approaches in aging research. We then discuss their limitations and emphasize the need for the further development of methods for the integration of different types of data. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Combining omics approaches and novel methods for single-cell analysis with systems biology tools would allow building interaction networks and investigate how these networks are perturbed with aging and disease states. Together, these studies are expected to provide a better understanding of the aging process and could provide insights into the pathophysiology of many age-associated human diseases. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 29, 985-1002.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared S Lorusso
- 1 Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine , Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Oleg A Sviderskiy
- 2 Department of Ecology and Life Safety, Samara National Research University , Samara, Russia
| | - Vyacheslav M Labunskyy
- 1 Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine , Boston, Massachusetts
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Denzel MS, Lapierre LR, Mack HID. Emerging topics in C. elegans aging research: Transcriptional regulation, stress response and epigenetics. Mech Ageing Dev 2018; 177:4-21. [PMID: 30134144 PMCID: PMC6696993 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Key discoveries in aging research have been made possible with the use of model organisms. Caenorhabditis elegans is a short-lived nematode that has become a well-established system to study aging. The practicality and powerful genetic manipulations associated with this metazoan have revolutionized our ability to understand how organisms age. 25 years after the publication of the discovery of the daf-2 gene as a genetic modifier of lifespan, C. elegans remains as relevant as ever in the quest to understand the process of aging. Nematode aging research has proven useful in identifying transcriptional regulators, small molecule signals, cellular mechanisms, epigenetic modifications associated with stress resistance and longevity, and lifespan-extending compounds. Here, we review recent discoveries and selected topics that have emerged in aging research using this incredible little worm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin S Denzel
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Louis R Lapierre
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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35
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Ow MC, Borziak K, Nichitean AM, Dorus S, Hall SE. Early experiences mediate distinct adult gene expression and reproductive programs in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007219. [PMID: 29447162 PMCID: PMC5831748 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental stress during early development in animals can have profound effects on adult phenotypes via programmed changes in gene expression. Using the nematode C. elegans, we demonstrated previously that adults retain a cellular memory of their developmental experience that is manifested by differences in gene expression and life history traits; however, the sophistication of this system in response to different environmental stresses, and how it dictates phenotypic plasticity in adults that contribute to increased fitness in response to distinct environmental challenges, was unknown. Using transcriptional profiling, we show here that C. elegans adults indeed retain distinct cellular memories of different environmental conditions. We identified approximately 500 genes in adults that entered dauer due to starvation that exhibit significant opposite (“seesaw”) transcriptional phenotypes compared to adults that entered dauer due to crowding, and are distinct from animals that bypassed dauer. Moreover, we show that two-thirds of the genes in the genome experience a 2-fold or greater seesaw trend in gene expression, and based upon the direction of change, are enriched in large, tightly linked regions on different chromosomes. Importantly, these transcriptional programs correspond to significant changes in brood size depending on the experienced stress. In addition, we demonstrate that while the observed seesaw gene expression changes occur in both somatic and germline tissue, only starvation-induced changes require a functional GLP-4 protein necessary for germline development, and both programs require the Argonaute CSR-1. Thus, our results suggest that signaling between the soma and the germ line can generate phenotypic plasticity as a result of early environmental experience, and likely contribute to increased fitness in adverse conditions and the evolution of the C. elegans genome. Environmental stress during early development in animals can have profound effects on adult behavior and physiology due to programmed changes in gene expression. However, whether different stresses result in distinct changes in traits that allow stressed animals to better survive and reproduce in future adverse conditions is largely unknown. Using the animal model system, C. elegans, we show that adults that experienced starvation exhibit opposite (“seesaw”) genome-wide gene expression changes compared to adults that experienced crowding, and are distinct from animals that experienced favorable conditions. Genes that are similarly up- or downregulated due to either starvation or crowding are located in clusters on the same chromosomes. Importantly, these gene expression changes of differently-stressed animals result in corresponding changes in progeny number, a life history trait of evolutionary significance. These distinct gene expression programs require different signaling pathways that communicate across somatic and germline tissue types. Thus, different environmental stresses experienced early in development induce distinct signaling mechanisms to result in changes in gene expression and reproduction in adults, and likely contribute to increased survival in future adverse conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C. Ow
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States of America
| | - Kirill Borziak
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States of America
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States of America
| | | | - Steve Dorus
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States of America
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States of America
| | - Sarah E. Hall
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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36
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Demoinet E, Roy R. Surviving Starvation: AMPK Protects Germ Cell Integrity by Targeting Multiple Epigenetic Effectors. Bioessays 2018; 40. [PMID: 29430674 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201700095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Acute starvation can have long-term consequences that are mediated through epigenetic change. Some of these changes are affected by the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a master regulator of cellular energy homeostasis. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the absence of AMPK during a period of starvation in an early larval stage results in developmental defects following their recovery on food, while many of them become sterile. Moreover, the loss of AMPK during this quiescent period results in transgenerational phenotypes that can become progressively worse with each successive generation. Our recent data describe a chromatin-based mechanism of how AMPK mediates adjustment to acute starvation in the germ cells, however, the heritable aspect of this AMPK mutant phenotype remains unresolved. Here, we explore how AMPK might affect this process and speculate how the initial transcription that occurs in the germ cells may adversely affect subsequent germline gene expression and/or genomic integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Demoinet
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1B1.,Institute of Biology Valrose (iBV), CNRS, INSERM, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, 06100, Nice, France
| | - Richard Roy
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1B1
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37
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Ahringer J, Gasser SM. Repressive Chromatin in Caenorhabditis elegans: Establishment, Composition, and Function. Genetics 2018; 208:491-511. [PMID: 29378810 PMCID: PMC5788517 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromatin is organized and compacted in the nucleus through the association of histones and other proteins, which together control genomic activity. Two broad types of chromatin can be distinguished: euchromatin, which is generally transcriptionally active, and heterochromatin, which is repressed. Here we examine the current state of our understanding of repressed chromatin in Caenorhabditis elegans, focusing on roles of histone modifications associated with repression, such as methylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me2/3) or the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (MES-2/3/6)-deposited modification H3K27me3, and on proteins that recognize these modifications. Proteins involved in chromatin repression are important for development, and have demonstrated roles in nuclear organization, repetitive element silencing, genome integrity, and the regulation of euchromatin. Additionally, chromatin factors participate in repression with small RNA pathways. Recent findings shed light on heterochromatin function and regulation in C. elegans, and should inform our understanding of repressed chromatin in other animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Ahringer
- The Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom
| | - Susan M Gasser
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), 4058 Basel, Switzerland, and
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Basel, 4056, Switzerland
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39
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Parashar NC, Parashar G, Nayyar H, Sandhir R. N 6-adenine DNA methylation demystified in eukaryotic genome: From biology to pathology. Biochimie 2017; 144:56-62. [PMID: 29074394 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2017.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
N6-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine (m6dA) is a well characterized DNA modification in prokaryotes. Its existence in eukaryotic DNA remained doubtful until recently. Evidence suggests that the m6dA levels decrease with the increasing complexity of eukaryotic genomes. Analysis of m6dA levels in genome of lower eukaryotes reveals its role in gene regulation, nucleosome positioning and early development. In higher eukaryotes m6dA is enriched in nongenic region compared to genic region, preferentially in chromosome X and 13 suggesting a chromosome bias. High levels of m6dA during embryogenesis as compared to adult tissues are indicative of its importance during development and possible association with regeneration capabilities. Further, decreased levels of m6dA in diabetic patients has been correlated with expression of Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) which acts as m6A demethylase. m6dA levels have also been reported to be decreased in different types of cancers. The present review highlights the role of m6dA modification in eukaryotic genomes and its functional importance in regulation of physiological and pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gaurav Parashar
- Laboratory of Epigenetics and Diseases, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, 160062, India
| | - Harsh Nayyar
- Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Rajat Sandhir
- Department of Biochemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
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40
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Abstract
During aging, the mechanisms that normally maintain health and stress resistance strikingly decline, resulting in decrepitude, frailty, and ultimately death. Exactly when and how this decline occurs is unknown. Changes in transcriptional networks and chromatin state lie at the heart of age-dependent decline. These epigenomic changes are not only observed during aging but also profoundly affect cellular function and stress resistance, thereby contributing to the progression of aging. We propose that the dysregulation of transcriptional and chromatin networks is a crucial component of aging. Understanding age-dependent epigenomic changes will yield key insights into how aging begins and progresses and should lead to the development of new therapeutics that delay or even reverse aging and age-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren N Booth
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Anne Brunet
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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41
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Klosin A, Reis K, Hidalgo-Carcedo C, Casas E, Vavouri T, Lehner B. Impaired DNA replication derepresses chromatin and generates a transgenerationally inherited epigenetic memory. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2017; 3:e1701143. [PMID: 28835928 PMCID: PMC5559210 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1701143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Impaired DNA replication is a hallmark of cancer and a cause of genomic instability. We report that, in addition to causing genetic change, impaired DNA replication during embryonic development can have major epigenetic consequences for a genome. In a genome-wide screen, we identified impaired DNA replication as a cause of increased expression from a repressed transgene in Caenorhabditis elegans. The acquired expression state behaved as an "epiallele," being inherited for multiple generations before fully resetting. Derepression was not restricted to the transgene but was caused by a global reduction in heterochromatin-associated histone modifications due to the impaired retention of modified histones on DNA during replication in the early embryo. Impaired DNA replication during development can therefore globally derepress chromatin, creating new intergenerationally inherited epigenetic expression states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Klosin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory–Centre for Genomic Regulation (EMBL-CRG) Systems Biology Unit, CRG, the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kadri Reis
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory–Centre for Genomic Regulation (EMBL-CRG) Systems Biology Unit, CRG, the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Hidalgo-Carcedo
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory–Centre for Genomic Regulation (EMBL-CRG) Systems Biology Unit, CRG, the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduard Casas
- Program of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer–Institute Germans Trias i Pujol, Can Ruti Campus, Ctra de Can Ruti, Camí de les Escoles s/n, Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tanya Vavouri
- Program of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer–Institute Germans Trias i Pujol, Can Ruti Campus, Ctra de Can Ruti, Camí de les Escoles s/n, Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Can Ruti Campus, Ctra de Can Ruti, Camí de les Escoles s/n, Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ben Lehner
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory–Centre for Genomic Regulation (EMBL-CRG) Systems Biology Unit, CRG, the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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Vaiserman AM, Koliada AK, Jirtle RL. Non-genomic transmission of longevity between generations: potential mechanisms and evidence across species. Epigenetics Chromatin 2017; 10:38. [PMID: 28750655 PMCID: PMC5531095 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-017-0145-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating animal and human data indicate that environmental exposures experienced during sensitive developmental periods may strongly influence risk of adult disease. Moreover, the effects triggered by developmental environmental cues can be transgenerationally transmitted, potentially affecting offspring health outcomes. Increasing evidence suggests a central role of epigenetic mechanisms (heritable alterations in gene expression occurring without changes in underlying DNA sequence) in mediating these effects. This review summarizes the findings from animal models, including worms, insects, and rodents, and also from human studies, indicating that lifespan and longevity-associated characteristics can be transmitted across generations via non-genetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Vaiserman
- D.F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology, NAMS, Vyshgorodskaya st. 67, Kiev, 04114, Ukraine.
| | - Alexander K Koliada
- D.F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology, NAMS, Vyshgorodskaya st. 67, Kiev, 04114, Ukraine
| | - Randy L Jirtle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.,Department of Oncology, McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
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43
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Wang Y, Liu H, Sun Z. Lamarck rises from his grave: parental environment-induced epigenetic inheritance in model organisms and humans. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2017; 92:2084-2111. [PMID: 28220606 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Organisms can change their physiological/behavioural traits to adapt and survive in changed environments. However, whether these acquired traits can be inherited across generations through non-genetic alterations has been a topic of debate for over a century. Emerging evidence indicates that both ancestral and parental experiences, including nutrition, environmental toxins, nurturing behaviour, and social stress, can have powerful effects on the physiological, metabolic and cellular functions in an organism. In certain circumstances, these effects can be transmitted across several generations through epigenetic (i.e. non-DNA sequence-based rather than mutational) modifications. In this review, we summarize recent evidence on epigenetic inheritance from parental environment-induced developmental and physiological alterations in nematodes, fruit flies, zebrafish, rodents, and humans. The epigenetic modifications demonstrated to be both susceptible to modulation by environmental cues and heritable, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and small non-coding RNAs, are also summarized. We particularly focus on evidence that parental environment-induced epigenetic alterations are transmitted through both the maternal and paternal germlines and exert sex-specific effects. The thought-provoking data presented here raise fundamental questions about the mechanisms responsible for these phenomena. In particular, the means that define the specificity of the response to parental experience in the gamete epigenome and that direct the establishment of the specific epigenetic change in the developing embryos, as well as in specific tissues in the descendants, remain obscure and require elucidation. More precise epigenetic assessment at both the genome-wide level and single-cell resolution as well as strategies for breeding at relatively sensitive periods of development and manipulation aimed at specific epigenetic modification are imperative for identifying parental environment-induced epigenetic marks across generations. Considering their diverse epigenetic architectures, the conservation and prevalence of the mechanisms underlying epigenetic inheritance in non-mammals require further investigation in mammals. Interpretation of the consequences arising from epigenetic inheritance on organisms and a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms will provide insight into how gene-environment interactions shape developmental processes and physiological functions, which in turn may have wide-ranging implications for human health, and understanding biological adaptation and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Huijie Liu
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Zhongsheng Sun
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,Institute of Genomic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
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O'Brown ZK, Greer EL. N6-Methyladenine: A Conserved and Dynamic DNA Mark. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 945:213-246. [PMID: 27826841 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-43624-1_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Chromatin, consisting of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) wrapped around histone proteins, facilitates DNA compaction and allows identical DNA codes to confer many different cellular phenotypes. This biological versatility is accomplished in large part by posttranslational modifications to histones and chemical modifications to DNA. These modifications direct the cellular machinery to expand or compact specific chromatin regions and mark regions of the DNA as important for cellular functions. While each of the four bases that make up DNA can be modified (Iyer et al. 2011), this chapter will focus on methylation of the sixth position on adenines (6mA), as this modification has been poorly characterized in recently evolved eukaryotes, but shows promise as a new conserved layer of epigenetic regulation. 6mA was previously thought to be restricted to unicellular organisms, but recent work has revealed its presence in metazoa. Here, we will briefly describe the history of 6mA, examine its evolutionary conservation, and evaluate the current methods for detecting 6mA. We will discuss the enzymes that bind and regulate this mark and finally examine known and potential functions of 6mA in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zach Klapholz O'Brown
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Eric Lieberman Greer
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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