1
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Voichek Y, Hristova G, Mollá-Morales A, Weigel D, Nordborg M. Widespread position-dependent transcriptional regulatory sequences in plants. Nat Genet 2024:10.1038/s41588-024-01907-3. [PMID: 39266765 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01907-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
Much of what we know about eukaryotic transcription stems from animals and yeast; however, plants evolved separately for over a billion years, leaving ample time for divergence in transcriptional regulation. Here we set out to elucidate fundamental properties of cis-regulatory sequences in plants. Using massively parallel reporter assays across four plant species, we demonstrate the central role of sequences downstream of the transcription start site (TSS) in transcriptional regulation. Unlike animal enhancers that are position independent, plant regulatory elements depend on their position, as altering their location relative to the TSS significantly affects transcription. We highlight the importance of the region downstream of the TSS in regulating transcription by identifying a DNA motif that is conserved across vascular plants and is sufficient to enhance gene expression in a dose-dependent manner. The identification of a large number of position-dependent enhancers points to fundamental differences in gene regulation between plants and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoav Voichek
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Gabriela Hristova
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Almudena Mollá-Morales
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Detlef Weigel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Magnus Nordborg
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria.
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2
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Yi SV. Epigenetics Research in Evolutionary Biology: Perspectives on Timescales and Mechanisms. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae170. [PMID: 39235767 PMCID: PMC11376073 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae170] [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: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics research in evolutionary biology encompasses a variety of research areas, from regulation of gene expression to inheritance of environmentally mediated phenotypes. Such divergent research foci can occasionally render the umbrella term "epigenetics" ambiguous. Here I discuss several areas of contemporary epigenetics research in the context of evolutionary biology, aiming to provide balanced views across timescales and molecular mechanisms. The importance of epigenetics in development is now being assessed in many nonmodel species. These studies not only confirm the importance of epigenetic marks in developmental processes, but also highlight the significant diversity in epigenetic regulatory mechanisms across taxa. Further, these comparative epigenomic studies have begun to show promise toward enhancing our understanding of how regulatory programs evolve. A key property of epigenetic marks is that they can be inherited along mitotic cell lineages, and epigenetic differences that occur during early development can have lasting consequences on the organismal phenotypes. Thus, epigenetic marks may play roles in short-term (within an organism's lifetime or to the next generation) adaptation and phenotypic plasticity. However, the extent to which observed epigenetic variation occurs independently of genetic influences remains uncertain, due to the widespread impact of genetics on epigenetic variation and the limited availability of comprehensive (epi)genomic resources from most species. While epigenetic marks can be inherited independently of genetic sequences in some species, there is little evidence that such "transgenerational inheritance" is a general phenomenon. Rather, molecular mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance are highly variable between species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soojin V Yi
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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3
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Zhou C, Wei X, Liu S, Liu C, Tian K, Zhang D. Global Characterization of DNA Methylation during Rice Leaf Angle Development. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:19219-19231. [PMID: 39146245 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c02650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
During plant development and growth, genomic DNA accumulates chemical markers that determine the levels of gene expression. DNA methylation is an important epigenetic marker involved in plant developmental events. However, the characterization of the role of DNA methylation in rice leaf angle development has lagged behind. Herein, we performed bisulfite sequencing to characterize DNA methylation sites and performed transcriptome and small RNA sequencing during leaf angle development. The results revealed a global reduction in CG methylation during leaf angle establishment. A reduction in gene body CG methylation appears to play a vital role in leaf angle development. The hypomethylated and weakly expressed genes were functionally enriched in the brassinosteroid and auxin signaling pathways. Additionally, the main DNA methyltransferases were inactive. The addition of exogenous DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine increased the leaf angle, which confirmed that DNA methylation is crucial for leaf angle development. This study revealed a gradual decrease in 24-nucleotide siRNA levels during leaf angle development, particularly in relation to the enrichment of 24-nucleotide siRNAs at different hypomethylated regions that induce leaf angle inclination. Our results indicate crucial roles for DNA methylation in the rice leaf angle developmental stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Regional Plant Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement (CTGU)/Biotechnology Research Center, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Xinlin Wei
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Regional Plant Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement (CTGU)/Biotechnology Research Center, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Shuangcheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Regional Plant Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement (CTGU)/Biotechnology Research Center, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Regional Plant Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement (CTGU)/Biotechnology Research Center, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Kexin Tian
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Regional Plant Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement (CTGU)/Biotechnology Research Center, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Dechun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Regional Plant Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement (CTGU)/Biotechnology Research Center, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
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4
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Jiang J, Gwee J, Fang J, Leichter SM, Sanders D, Ji X, Song J, Zhong X. Substrate specificity and protein stability drive the divergence of plant-specific DNA methyltransferases. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.11.603080. [PMID: 39071332 PMCID: PMC11275764 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.11.603080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism essential for transposon silencing and genome integrity. Across evolution, the substrates of DNA methylation have diversified between kingdoms to account for genome complexity. In plants, Chromomethylase3 (CMT3) and CMT2 are the major methyltransferases mediating CHG and CHH methylation, respectively. However, how these two enzymes diverge on substrate specificities during evolution remains unknown. Here, we reveal that CMT2 originates from a duplication of the evolutionarily more ancient CMT3 in flowering plants. Lacking a key arginine residue recognizing CHG in CMT2 impairs its CHG methylation activity in most flowering plants. An engineered V1200R mutation empowers CMT2 to restore both CHG and CHH methylation in Arabidopsis cmt2cmt3 mutant, testifying a loss-of-function effect for CMT2 after ∼200 million years of evolution. Interestingly, CMT2 has evolved a long and unstructured N-terminus critical for balancing protein stability, especially under heat stress. Furthermore, CMT2 N-terminus is plastic and can be tolerant to various natural mutations. Together, this study reveals the mechanism of chromomethylase divergence for context-specific DNA methylation in plants and sheds important lights on DNA methylation evolution and function.
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5
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Matyášek R, Kalfusová R, Kuderová A, Řehůřková K, Sochorová J, Kovařík A. Transcriptional Silencing of 35S rDNA in Tragopogon porrifolius Correlates with Cytosine Methylation in Sequence-Specific Manner. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7540. [PMID: 39062783 PMCID: PMC11276851 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the widely accepted involvement of DNA methylation in the regulation of rDNA transcription, the relative participation of different cytosine methylation pathways is currently described only for a few model plants. Using PacBio, Bisulfite, and RNA sequencing; PCR; Southern hybridizations; and FISH, the epigenetic consequences of rDNA copy number variation were estimated in two T. porrifolius lineages, por1 and por2, the latter with more than twice the rDNA copy numbers distributed approximately equally between NORs on chromosomes A and D. The lower rDNA content in por1 correlated with significantly reduced (>90%) sizes of both D-NORs. Moreover, two (L and S) prominent rDNA variants, differing in the repetitive organization of intergenic spacers, were detected in por2, while only the S-rDNA variant was detected in por1. Transcriptional activity of S-rDNA in por1 was associated with secondary constriction of both A-NORs. In contrast, silencing of S-rDNA in por2 was accompanied by condensation of A-NORs, secondary constriction on D-NORs, and L-rDNA transcriptional activity, suggesting (i) bidirectional nucleolar dominance and (ii) association of S-rDNAs with A-NORs and L-rDNAs with D-NORs in T. porrifolius. Each S- and L-rDNA array was formed of several sub-variants differentiating both genetically (specific SNPs) and epigenetically (transcriptional efficiency and cytosine methylation). The most significant correlations between rDNA silencing and methylation were detected for symmetric CWG motifs followed by CG motifs. No correlations were detected for external cytosine in CCGs or asymmetric CHHs, where methylation was rather position-dependent, particularly for AT-rich variants. We conclude that variations in rDNA copy numbers in plant diploids can be accompanied by prompt epigenetic responses to maintain an appropriate number of active rDNAs. The methylation dynamics of CWGs are likely to be the most responsible for regulating silent and active rDNA states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Matyášek
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (R.K.); (A.K.); (K.Ř.); (J.S.); (A.K.)
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Yadav B, Singh D, Mantri S, Rishi V. Genome-wide Methylation Dynamics and Context-dependent Gene Expression Variability in Differentiating Preadipocytes. J Endocr Soc 2024; 8:bvae121. [PMID: 38966711 PMCID: PMC11222978 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvae121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity, characterized by the accumulation of excess fat, is a complex condition resulting from the combination of genetic and epigenetic factors. Recent studies have found correspondence between DNA methylation and cell differentiation, suggesting a role of the former in cell fate determination. There is a lack of comprehensive understanding concerning the underpinnings of preadipocyte differentiation, specifically when cells are undergoing terminal differentiation (TD). To gain insight into dynamic genome-wide methylation, 3T3 L1 preadipocyte cells were differentiated by a hormone cocktail. The genomic DNA was isolated from undifferentiated cells and 4 hours, 2 days postdifferentiated cells, and 15 days TD cells. We employed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) to ascertain global genomic DNA methylation alterations at single base resolution as preadipocyte cells differentiate. The genome-wide distribution of DNA methylation showed similar overall patterns in pre-, post-, and terminally differentiated adipocytes, according to WGBS analysis. DNA methylation decreases at 4 hours after differentiation initiation, followed by methylation gain as cells approach TD. Studies revealed novel differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with adipogenesis. DMR analysis suggested that though DNA methylation is global, noticeable changes are observed at specific sites known as "hotspots." Hotspots are genomic regions rich in transcription factor (TF) binding sites and exhibit methylation-dependent TF binding. Subsequent analysis indicated hotspots as part of DMRs. The gene expression profile of key adipogenic genes in differentiating adipocytes is context-dependent, as we found a direct and inverse relationship between promoter DNA methylation and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binduma Yadav
- Nutritional Biotechnology, National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
- Regional Center for Biotechnology, Faridabad, Haryana 160014, India
| | - Dalwinder Singh
- Nutritional Biotechnology, National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Shrikant Mantri
- Nutritional Biotechnology, National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
| | - Vikas Rishi
- Nutritional Biotechnology, National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
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7
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Guerrero L, Bay R. Patterns of methylation and transcriptional plasticity during thermal acclimation in a reef-building coral. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13757. [PMID: 39027686 PMCID: PMC11254580 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity can buffer organisms against short-term environmental fluctuations. For example, previous exposure to increased temperatures can increase thermal tolerance in many species. Prior studies have found that acclimation to higher temperature can influence the magnitude of transcriptional response to subsequent acute thermal stress (hereafter, "transcriptional response modulation"). However, mechanisms mediating this gene expression response and, ultimately, phenotypic plasticity remain largely unknown. Epigenetic modifications are good candidates for modulating transcriptional response, as they broadly correlate with gene expression. Here, we investigate changes in DNA methylation as a possible mechanism controlling shifts in gene expression plasticity and thermal acclimation in the reef-building coral Acropora nana. We find that gene expression response to acute stress is altered in corals acclimated to different temperatures, with many genes exhibiting a dampened response to heat stress in corals pre-conditioned to higher temperatures. At the same time, we observe shifts in methylation during both acclimation (11 days) and acute heat stress (24 h). We observed that the acute heat stress results in shifts in gene-level methylation and elicits an acute transcriptional response in distinct gene sets. Further, acclimation-induced shifts in gene expression plasticity and differential methylation also largely occur in separate sets of genes. Counter to our initial hypothesis no overall correlation between the magnitude of differential methylation and the change in gene expression plasticity. We do find a small but statistically significant overlap in genes exhibiting both dampened expression response and shifts in methylation (14 genes), which could be candidates for further inquiry. Overall, our results suggest transcriptional response modulation occurs independently from methylation changes induced by thermal acclimation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachael Bay
- University of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
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8
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Baduel P, Sammarco I, Barrett R, Coronado‐Zamora M, Crespel A, Díez‐Rodríguez B, Fox J, Galanti D, González J, Jueterbock A, Wootton E, Harney E. The evolutionary consequences of interactions between the epigenome, the genome and the environment. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13730. [PMID: 39050763 PMCID: PMC11266121 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The epigenome is the suite of interacting chemical marks and molecules that helps to shape patterns of development, phenotypic plasticity and gene regulation, in part due to its responsiveness to environmental stimuli. There is increasing interest in understanding the functional and evolutionary importance of this sensitivity under ecologically realistic conditions. Observations that epigenetic variation abounds in natural populations have prompted speculation that it may facilitate evolutionary responses to rapid environmental perturbations, such as those occurring under climate change. A frequent point of contention is whether epigenetic variants reflect genetic variation or are independent of it. The genome and epigenome often appear tightly linked and interdependent. While many epigenetic changes are genetically determined, the converse is also true, with DNA sequence changes influenced by the presence of epigenetic marks. Understanding how the epigenome, genome and environment interact with one another is therefore an essential step in explaining the broader evolutionary consequences of epigenomic variation. Drawing on results from experimental and comparative studies carried out in diverse plant and animal species, we synthesize our current understanding of how these factors interact to shape phenotypic variation in natural populations, with a focus on identifying similarities and differences between taxonomic groups. We describe the main components of the epigenome and how they vary within and between taxa. We review how variation in the epigenome interacts with genetic features and environmental determinants, with a focus on the role of transposable elements (TEs) in integrating the epigenome, genome and environment. And we look at recent studies investigating the functional and evolutionary consequences of these interactions. Although epigenetic differentiation in nature is likely often a result of drift or selection on stochastic epimutations, there is growing evidence that a significant fraction of it can be stably inherited and could therefore contribute to evolution independently of genetic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Baduel
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale SupérieurePSL University, CNRSParisFrance
| | - Iris Sammarco
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of SciencesPrůhoniceCzechia
| | - Rowan Barrett
- Redpath Museum and Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | | | | | | | - Janay Fox
- Redpath Museum and Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Dario Galanti
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology (EvE)University of TuebingenTübingenGermany
| | | | - Alexander Jueterbock
- Algal and Microbial Biotechnology Division, Faculty of Biosciences and AquacultureNord UniversityBodøNorway
| | - Eric Wootton
- Redpath Museum and Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Ewan Harney
- Institute of Evolutionary BiologyCSIC, UPFBarcelonaSpain
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
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9
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Zhang Y, Jang H, Luo Z, Dong Y, Xu Y, Kantamneni Y, Schmitz RJ. Dynamic evolution of the heterochromatin sensing histone demethylase IBM1. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011358. [PMID: 38991029 PMCID: PMC11265718 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011358] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Heterochromatin is critical for maintaining genome stability, especially in flowering plants, where it relies on a feedback loop involving the H3K9 methyltransferase, KRYPTONITE (KYP), and the DNA methyltransferase CHROMOMETHYLASE3 (CMT3). The H3K9 demethylase INCREASED IN BONSAI METHYLATION 1 (IBM1) counteracts the detrimental consequences of KYP-CMT3 activity in transcribed genes. IBM1 expression in Arabidopsis is uniquely regulated by methylation of the 7th intron, allowing it to monitor global H3K9me2 levels. We show the methylated intron is prevalent across flowering plants and its underlying sequence exhibits dynamic evolution. We also find extensive genetic and expression variations in KYP, CMT3, and IBM1 across flowering plants. We identify Arabidopsis accessions resembling weak ibm1 mutants and Brassicaceae species with reduced IBM1 expression or deletions. Evolution towards reduced IBM1 activity in some flowering plants could explain the frequent natural occurrence of diminished or lost CMT3 activity and loss of gene body DNA methylation, as cmt3 mutants in A. thaliana mitigate the deleterious effects of IBM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinwen Zhang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Hosung Jang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Ziliang Luo
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Yinxin Dong
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Yangyang Xu
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Yamini Kantamneni
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Robert J. Schmitz
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
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10
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Yabe K, Kamio A, Oya S, Kakutani T, Hirayama M, Tanaka Y, Inagaki S. H3K9 methylation regulates heterochromatin silencing through incoherent feedforward loops. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn4149. [PMID: 38924413 PMCID: PMC11204290 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn4149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Histone H3 lysine-9 methylation (H3K9me) is a hallmark of the condensed and transcriptionally silent heterochromatin. It remains unclear how H3K9me controls transcription silencing and how cells delimit H3K9me domains to avoid silencing essential genes. Here, using Arabidopsis genetic systems that induce H3K9me2 in genes and transposons de novo, we show that H3K9me2 accumulation paradoxically also causes the deposition of the euchromatic mark H3K36me3 by a SET domain methyltransferase, ASHH3. ASHH3-induced H3K36me3 confers anti-silencing by preventing the demethylation of H3K4me1 by LDL2, which mediates transcriptional silencing downstream of H3K9me2. These results demonstrate that H3K9me2 not only facilitates but orchestrates silencing by actuating antagonistic silencing and anti-silencing pathways, providing insights into the molecular basis underlying proper partitioning of chromatin domains and the creation of metastable epigenetic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Satoyo Oya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Mami Hirayama
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuriko Tanaka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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11
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Mabry ME, Abrahams RS, Al-Shehbaz IA, Baker WJ, Barak S, Barker MS, Barrett RL, Beric A, Bhattacharya S, Carey SB, Conant GC, Conran JG, Dassanayake M, Edger PP, Hall JC, Hao Y, Hendriks KP, Hibberd JM, King GJ, Kliebenstein DJ, Koch MA, Leitch IJ, Lens F, Lysak MA, McAlvay AC, McKibben MTW, Mercati F, Moore RC, Mummenhoff K, Murphy DJ, Nikolov LA, Pisias M, Roalson EH, Schranz ME, Thomas SK, Yu Q, Yocca A, Pires JC, Harkess AE. Complementing model species with model clades. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:1205-1226. [PMID: 37824826 PMCID: PMC11062466 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Model species continue to underpin groundbreaking plant science research. At the same time, the phylogenetic resolution of the land plant tree of life continues to improve. The intersection of these 2 research paths creates a unique opportunity to further extend the usefulness of model species across larger taxonomic groups. Here we promote the utility of the Arabidopsis thaliana model species, especially the ability to connect its genetic and functional resources, to species across the entire Brassicales order. We focus on the utility of using genomics and phylogenomics to bridge the evolution and diversification of several traits across the Brassicales to the resources in Arabidopsis, thereby extending scope from a model species by establishing a "model clade." These Brassicales-wide traits are discussed in the context of both the model species Arabidopsis and the family Brassicaceae. We promote the utility of such a "model clade" and make suggestions for building global networks to support future studies in the model order Brassicales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makenzie E Mabry
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - R Shawn Abrahams
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | | | | | - Simon Barak
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, 8499000, Israel
| | - Michael S Barker
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Russell L Barrett
- National Herbarium of New South Wales, Australian Botanic Garden, Locked Bag 6002, Mount Annan, NSW 2567, Australia
| | - Aleksandra Beric
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Samik Bhattacharya
- Department of Biology, Botany, University of Osnabrück, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Sarah B Carey
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - Gavin C Conant
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bioinformatics Research Center, Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - John G Conran
- ACEBB and SGC, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Maheshi Dassanayake
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Patrick P Edger
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48864, USA
| | - Jocelyn C Hall
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Yue Hao
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Kasper P Hendriks
- Department of Biology, Botany, University of Osnabrück, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany
- Functional Traits, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, Leiden 2300 RA, the Netherlands
| | - Julian M Hibberd
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1TN, UK
| | - Graham J King
- Southern Cross Plant Science, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia
| | | | - Marcus A Koch
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ilia J Leitch
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE, UK
| | - Frederic Lens
- Functional Traits, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, Leiden 2300 RA, the Netherlands
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Plant Sciences, Leiden University, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Martin A Lysak
- CEITEC, and NCBR, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alex C McAlvay
- Institute of Economic Botany, New York Botanical Garden, The Bronx, NY 10458, USA
| | - Michael T W McKibben
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Francesco Mercati
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Biosciences and Bioresource (IBBR), Palermo 90129, Italy
| | | | - Klaus Mummenhoff
- Department of Biology, Botany, University of Osnabrück, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Daniel J Murphy
- Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | | | - Michael Pisias
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Eric H Roalson
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
| | - M Eric Schranz
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Shawn K Thomas
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Bioinformatics and Analytics Core, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Qingyi Yu
- Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
| | - Alan Yocca
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - J Chris Pires
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1170, USA
| | - Alex E Harkess
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
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12
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Awan MJA, Farooq MA, Naqvi RZ, Karamat U, Bukhari SAR, Waqas MAB, Mahmood MA, Buzdar MI, Rasheed A, Amin I, Saeed NA, Mansoor S. Deciphering the differential expression patterns of yield-related negative regulators in hexaploid wheat cultivars and hybrids at different growth stages. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:537. [PMID: 38642174 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09454-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hexaploid bread wheat underwent a series of polyploidization events through interspecific hybridizations that conferred adaptive plasticity and resulted in duplication and neofunctionalization of major agronomic genes. The genetic architecture of polyploid wheat not only confers adaptive plasticity but also offers huge genetic diversity. However, the contribution of different gene copies (homeologs) encoded from different subgenomes (A, B, D) at different growth stages remained unexplored. METHODS In this study, hybrid of elite cultivars of wheat were developed via reciprocal crosses (cytoplasm swapping) and phenotypically evaluated. We assessed differential expression profiles of yield-related negative regulators in these cultivars and their F1 hybrids and identified various cis-regulatory signatures by employing bioinformatics tools. Furthermore, the preferential expression patterns of the syntenic triads encoded from A, B, and D subgenomes were assessed to decipher their functional redundancy at six different growth stages. RESULTS Hybrid progenies showed better heterosis such as up to 17% increase in the average number of grains and up to 50% increase in average thousand grains weight as compared to mid-parents. Based on the expression profiling, our results indicated significant dynamic transcriptional expression patterns, portraying the different homeolog-dominance at the same stage in the different cultivars and their hybrids. Albeit belonging to same syntenic triads, a dynamic trend was observed in the regulatory signatures of these genes that might be influencing their expression profiles. CONCLUSION These findings can substantially contribute and provide insights for the selective introduction of better cultivars into traditional and hybrid breeding programs which can be harnessed for the improvement of future wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Jawad Akbar Awan
- Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Constituent College of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Awais Farooq
- Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Constituent College of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Hebei, Collaborative Innovation Center of Vegetable Industry in Hebei, College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Rubab Zahra Naqvi
- Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Constituent College of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Umer Karamat
- State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Hebei, Collaborative Innovation Center of Vegetable Industry in Hebei, College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sayyad Ali Raza Bukhari
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Abu Bakar Waqas
- Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Constituent College of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Arslan Mahmood
- Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Constituent College of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ismail Buzdar
- Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Constituent College of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Awais Rasheed
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) & CIMMYT-China office, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Imran Amin
- Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Constituent College of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Nasir A Saeed
- Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Constituent College of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Shahid Mansoor
- Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Constituent College of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
- International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
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13
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Harkess A, Bewick AJ, Lu Z, Fourounjian P, Michael TP, Schmitz RJ, Meyers BC. The unusual predominance of maintenance DNA methylation in Spirodela polyrhiza. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae004. [PMID: 38190722 PMCID: PMC10989885 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Duckweeds are among the fastest reproducing plants, able to clonally divide at exponential rates. However, the genetic and epigenetic impact of clonality on plant genomes is poorly understood. 5-methylcytosine (5mC) is a modified base often described as necessary for the proper regulation of certain genes and transposons and for the maintenance of genome integrity in plants. However, the extent of this dogma is limited by the current phylogenetic sampling of land plant species diversity. Here we analyzed DNA methylomes, small RNAs, mRNA-seq, and H3K9me2 histone modification for Spirodela polyrhiza. S. polyrhiza has lost highly conserved genes involved in de novo methylation of DNA at sites often associated with repetitive DNA, and within genes, however, symmetrical DNA methylation and heterochromatin are maintained during cell division at certain transposons and repeats. Consequently, small RNAs that normally guide methylation to silence repetitive DNA like retrotransposons are diminished. Despite the loss of a highly conserved methylation pathway, and the reduction of small RNAs that normally target repetitive DNA, transposons have not proliferated in the genome, perhaps due in part to the rapid, clonal growth lifestyle of duckweeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Harkess
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St Louis, MO 63132, USA
| | - Adam J Bewick
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Zefu Lu
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Paul Fourounjian
- Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Todd P Michael
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Robert J Schmitz
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Blake C Meyers
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St Louis, MO 63132, USA
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri—Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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14
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Runemark A, Moore EC, Larson EL. Hybridization and gene expression: Beyond differentially expressed genes. Mol Ecol 2024:e17303. [PMID: 38411307 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Gene expression has a key role in reproductive isolation, and studies of hybrid gene expression have identified mechanisms causing hybrid sterility. Here, we review the evidence for altered gene expression following hybridization and outline the mechanisms shown to contribute to altered gene expression in hybrids. Transgressive gene expression, transcending that of both parental species, is pervasive in early generation sterile hybrids, but also frequently observed in viable, fertile hybrids. We highlight studies showing that hybridization can result in transgressive gene expression, also in established hybrid lineages or species. Such extreme patterns of gene expression in stabilized hybrid taxa suggest that altered hybrid gene expression may result in hybridization-derived evolutionary novelty. We also conclude that while patterns of misexpression in hybrids are well documented, the understanding of the mechanisms causing misexpression is lagging. We argue that jointly assessing differences in cell composition and cell-specific changes in gene expression in hybrids, in addition to assessing changes in chromatin and methylation, will significantly advance our understanding of the basis of altered gene expression. Moreover, uncovering to what extent evolution of gene expression results in altered expression for individual genes, or entire networks of genes, will advance our understanding of how selection moulds gene expression. Finally, we argue that jointly studying the dual roles of altered hybrid gene expression, serving both as a mechanism for reproductive isolation and as a substrate for hybrid ecological adaptation, will lead to significant advances in our understanding of the evolution of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Runemark
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Emily C Moore
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Erica L Larson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
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15
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Roelfs KU, Känel A, Twyman RM, Prüfer D, Schulze Gronover C. Epigenetic variation in early and late flowering plants of the rubber-producing Russian dandelion Taraxacum koksaghyz provides insights into the regulation of flowering time. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4283. [PMID: 38383610 PMCID: PMC10881582 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54862-8] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The Russian dandelion (Taraxacum koksaghyz) grows in temperate zones and produces large amounts of poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) in its roots, making it an attractive alternative source of natural rubber. Most T. koksaghyz plants require vernalization to trigger flower development, whereas early flowering varieties that have lost their vernalization dependence are more suitable for breeding and domestication. To provide insight into the regulation of flowering time in T. koksaghyz, we induced epigenetic variation by in vitro cultivation and applied epigenomic and transcriptomic analysis to the resulting early flowering plants and late flowering controls, allowing us to identify differences in methylation patterns and gene expression that correlated with flowering. This led to the identification of candidate genes homologous to vernalization and photoperiodism response genes in other plants, as well as epigenetic modifications that may contribute to the control of flower development. Some of the candidate genes were homologous to known floral regulators, including those that directly or indirectly regulate the major flowering control gene FT. Our atlas of genes can be used as a starting point to investigate mechanisms that control flowering time in T. koksaghyz in greater detail and to develop new breeding varieties that are more suited to domestication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Uwe Roelfs
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Andrea Känel
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Dirk Prüfer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, 48143, Münster, Germany
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16
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Yadav S, Meena S, Kalwan G, Jain PK. DNA methylation: an emerging paradigm of gene regulation under drought stress in plants. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:311. [PMID: 38372841 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09243-9] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Drought is an enormous threat to global crop production. In order to ensure food security for the burgeoning population, we must develop drought tolerant crop varieties. This necessitates the identification of drought-responsive genes and understanding the mechanisms involved in their regulation. DNA methylation is a widely studied mechanism of epigenetic regulation of gene expression, which is known to play vital role in conferring tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stress factors. The recent advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, has allowed unprecedented access to genome-wide methylation marks, with single base resolution. The most important roles of DNA methylation have been studied in terms of gene body methylation (gbM), which is associated with regulation of both transcript abundance and its stability. The availability of mutants for the various genes encoding enzymes involved in methylation of DNA has allowed ascertainment of the biological significance of methylation. Even though a vast number of reports have emerged in the recent past, where both genome-wide methylation landscape and locus specific changes in DNA methylation have been studied, a conclusive picture with regards to the biological role of DNA methylation is still lacking. Compounding this, is the lack of sufficient evidence supporting the heritability of these epigenetic changes. Amongst the various epigenetic variations, the DNA methylation changes are observed to be the most stable. This review describes the drought-induced changes in DNA methylation identified across different plant species. We also briefly describe the stress memory contributed by these changes. The identification of heritable, drought-induced methylation marks would broaden the scope of crop improvement in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheel Yadav
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
- PG School, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
- Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Shashi Meena
- PG School, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
- Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Gopal Kalwan
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
- PG School, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - P K Jain
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India.
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17
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Liu J, Zhong X. Epiallelic variation of non-coding RNA genes and their phenotypic consequences. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1375. [PMID: 38355746 PMCID: PMC10867003 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45771-5] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic variations contribute greatly to the phenotypic plasticity and diversity. Current functional studies on epialleles have predominantly focused on protein-coding genes, leaving the epialleles of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) genes largely understudied. Here, we uncover abundant DNA methylation variations of ncRNA genes and their significant correlations with plant adaptation among 1001 natural Arabidopsis accessions. Through genome-wide association study (GWAS), we identify large numbers of methylation QTL (methylQTL) that are independent of known DNA methyltransferases and enriched in specific chromatin states. Proximal methylQTL closely located to ncRNA genes have a larger effect on DNA methylation than distal methylQTL. We ectopically tether a DNA methyltransferase MQ1v to miR157a by CRISPR-dCas9 and show de novo establishment of DNA methylation accompanied with decreased miR157a abundance and early flowering. These findings provide important insights into the genetic basis of epigenetic variations and highlight the contribution of epigenetic variations of ncRNA genes to plant phenotypes and diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Xuehua Zhong
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
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18
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Vanden Broeck A, Meese T, Verschelde P, Cox K, Heinze B, Deforce D, De Meester E, Van Nieuwerburgh F. Genome-wide methylome stability and parental effects in the worldwide distributed Lombardy poplar. BMC Biol 2024; 22:30. [PMID: 38317114 PMCID: PMC10845628 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01816-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the increasing number of epigenomic studies in plants, little is known about the forces that shape the methylome in long-lived woody perennials. The Lombardy poplar offers an ideal opportunity to investigate the impact of the individual environmental history of trees on the methylome. RESULTS We present the results of three interconnected experiments on Lombardy poplar. In the first experiment, we investigated methylome variability during a growing season and across vegetatively reproduced generations. We found that ramets collected over Europe and raised in common conditions have stable methylomes in symmetrical CG-contexts. In contrast, seasonal dynamics occurred in methylation patterns in CHH context. In the second experiment, we investigated whether methylome patterns of plants grown in a non-parental environment correlate with the parental climate. We did not observe a biological relevant pattern that significantly correlates with the parental climate. Finally, we investigated whether the parental environment has persistent carry-over effects on the vegetative offspring's phenotype. We combined new bud set observations of three consecutive growing seasons with former published bud set data. Using a linear mixed effects analysis, we found a statistically significant but weak short-term, parental carry-over effect on the timing of bud set. However, this effect was negligible compared to the direct effects of the offspring environment. CONCLUSIONS Genome-wide cytosine methylation patterns in symmetrical CG-context are stable in Lombardy poplar and appear to be mainly the result of random processes. In this widespread poplar clone, methylation patterns in CG-context can be used as biomarkers to infer a common ancestor and thus to investigate the recent environmental history of a specific Lombardy poplar. The Lombardy poplar shows high phenotypic plasticity in a novel environment which enabled this clonal tree to adapt and survive all over the temperate regions of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- An Vanden Broeck
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Geraardsbergen, Belgium.
| | - Tim Meese
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Verschelde
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Geraardsbergen, Belgium
| | - Karen Cox
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Geraardsbergen, Belgium
| | - Berthold Heinze
- Department of Forest Growth, Silviculture and Genetics, Austrian Federal Research Centre for Forests (BFW), Vienna, Austria
| | - Dieter Deforce
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ellen De Meester
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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19
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Sun L, Zhou J, Xu X, Liu Y, Ma N, Liu Y, Nie W, Zou L, Deng XW, He H. Mapping nucleosome-resolution chromatin organization and enhancer-promoter loops in plants using Micro-C-XL. Nat Commun 2024; 15:35. [PMID: 38167349 PMCID: PMC10762229 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44347-z] [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: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Although chromatin organizations in plants have been dissected at the scales of compartments and topologically associating domain (TAD)-like domains, there remains a gap in resolving fine-scale structures. Here, we use Micro-C-XL, a high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C)-based technology that involves micrococcal nuclease (instead of restriction enzymes) and long cross-linkers, to dissect single nucleosome-resolution chromatin organization in Arabidopsis. Insulation analysis reveals more than 14,000 boundaries, which mostly include chromatin accessibility, epigenetic modifications, and transcription factors. Micro-C-XL reveals associations between RNA Pols and local chromatin organizations, suggesting that gene transcription substantially contributes to the establishment of local chromatin domains. By perturbing Pol II both genetically and chemically at the gene level, we confirm its function in regulating chromatin organization. Visible loops and stripes are assigned to super-enhancers and their targeted genes, thus providing direct insights for the identification and mechanistic analysis of distal CREs and their working modes in plants. We further investigate possible factors regulating these chromatin loops. Subsequently, we expand Micro-C-XL to soybean and rice. In summary, we use Micro-C-XL for analyses of plants, which reveal fine-scale chromatin organization and enhancer-promoter loops and provide insights regarding three-dimensional genomes in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linhua Sun
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences at Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
- School of Advanced Agriculture Sciences and School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jingru Zhou
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences at Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Xiao Xu
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences at Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Yi Liu
- School of Advanced Agriculture Sciences and School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Ni Ma
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences at Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
- PKU-Tsinghua-NIBS Graduate Program, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yutong Liu
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences at Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Wenchao Nie
- Wuhan Frasergen Bioinformatics Co., Ltd., Wuhan, 430075, China
| | - Ling Zou
- Wuhan Frasergen Bioinformatics Co., Ltd., Wuhan, 430075, China
| | - Xing Wang Deng
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences at Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China.
- School of Advanced Agriculture Sciences and School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Hang He
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences at Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China.
- School of Advanced Agriculture Sciences and School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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20
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Song Y, Peng Y, Liu L, Li G, Zhao X, Wang X, Cao S, Muyle A, Zhou Y, Zhou H. Phased gap-free genome assembly of octoploid cultivated strawberry illustrates the genetic and epigenetic divergence among subgenomes. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2024; 11:uhad252. [PMID: 38269295 PMCID: PMC10807706 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying the coexistence and coordination of the four diverged subgenomes (ABCD) in octoploid strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) remains poorly understood. In this study, we have assembled a haplotype-phased gap-free octoploid genome for the strawberry, which allowed us to uncover the sequence, structure, and epigenetic divergences among the subgenomes. The diploid progenitors of the octoploid strawberry, apart from subgenome A (Fragaria vesca), have been a subject of public controversy. Phylogenomic analyses revealed a close relationship between diploid species Fragaria iinumae and subgenomes B, C, and D. Subgenome A, closely related to F. vesca, retains the highest number of genes, exhibits the lowest content of transposable elements (TEs), experiences the strongest purifying selection, shows the lowest DNA methylation levels, and displays the highest expression level compared to the other three subgenomes. Transcriptome and DNA methylome analyses revealed that subgenome A-biased genes were enriched in fruit development biological processes. In contrast, although subgenomes B, C, and D contain equivalent amounts of repetitive sequences, they exhibit diverged methylation levels, particularly for TEs located near genes. Taken together, our findings provide valuable insights into the evolutionary patterns of subgenome structure, divergence and epigenetic dynamics in octoploid strawberries, which could be utilized in strawberry genetics and breeding research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong Song
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450009, China
| | - Yanling Peng
- National Key Laboratory of Tropical Crop Breeding, Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Lifeng Liu
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450009, China
| | - Gang Li
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450009, China
| | - Xia Zhao
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450009, China
| | - Xu Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Tropical Crop Breeding, Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Shuo Cao
- National Key Laboratory of Tropical Crop Breeding, Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Aline Muyle
- CEFE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier 34000, France
| | - Yongfeng Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Tropical Crop Breeding, Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
- National Key Laboratory of Tropical Crop Breeding, Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 570000, China
| | - Houcheng Zhou
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450009, China
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21
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Briffa A, Hollwey E, Shahzad Z, Moore JD, Lyons DB, Howard M, Zilberman D. Millennia-long epigenetic fluctuations generate intragenic DNA methylation variance in Arabidopsis populations. Cell Syst 2023; 14:953-967.e17. [PMID: 37944515 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Methylation of CG dinucleotides (mCGs), which regulates eukaryotic genome functions, is epigenetically propagated by Dnmt1/MET1 methyltransferases. How mCG is established and transmitted across generations despite imperfect enzyme fidelity is unclear. Whether mCG variation in natural populations is governed by genetic or epigenetic inheritance also remains mysterious. Here, we show that MET1 de novo activity, which is enhanced by existing proximate methylation, seeds and stabilizes mCG in Arabidopsis thaliana genes. MET1 activity is restricted by active demethylation and suppressed by histone variant H2A.Z, producing localized mCG patterns. Based on these observations, we develop a stochastic mathematical model that precisely recapitulates mCG inheritance dynamics and predicts intragenic mCG patterns and their population-scale variation given only CG site spacing. Our results demonstrate that intragenic mCG establishment, inheritance, and variance constitute a unified epigenetic process, revealing that intragenic mCG undergoes large, millennia-long epigenetic fluctuations and can therefore mediate evolution on this timescale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Briffa
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Elizabeth Hollwey
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK; Institute of Science and Technology, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Zaigham Shahzad
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK; Department of Life Sciences, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Jonathan D Moore
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - David B Lyons
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Martin Howard
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
| | - Daniel Zilberman
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK; Institute of Science and Technology, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
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22
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Kenchanmane Raju SK, Lensink M, Kliebenstein DJ, Niederhuth C, Monroe G. Epigenomic divergence correlates with sequence polymorphism in Arabidopsis paralogs. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:1292-1304. [PMID: 37614211 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Processes affecting rates of sequence polymorphism are fundamental to the evolution of gene duplicates. The relationship between gene activity and sequence polymorphism can influence the likelihood that functionally redundant gene copies are co-maintained in stable evolutionary equilibria vs other outcomes such as neofunctionalization. Here, we investigate genic variation in epigenome-associated polymorphism rates in Arabidopsis thaliana and consider whether these affect the evolution of gene duplicates. We compared the frequency of sequence polymorphism and patterns of genetic differentiation between genes classified by exon methylation patterns: unmethylated (unM), gene-body methylated (gbM), and transposon-like methylated (teM) states, which reflect divergence in gene expression. We found that the frequency of polymorphism was higher in teM (transcriptionally repressed, tissue-specific) genes and lower in gbM (active, constitutively expressed) genes. Comparisons of gene duplicates were largely consistent with genome-wide patterns - gene copies that exhibit teM accumulate more variation, evolve faster, and are in chromatin states associated with reduced DNA repair. This relationship between expression, the epigenome, and polymorphism may lead to the breakdown of equilibrium states that would otherwise maintain genetic redundancies. Epigenome-mediated polymorphism rate variation may facilitate the evolution of novel gene functions in duplicate paralogs maintained over evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariele Lensink
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | | | - Chad Niederhuth
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- AgBioResearch, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Grey Monroe
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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23
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Williams CJ, Dai D, Tran KA, Monroe JG, Williams BP. Dynamic DNA methylation turnover in gene bodies is associated with enhanced gene expression plasticity in plants. Genome Biol 2023; 24:227. [PMID: 37828516 PMCID: PMC10571256 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03059-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In several eukaryotes, DNA methylation occurs within the coding regions of many genes, termed gene body methylation (GbM). Whereas the role of DNA methylation on the silencing of transposons and repetitive DNA is well understood, gene body methylation is not associated with transcriptional repression, and its biological importance remains unclear. RESULTS We report a newly discovered type of GbM in plants, which is under constitutive addition and removal by dynamic methylation modifiers in all cells, including the germline. Methylation at Dynamic GbM genes is removed by the DRDD demethylation pathway and added by an unknown source of de novo methylation, most likely the maintenance methyltransferase MET1. We show that the Dynamic GbM state is present at homologous genes across divergent lineages spanning over 100 million years, indicating evolutionary conservation. We demonstrate that Dynamic GbM is tightly associated with the presence of a promoter or regulatory chromatin state within the gene body, in contrast to other gene body methylated genes. We find Dynamic GbM is associated with enhanced gene expression plasticity across development and diverse physiological conditions, whereas stably methylated GbM genes exhibit reduced plasticity. Dynamic GbM genes exhibit reduced dynamic range in drdd mutants, indicating a causal link between DNA demethylation and enhanced gene expression plasticity. CONCLUSIONS We propose a new model for GbM in regulating gene expression plasticity, including a novel type of GbM in which increased gene expression plasticity is associated with the activity of DNA methylation writers and erasers and the enrichment of a regulatory chromatin state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara J Williams
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - Dawei Dai
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - Kevin A Tran
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - J Grey Monroe
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Ben P Williams
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
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24
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Zeng Y, Dawe RK, Gent JI. Natural methylation epialleles correlate with gene expression in maize. Genetics 2023; 225:iyad146. [PMID: 37556604 PMCID: PMC10550312 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation in plants is depleted from cis-regulatory elements in and near genes but is present in some gene bodies, including exons. Methylation in exons solely in the CG context is called gene body methylation (gbM). Methylation in exons in both CG and non-CG contexts is called TE-like methylation (teM). Assigning functions to both forms of methylation in genes has proven to be challenging. Toward that end, we utilized recent genome assemblies, gene annotations, transcription data, and methylome data to quantify common patterns of gene methylation and their relations to gene expression in maize. We found that gbM genes exist in a continuum of CG methylation levels without a clear demarcation between unmethylated genes and gbM genes. Analysis of expression levels across diverse maize stocks and tissues revealed a weak but highly significant positive correlation between gbM and gene expression except in endosperm. gbM epialleles were associated with an approximately 3% increase in steady-state expression level relative to unmethylated epialleles. In contrast to gbM genes, which were conserved and were broadly expressed across tissues, we found that teM genes, which make up about 12% of genes, are mainly silent, are poorly conserved, and exhibit evidence of annotation errors. We used these data to flag teM genes in the 26 NAM founder genome assemblies. While some teM genes are likely functional, these data suggest that the majority are not, and their inclusion can confound the interpretation of whole-genome studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibing Zeng
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - R Kelly Dawe
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Jonathan I Gent
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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25
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Goeldel C, Johannes F. Stochasticity in gene body methylation. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 75:102436. [PMID: 37597469 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Gene body methylation (gbM) is a widely conserved epigenetic feature of plant genomes. Efforts to delineate the mechanisms by which gbM contributes to transcriptional regulation remain largely inconclusive, and its evolutionary significance continues to be debated. Curiously, although steady-state gbM levels are remarkably stable across mitotic and meiotic cell divisions, the methylation status of individual CG dinucleotides in gbM genes is highly stochastic. How can these two seemingly contradictory observations be reconciled? Here, we discuss how stochastic processes relate to gbM maintenance dynamics. We show that a quantitative understanding of these processes can shed deeper insights into the molecular and evolutionary biology of this enigmatic epigenetic trait.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frank Johannes
- Plant Epigenomics, Technical University of Munich, Germany.
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26
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Zhang(张宇鹏) Y, Fan G, Toivainen T, Tengs T, Yakovlev I, Krokene P, Hytönen T, Fossdal CG, Grini PE. Warmer temperature during asexual reproduction induce methylome, transcriptomic, and lasting phenotypic changes in Fragaria vesca ecotypes. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2023; 10:uhad156. [PMID: 37719273 PMCID: PMC10500154 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Plants must adapt with increasing speed to global warming to maintain their fitness. One rapid adaptation mechanism is epigenetic memory, which may provide organisms sufficient time to adapt to climate change. We studied how the perennial Fragaria vesca adapted to warmer temperatures (28°C vs. 18°C) over three asexual generations. Differences in flowering time, stolon number, and petiole length were induced by warmer temperature in one or more ecotypes after three asexual generations and persisted in a common garden environment. Induced methylome changes differed between the four ecotypes from Norway, Iceland, Italy, and Spain, but shared methylome responses were also identified. Most differentially methylated regions (DMRs) occurred in the CHG context, and most CHG and CHH DMRs were hypermethylated at the warmer temperature. In eight CHG DMR peaks, a highly similar methylation pattern could be observed between ecotypes. On average, 13% of the differentially methylated genes between ecotypes also showed a temperature-induced change in gene expression. We observed ecotype-specific methylation and expression patterns for genes related to gibberellin metabolism, flowering time, and epigenetic mechanisms. Furthermore, we observed a negative correlation with gene expression when repetitive elements were found near (±2 kb) or inside genes. In conclusion, lasting phenotypic changes indicative of an epigenetic memory were induced by warmer temperature and were accompanied by changes in DNA methylation patterns. Both shared methylation patterns and transcriptome differences between F. vesca accessions were observed, indicating that DNA methylation may be involved in both general and ecotype-specific phenotypic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- YuPeng Zhang(张宇鹏)
- EVOGENE, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0313 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Molecular Plant Biology, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, 1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Guangxun Fan
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tuomas Toivainen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Torstein Tengs
- Department of Molecular Plant Biology, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, 1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Igor Yakovlev
- Department of Molecular Plant Biology, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, 1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Paal Krokene
- Department of Molecular Plant Biology, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, 1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Timo Hytönen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Carl Gunnar Fossdal
- Department of Molecular Plant Biology, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, 1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Paul E. Grini
- EVOGENE, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0313 Oslo, Norway
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27
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Zang Y, Xie L, Su J, Luo Z, Jia X, Ma X. Advances in DNA methylation and demethylation in medicinal plants: a review. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:7783-7796. [PMID: 37480509 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08618-8] [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: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation and demethylation are widely acknowledged epigenetic phenomena which can cause heritable and phenotypic changes in functional genes without changing the DNA sequence. They can thus affect phenotype formation in medicinal plants. However, a comprehensive review of the literature summarizing current research trends in this field is lacking. Thus, this review aims to provide an up-to-date summary of current methods for the detection of 5-mC DNA methylation, identification and analysis of DNA methyltransferases and demethyltransferases, and regulation of DNA methylation in medicinal plants. The data showed that polyploidy and environmental changes can affect DNA methylation levels in medicinal plants. Changes in DNA methylation can thus regulate plant morphogenesis, growth and development, and formation of secondary metabolites. Future research is required to explore the mechanisms by which DNA methylation regulates the accumulation of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimei Zang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
- Biomedicine College, Beijing City University, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Lei Xie
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jiaxian Su
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Zuliang Luo
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xunli Jia
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xiaojun Ma
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China.
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28
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Jia Q, Zhang X, Liu Q, Li J, Wang W, Ma X, Zhu B, Li S, Gong S, Tian J, Yuan M, Zhao Y, Zhou DX. A DNA adenine demethylase impairs PRC2-mediated repression of genes marked by a specific chromatin signature. Genome Biol 2023; 24:198. [PMID: 37649077 PMCID: PMC10469495 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03042-4] [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: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Fe (II)- and α-ketoglutarate-dependent AlkB family dioxygenases are implicated in nucleotide demethylation. AlkB homolog1 (ALKBH1) is shown to demethylate DNA adenine methylation (6mA) preferentially from single-stranded or unpaired DNA, while its demethylase activity and function in the chromatin context are unclear. RESULTS Here, we find that loss-of-function of the rice ALKBH1 gene leads to increased 6mA in the R-loop regions of the genome but has a limited effect on the overall 6mA level. However, in the context of mixed tissues, rather than on individual loci, the ALKBH1 mutation or overexpression mainly affects the expression of genes with a specific combination of chromatin modifications in the body region marked with H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 but depleted of DNA CG methylation. In the similar context of mixed tissues, further analysis reveals that the ALKBH1 protein preferentially binds to genes marked by the chromatin signature and has a function to maintain a high H3K4me3/H3K27me3 ratio by impairing the binding of Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) to the targets, which is required for both the basal and stress-induced expression of the genes. CONCLUSION Our findings unravel a function of ALKBH1 to control the balance between the antagonistic histone methylations for gene activity and provide insight into the regulatory mechanism of PRC2-mediated H3K27me3 deposition within the gene body region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxiao Jia
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xinran Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Qian Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Junjie Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Wentao Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xuan Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Bo Zhu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Sheng Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shicheng Gong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Jingjing Tian
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Meng Yuan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Dao-Xiu Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- Institute of Plant Science Paris-Saclay (IPS2), CNRS, INRAE, University Paris-Saclay, 91405, Orsay, France.
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29
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Sereshki S, Lee N, Omirou M, Fasoula D, Lonardi S. On the prediction of non-CG DNA methylation using machine learning. NAR Genom Bioinform 2023; 5:lqad045. [PMID: 37206627 PMCID: PMC10189801 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqad045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation can be detected and measured using sequencing instruments after sodium bisulfite conversion, but experiments can be expensive for large eukaryotic genomes. Sequencing nonuniformity and mapping biases can leave parts of the genome with low or no coverage, thus hampering the ability of obtaining DNA methylation levels for all cytosines. To address these limitations, several computational methods have been proposed that can predict DNA methylation from the DNA sequence around the cytosine or from the methylation level of nearby cytosines. However, most of these methods are entirely focused on CG methylation in humans and other mammals. In this work, we study, for the first time, the problem of predicting cytosine methylation for CG, CHG and CHH contexts on six plant species, either from the DNA primary sequence around the cytosine or from the methylation levels of neighboring cytosines. In this framework, we also study the cross-species prediction problem and the cross-context prediction problem (within the same species). Finally, we show that providing gene and repeat annotations allows existing classifiers to significantly improve their prediction accuracy. We introduce a new classifier called AMPS (annotation-based methylation prediction from sequence) that takes advantage of genomic annotations to achieve higher accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saleh Sereshki
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Nathan Lee
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Michalis Omirou
- Department of Agrobiotechnology, Agricultural Microbiology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia 1516, Cyprus
| | - Dionysia Fasoula
- Department of Plant Breeding, Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia 1516, Cyprus
| | - Stefano Lonardi
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 951 827 2203; Fax: +1 951 827 4643;
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30
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Zhang Y, Zhang Q, Yang X, Gu X, Chen J, Shi T. 6mA DNA Methylation on Genes in Plants Is Associated with Gene Complexity, Expression and Duplication. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1949. [PMID: 37653866 PMCID: PMC10221889 DOI: 10.3390/plants12101949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
N6-methyladenine (6mA) DNA methylation has emerged as an important epigenetic modification in eukaryotes. Nevertheless, the evolution of the 6mA methylation of homologous genes after species and after gene duplications remains unclear in plants. To understand the evolution of 6mA methylation, we detected the genome-wide 6mA methylation patterns of four lotus plants (Nelumbo nucifera) from different geographic origins by nanopore sequencing and compared them to patterns in Arabidopsis and rice. Within lotus, the genomic distributions of 6mA sites are different from the widely studied 5mC methylation sites. Consistently, in lotus, Arabidopsis and rice, 6mA sites are enriched around transcriptional start sites, positively correlated with gene expression levels, and preferentially retained in highly and broadly expressed orthologs with longer gene lengths and more exons. Among different duplicate genes, 6mA methylation is significantly more enriched and conserved in whole-genome duplicates than in local duplicates. Overall, our study reveals the convergent patterns of 6mA methylation evolution based on both lineage and duplicate gene divergence, which underpin their potential role in gene regulatory evolution in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xingyu Yang
- Wuhan Institute of Landscape Architecture, Wuhan 430081, China
- Hubei Ecology Polytechnic College, Wuhan 430200, China
| | - Xiaofeng Gu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jinming Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Tao Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
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31
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Lee S, Choi J, Park J, Hong CP, Choi D, Han S, Choi K, Roh TY, Hwang D, Hwang I. DDM1-mediated gene body DNA methylation is associated with inducible activation of defense-related genes in Arabidopsis. Genome Biol 2023; 24:106. [PMID: 37147734 PMCID: PMC10161647 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-02952-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plants memorize previous pathogen attacks and are "primed" to produce a faster and stronger defense response, which is critical for defense against pathogens. In plants, cytosines in transposons and gene bodies are reported to be frequently methylated. Demethylation of transposons can affect disease resistance by regulating the transcription of nearby genes during defense response, but the role of gene body methylation (GBM) in defense responses remains unclear. RESULTS Here, we find that loss of the chromatin remodeler decrease in DNA methylation 1 (ddm1) synergistically enhances resistance to a biotrophic pathogen under mild chemical priming. DDM1 mediates gene body methylation at a subset of stress-responsive genes with distinct chromatin properties from conventional gene body methylated genes. Decreased gene body methylation in loss of ddm1 mutant is associated with hyperactivation of these gene body methylated genes. Knockout of glyoxysomal protein kinase 1 (gpk1), a hypomethylated gene in ddm1 loss-of-function mutant, impairs priming of defense response to pathogen infection in Arabidopsis. We also find that DDM1-mediated gene body methylation is prone to epigenetic variation among natural Arabidopsis populations, and GPK1 expression is hyperactivated in natural variants with demethylated GPK1. CONCLUSIONS Based on our collective results, we propose that DDM1-mediated GBM provides a possible regulatory axis for plants to modulate the inducibility of the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungchul Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Korea
| | - Jaemyung Choi
- Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Korea
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Jihwan Park
- Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Korea
| | - Chang Pyo Hong
- Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Korea
| | - Daeseok Choi
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Korea
| | - Soeun Han
- Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Korea
| | - Kyuha Choi
- Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Korea
| | - Tae-Young Roh
- Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Korea.
| | - Daehee Hwang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Korea.
| | - Ildoo Hwang
- Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Korea.
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32
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Pisupati R, Nizhynska V, Mollá Morales A, Nordborg M. On the causes of gene-body methylation variation in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010728. [PMID: 37141384 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene-body methylation (gbM) refers to sparse CG methylation of coding regions, which is especially prominent in evolutionarily conserved house-keeping genes. It is found in both plants and animals, but is directly and stably (epigenetically) inherited over multiple generations in the former. Studies in Arabidopsis thaliana have demonstrated that plants originating from different parts of the world exhibit genome-wide differences in gbM, which could reflect direct selection on gbM, but which could also reflect an epigenetic memory of ancestral genetic and/or environmental factors. Here we look for evidence of such factors in F2 plants resulting from a cross between a southern Swedish line with low gbM and a northern Swedish line with high gbM, grown at two different temperatures. Using bisulfite-sequencing data with nucleotide-level resolution on hundreds of individuals, we confirm that CG sites are either methylated (nearly 100% methylation across sampled cells) or unmethylated (approximately 0% methylation across sampled cells), and show that the higher level of gbM in the northern line is due to more sites being methylated. Furthermore, methylation variants almost always show Mendelian segregation, consistent with their being directly and stably inherited through meiosis. To explore how the differences between the parental lines could have arisen, we focused on somatic deviations from the inherited state, distinguishing between gains (relative to the inherited 0% methylation) and losses (relative to the inherited 100% methylation) at each site in the F2 generation. We demonstrate that deviations predominantly affect sites that differ between the parental lines, consistent with these sites being more mutable. Gains and losses behave very differently in terms of the genomic distribution, and are influenced by the local chromatin state. We find clear evidence for different trans-acting genetic polymorphism affecting gains and losses, with those affecting gains showing strong environmental interactions (G×E). Direct effects of the environment were minimal. In conclusion, we show that genetic and environmental factors can change gbM at a cellular level, and hypothesize that these factors can also lead to transgenerational differences between individuals via the inclusion of such changes in the zygote. If true, this could explain genographic pattern of gbM with selection, and would cast doubt on estimates of epimutation rates from inbred lines in constant environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Pisupati
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics, Institut für Populationsgenetik, Vetmeduni, Vienna, Austria
| | - Viktoria Nizhynska
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Almudena Mollá Morales
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Magnus Nordborg
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
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33
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Ivasyk I, Olivos-Cisneros L, Valdés-Rodríguez S, Droual M, Jang H, Schmitz RJ, Kronauer DJC. DNMT1 mutant ants develop normally but have disrupted oogenesis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2201. [PMID: 37072475 PMCID: PMC10113331 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37945-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Although DNA methylation is an important gene regulatory mechanism in mammals, its function in arthropods remains poorly understood. Studies in eusocial insects have argued for its role in caste development by regulating gene expression and splicing. However, such findings are not always consistent across studies, and have therefore remained controversial. Here we use CRISPR/Cas9 to mutate the maintenance DNA methyltransferase DNMT1 in the clonal raider ant, Ooceraea biroi. Mutants have greatly reduced DNA methylation, but no obvious developmental phenotypes, demonstrating that, unlike mammals, ants can undergo normal development without DNMT1 or DNA methylation. Additionally, we find no evidence of DNA methylation regulating caste development. However, mutants are sterile, whereas in wild-type ants, DNMT1 is localized to the ovaries and maternally provisioned into nascent oocytes. This supports the idea that DNMT1 plays a crucial but unknown role in the insect germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Ivasyk
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| | | | - Stephany Valdés-Rodríguez
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marie Droual
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hosung Jang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Daniel J C Kronauer
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA.
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Kenchanmane Raju SK, Ledford M, Niederhuth CE. DNA methylation signatures of duplicate gene evolution in angiosperms. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023:kiad220. [PMID: 37061825 PMCID: PMC10400039 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Gene duplication is a source of evolutionary novelty. DNA methylation may play a role in the evolution of duplicate genes (paralogs) through its association with gene expression. While this relationship has been examined to varying extents in a few individual species, the generalizability of these results at either a broad phylogenetic scale with species of differing duplication histories or across a population remains unknown. We applied a comparative epigenomics approach to 43 angiosperm species across the phylogeny and a population of 928 Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) accessions, examining the association of DNA methylation with paralog evolution. Genic DNA methylation was differentially associated with duplication type, the age of duplication, sequence evolution, and gene expression. Whole genome duplicates were typically enriched for CG-only gene-body methylated or unmethylated genes, while single-gene duplications were typically enriched for non-CG methylated or unmethylated genes. Non-CG methylation, in particular, was characteristic of more recent single-gene duplicates. Core angiosperm gene families differentiated into those which preferentially retain paralogs and 'duplication-resistant' families, which convergently reverted to singletons following duplication. Duplication-resistant families that still have paralogous copies were, uncharacteristically for core angiosperm genes, enriched for non-CG methylation. Non-CG methylated paralogs had higher rates of sequence evolution, higher frequency of presence-absence variation, and more limited expression. This suggests that silencing by non-CG methylation may be important to maintaining dosage following duplication and be a precursor to fractionation. Our results indicate that genic methylation marks differing evolutionary trajectories and fates between paralogous genes and have a role in maintaining dosage following duplication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chad E Niederhuth
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- AgBioResearch, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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35
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Monroe JG. Potential and limits of (mal)adaptive mutation rate plasticity in plants. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 237:2020-2026. [PMID: 36444532 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Genetic mutations provide the heritable material for plant adaptation to their environments. At the same time, the environment can affect the mutation rate across plant genomes. However, the extent to which environmental plasticity in mutation rates can facilitate or hinder adaptation remains a longstanding and unresolved question. Emerging discoveries of mechanisms affecting mutation rate variability provide opportunities to consider this question in a new light. Links between chromatin states, transposable elements, and DNA repair suggest cases of adaptive mutation rate plasticity could occur. Yet, numerous evolutionary and biological forces are expected to limit the impact of any such mutation rate plasticity on adaptive evolution. Persistent uncertainty about the significance of mutation rate plasticity on adaptation motivates new experimental and theoretical research relevant to understanding plant responses in changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Grey Monroe
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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36
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Liu F, Zhang P, Liang Z, Yuan Y, Liu Y, Wu Y. The global dynamic of DNA methylation in response to heat stress revealed epigenetic mechanism of heat acclimation in Saccharina japonica. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:249-263. [PMID: 36453855 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Saccharina japonica is an ecologically and economically important kelp in cold-temperate regions. When it is cultivated on a large scale in the temperate and even subtropical zones, heat stress is a frequent abiotic stress. This study is the first attempt to reveal the regulatory mechanism of the response to heat stress from the perspective of DNA methylation in S. japonica. We firstly obtained the characteristics of variation in the methylome under heat stress, and observed that heat stress caused a slight increase in the overall methylation level and methylation rate, especially in the non-coding regions of the genome. Secondly, we noted that methylation was probably one of factors affecting the expression of genes, and that methylation within the gene body was positively correlated with the gene expression (rho = 0.0784). Moreover, it was found that among the differentially expressed genes regulated by methylation, many genes were related to heat stress response, such as HSP gene family, genes of antioxidant enzymes, genes related to proteasome-ubiquitination pathway, and plant cell signaling pathways. This study demonstrated that DNA methylation is involved in regulating the response to heat stress, laying a foundation for studying the acclimation and adaptation of S. japonica to heat stress from an epigenetic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuli Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education; College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Pengyan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture; Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhourui Liang
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture; Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Yanmin Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture; Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture; Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Yukun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture; Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
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37
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Zhou J, Xiao L, Huang R, Song F, Li L, Li P, Fang Y, Lu W, Lv C, Quan M, Zhang D, Du Q. Local diversity of drought resistance and resilience in Populus tomentosa correlates with the variation of DNA methylation. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:479-497. [PMID: 36385613 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Little information is known about DNA methylation variation in shaping environment-specific drought resistance and resilience for tree adaptation. In this study, we leveraged RNA sequencing and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing data to dissect the distinction of epigenetic regulation under drought stress and rewater condition of Populus tomentosa accessions from three geographical regions. We demonstrated low resistance and high resilience for accessions from South. Non-CG methylation levels in promoter regions of Southern accessions were lower than accessions from higher latitudes and negatively regulated gene expression. CHH context methylation was more sensitive to drought stress, and the geographical-specific differentially methylated regions were scarcely changed by environmental fluctuation. We identified 60 conserved hub genes within the co-expression networks that correlate with photosynthetic and stomatal morphological traits. Epigenome-wide association studies and genome-wide association studies of these 60 hub genes revealed the interdependency between genetic and epigenetic variation in GATA9 and LECRK-VIII.2, which was associated with stomatal morphology and chlorophyll content. The natural epigenetic variation in GATA9 was also faithfully transmitted to progenies in two family-based F1 populations. This study indicates a functional relationship of DNA methylation diversity with drought resistance and resilience which offers new insights into plants' local adaptation to a stressful environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxuan Zhou
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Liang Xiao
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Rui Huang
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Fangyuan Song
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Lianzheng Li
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Peng Li
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Fang
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Wenjie Lu
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Chenfei Lv
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Mingyang Quan
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Deqiang Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Qingzhang Du
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
- The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
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38
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Structure and Mechanism of Plant DNA Methyltransferases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1389:137-157. [PMID: 36350509 PMCID: PMC10112988 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-11454-0_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mark conserved in eukaryotes from fungi to animals and plants, where it plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression and transposon silencing. Once the methylation mark is established by de novo DNA methyltransferases, specific regulatory mechanisms are required to maintain the methylation state during chromatin replication, both during meiosis and mitosis. Plant DNA methylation is found in three contexts; CG, CHG, and CHH (H = A, T, C), which are established and maintained by a unique set of DNA methyltransferases and are regulated by plant-specific pathways. DNA methylation in plants is often associated with other epigenetic modifications, such as noncoding RNA and histone modifications. This chapter focuses on the structure, function, and regulatory mechanism of plant DNA methyltransferases and their crosstalk with other epigenetic pathways.
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39
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Galanti D, Ramos-Cruz D, Nunn A, Rodríguez-Arévalo I, Scheepens JF, Becker C, Bossdorf O. Genetic and environmental drivers of large-scale epigenetic variation in Thlaspi arvense. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010452. [PMID: 36223399 PMCID: PMC9591053 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural plant populations often harbour substantial heritable variation in DNA methylation. However, a thorough understanding of the genetic and environmental drivers of this epigenetic variation requires large-scale and high-resolution data, which currently exist only for a few model species. Here, we studied 207 lines of the annual weed Thlaspi arvense (field pennycress), collected across a large latitudinal gradient in Europe and propagated in a common environment. By screening for variation in DNA sequence and DNA methylation using whole-genome (bisulfite) sequencing, we found significant epigenetic population structure across Europe. Average levels of DNA methylation were strongly context-dependent, with highest DNA methylation in CG context, particularly in transposable elements and in intergenic regions. Residual DNA methylation variation within all contexts was associated with genetic variants, which often co-localized with annotated methylation machinery genes but also with new candidates. Variation in DNA methylation was also significantly associated with climate of origin, with methylation levels being lower in colder regions and in more variable climates. Finally, we used variance decomposition to assess genetic versus environmental associations with differentially methylated regions (DMRs). We found that while genetic variation was generally the strongest predictor of DMRs, the strength of environmental associations increased from CG to CHG and CHH, with climate-of-origin as the strongest predictor in about one third of the CHH DMRs. In summary, our data show that natural epigenetic variation in Thlaspi arvense is significantly associated with both DNA sequence and environment of origin, and that the relative importance of the two factors strongly depends on the sequence context of DNA methylation. T. arvense is an emerging biofuel and winter cover crop; our results may hence be relevant for breeding efforts and agricultural practices in the context of rapidly changing environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Galanti
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Daniela Ramos-Cruz
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- LMU Biocenter, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Adam Nunn
- ecSeq Bioinformatics GmbH, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Computer Science, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Isaac Rodríguez-Arévalo
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- LMU Biocenter, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - J. F. Scheepens
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Claude Becker
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- LMU Biocenter, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Oliver Bossdorf
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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40
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Burgess D, Chow HT, Grover JW, Freeling M, Mosher RA. Ovule siRNAs methylate protein-coding genes in trans. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:3647-3664. [PMID: 35781738 PMCID: PMC9516104 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Twenty-four-nucleotide (nt) small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) maintain asymmetric DNA methylation at thousands of euchromatic transposable elements in plant genomes in a process called RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). RdDM is dispensable for growth and development in Arabidopsis thaliana, but is required for reproduction in other plants, such as Brassica rapa. The 24-nt siRNAs are abundant in maternal reproductive tissue, due largely to overwhelming expression from a few loci in the ovule and developing seed coat, termed siren loci. A recent study showed that 24-nt siRNAs produced in the anther tapetal tissue can methylate male meiocyte genes in trans. Here we show that in B. rapa, a similar process takes place in female tissue. siRNAs are produced from gene fragments embedded in some siren loci, and these siRNAs can trigger methylation in trans at related protein-coding genes. This trans-methylation is associated with silencing of some target genes and may be responsible for seed abortion in RdDM mutants. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a consensus sequence in at least two families of DNA transposons is associated with abundant siren expression, most likely through recruitment of CLASSY3, a putative chromatin remodeler. This research describes a mechanism whereby RdDM influences gene expression and sheds light on the role of RdDM during plant reproduction.
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41
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Bowman JL, Arteaga-Vazquez M, Berger F, Briginshaw LN, Carella P, Aguilar-Cruz A, Davies KM, Dierschke T, Dolan L, Dorantes-Acosta AE, Fisher TJ, Flores-Sandoval E, Futagami K, Ishizaki K, Jibran R, Kanazawa T, Kato H, Kohchi T, Levins J, Lin SS, Nakagami H, Nishihama R, Romani F, Schornack S, Tanizawa Y, Tsuzuki M, Ueda T, Watanabe Y, Yamato KT, Zachgo S. The renaissance and enlightenment of Marchantia as a model system. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:3512-3542. [PMID: 35976122 PMCID: PMC9516144 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The liverwort Marchantia polymorpha has been utilized as a model for biological studies since the 18th century. In the past few decades, there has been a Renaissance in its utilization in genomic and genetic approaches to investigating physiological, developmental, and evolutionary aspects of land plant biology. The reasons for its adoption are similar to those of other genetic models, e.g. simple cultivation, ready access via its worldwide distribution, ease of crossing, facile genetics, and more recently, efficient transformation, genome editing, and genomic resources. The haploid gametophyte dominant life cycle of M. polymorpha is conducive to forward genetic approaches. The lack of ancient whole-genome duplications within liverworts facilitates reverse genetic approaches, and possibly related to this genomic stability, liverworts possess sex chromosomes that evolved in the ancestral liverwort. As a representative of one of the three bryophyte lineages, its phylogenetic position allows comparative approaches to provide insights into ancestral land plants. Given the karyotype and genome stability within liverworts, the resources developed for M. polymorpha have facilitated the development of related species as models for biological processes lacking in M. polymorpha.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mario Arteaga-Vazquez
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa VER 91090, México
| | - Frederic Berger
- Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Liam N Briginshaw
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne VIC 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, Monash University, Melbourne VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Philip Carella
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Adolfo Aguilar-Cruz
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa VER 91090, México
| | - Kevin M Davies
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Tom Dierschke
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Liam Dolan
- Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Ana E Dorantes-Acosta
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa VER 91090, México
| | - Tom J Fisher
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne VIC 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, Monash University, Melbourne VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Eduardo Flores-Sandoval
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne VIC 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, Monash University, Melbourne VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Kazutaka Futagami
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | | | - Rubina Jibran
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Takehiko Kanazawa
- Division of Cellular Dynamics, National Institute for Basic Biology, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
- The Department of Basic Biology, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Kato
- Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kohchi
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Jonathan Levins
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Shih-Shun Lin
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Hirofumi Nakagami
- Basic Immune System of Plants, Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany
| | - Ryuichi Nishihama
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Facundo Romani
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | | | - Yasuhiro Tanizawa
- Department of Informatics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Masayuki Tsuzuki
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Takashi Ueda
- Division of Cellular Dynamics, National Institute for Basic Biology, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
- The Department of Basic Biology, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Watanabe
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Katsuyuki T Yamato
- Faculty of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Kinokawa, Wakayama 649-6493, Japan
| | - Sabine Zachgo
- Division of Botany, School of Biology and Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück 49076, Germany
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42
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Palos K, Nelson Dittrich AC, Yu L, Brock JR, Railey CE, Wu HYL, Sokolowska E, Skirycz A, Hsu PY, Gregory BD, Lyons E, Beilstein MA, Nelson ADL. Identification and functional annotation of long intergenic non-coding RNAs in Brassicaceae. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:3233-3260. [PMID: 35666179 PMCID: PMC9421480 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) are a large yet enigmatic class of eukaryotic transcripts that can have critical biological functions. The wealth of RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data available for plants provides the opportunity to implement a harmonized identification and annotation effort for lincRNAs that enables cross-species functional and genomic comparisons as well as prioritization of functional candidates. In this study, we processed >24 Tera base pairs of RNA-seq data from >16,000 experiments to identify ∼130,000 lincRNAs in four Brassicaceae: Arabidopsis thaliana, Camelina sativa, Brassica rapa, and Eutrema salsugineum. We used nanopore RNA-seq, transcriptome-wide structural information, peptide data, and epigenomic data to characterize these lincRNAs and identify conserved motifs. We then used comparative genomic and transcriptomic approaches to highlight lincRNAs in our data set with sequence or transcriptional conservation. Finally, we used guilt-by-association analyses to assign putative functions to lincRNAs within our data set. We tested this approach on a subset of lincRNAs associated with germination and seed development, observing germination defects for Arabidopsis lines harboring T-DNA insertions at these loci. LincRNAs with Brassicaceae-conserved putative miRNA binding motifs, small open reading frames, or abiotic-stress modulated expression are a few of the annotations that will guide functional analyses into this cryptic portion of the transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Palos
- The Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | | | - Li’ang Yu
- The Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Jordan R Brock
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Caylyn E Railey
- The Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Hsin-Yen Larry Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | | | | | - Polly Yingshan Hsu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Brian D Gregory
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Eric Lyons
- The School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Mark A Beilstein
- The School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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43
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Wei J, Shen Y, Dong X, Zhu Y, Cui J, Li H, Zheng G, Tian H, Wang Y, Liu Z. DNA methylation affects freezing tolerance in winter rapeseed by mediating the expression of genes related to JA and CK pathways. Front Genet 2022; 13:968494. [PMID: 36061187 PMCID: PMC9432081 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.968494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Winter rapeseed is the largest source of edible oil in China and is especially sensitive to low temperature, which causes tremendous agricultural yield reduction and economic losses. It is still unclear how DNA methylation regulates the formation of freezing tolerance in winter rapeseed under freezing stress. Therefore, in this study, the whole-genome DNA methylation map and transcriptome expression profiles of freezing-resistant cultivar NTS57 (NS) under freezing stress were obtained. The genome-wide methylation assay exhibited lower levels of methylation in gene-rich regions. DNA methylation was identified in three genomic sequence contexts including CG, CHG and CHH, of which CG contexts exhibited the highest methylation levels (66.8%), followed by CHG (28.6%) and CHH (9.5%). Higher levels of the methylation were found in upstream 2 k and downstream 2 k of gene regions, whereas lowest levels were in the gene body regions. In addition, 331, 437, and 1720 unique differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were identified in three genomic sequence contexts in 17NS under freezing stress compared to the control. Function enrichment analysis suggested that most of enriched DMGs were involved in plant hormones signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and protein processing pathways. Changes of genes expression in signal transduction pathways for cytokinin (CK) and jasmonic acid (JA) implied their involvement in freezing stress responses. Collectively, these results suggested a critical role of DNA methylation in their transcriptional regulation in winter rapeseed under freezing stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaping Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yingzi Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyun Dong
- College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yajing Zhu
- Economic Crop Research Institute, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Junmei Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hui Li
- College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guoqiang Zheng
- College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Haiyan Tian
- College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zigang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Lanzhou, China
- College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zigang Liu,
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44
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Oya S, Takahashi M, Takashima K, Kakutani T, Inagaki S. Transcription-coupled and epigenome-encoded mechanisms direct H3K4 methylation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4521. [PMID: 35953471 PMCID: PMC9372134 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32165-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mono-, di-, and trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me1/2/3) are associated with transcription, yet it remains controversial whether H3K4me1/2/3 promote or result from transcription. Our previous characterizations of Arabidopsis H3K4 demethylases suggest roles for H3K4me1 in transcription. However, the control of H3K4me1 remains unexplored in Arabidopsis, in which no methyltransferase for H3K4me1 has been identified. Here, we identify three Arabidopsis methyltransferases that direct H3K4me1. Analyses of their genome-wide localization using ChIP-seq and machine learning reveal that one of the enzymes cooperates with the transcription machinery, while the other two are associated with specific histone modifications and DNA sequences. Importantly, these two types of localization patterns are also found for the other H3K4 methyltransferases in Arabidopsis and mice. These results suggest that H3K4me1/2/3 are established and maintained via interplay with transcription as well as inputs from other chromatin features, presumably enabling elaborate gene control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoyo Oya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | | | | | - Tetsuji Kakutani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan.
| | - Soichi Inagaki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan.
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45
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Sarkies P. Encyclopaedia of eukaryotic DNA methylation: from patterns to mechanisms and functions. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:1179-1190. [PMID: 35521905 PMCID: PMC9246332 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification with a very long evolutionary history. However, DNA methylation evolves surprisingly rapidly across eukaryotes. The genome-wide distribution of methylation diversifies rapidly in different lineages, and DNA methylation is lost altogether surprisingly frequently. The growing availability of genomic and epigenomic sequencing across organisms highlights this diversity but also illuminates potential factors that could explain why both the DNA methylation machinery and its genome-wide distribution evolve so rapidly. Key to this are new discoveries about the fitness costs associated with DNA methylation, and new theories about how the fundamental biochemical mechanisms of DNA methylation introduction and maintenance could explain how new genome-wide patterns of methylation evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Sarkies
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, U.K
- MRC London Institute of Molecular Biology, London, U.K
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, U.K
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46
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Verma P, Singh A, Purru S, Bhat KV, Lakhanpaul S. Comparative DNA Methylome of Phytoplasma Associated Retrograde Metamorphosis in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11070954. [PMID: 36101335 PMCID: PMC9311523 DOI: 10.3390/biology11070954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Phytoplasma-associated diseases such as phyllody and little leaf are critical threats to sesame cultivation worldwide. The mechanism of the dramatic conversion of flowers to leafy structures leading to yield losses and the drastic reduction in leaf size due to Phytoplasma infection remains yet to be identified. Cytosine methylation profiles of healthy and infected sesame plants studied using Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS) and Quantitative analysis of DNA methylation with the real-time PCR (qAMP) technique revealed altered DNA methylation patterns upon infection. Phyllody was associated with global cytosine hypomethylation, though predominantly in the CHH (where H = A, T or C) context. Interestingly, comparable cytosine methylation levels were observed between healthy and little leaf-affected plant samples in CG, CHG and CHH contexts. Among the different genomic fractions, the highest number of differentially methylated Cytosines was found in the intergenic regions, followed by promoter, exonic and intronic regions in decreasing order. Further, most of the differentially methylated genes were hypomethylated and were mainly associated with development and defense-related processes. Loci for STOREKEEPER protein-like, a DNA-binding protein and PP2-B15, an F-Box protein, responsible for plugging sieve plates to maintain turgor pressure within the sieve tubes were found to be hypomethylated by WGBS, which was confirmed by methylation-dependent restriction digestion and qPCR. Likewise, serine/threonine-protein phosphatase-7 homolog, a positive regulator of cryptochrome signaling involved in hypocotyl and cotyledon growth and probable O-methyltransferase 3 locus were determined to be hypermethylated. Phytoplasma infection-associated global differential methylation as well as the defense and development-related loci reported here for the first time significantly elucidate the mechanism of phytoplasma-associated disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratima Verma
- Department of Botany, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India;
| | - Amrita Singh
- Department of Botany, Gargi College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110049, India;
| | - Supriya Purru
- ICAR-NAARM, Rajender Nagar, Hyderabad 500030, India;
| | | | - Suman Lakhanpaul
- Department of Botany, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +91-9868375756
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47
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Nunn A, Rodríguez‐Arévalo I, Tandukar Z, Frels K, Contreras‐Garrido A, Carbonell‐Bejerano P, Zhang P, Ramos Cruz D, Jandrasits K, Lanz C, Brusa A, Mirouze M, Dorn K, Galbraith DW, Jarvis BA, Sedbrook JC, Wyse DL, Otto C, Langenberger D, Stadler PF, Weigel D, Marks MD, Anderson JA, Becker C, Chopra R. Chromosome-level Thlaspi arvense genome provides new tools for translational research and for a newly domesticated cash cover crop of the cooler climates. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2022; 20:944-963. [PMID: 34990041 PMCID: PMC9055812 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Thlaspi arvense (field pennycress) is being domesticated as a winter annual oilseed crop capable of improving ecosystems and intensifying agricultural productivity without increasing land use. It is a selfing diploid with a short life cycle and is amenable to genetic manipulations, making it an accessible field-based model species for genetics and epigenetics. The availability of a high-quality reference genome is vital for understanding pennycress physiology and for clarifying its evolutionary history within the Brassicaceae. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of var. MN106-Ref with improved gene annotation and use it to investigate gene structure differences between two accessions (MN108 and Spring32-10) that are highly amenable to genetic transformation. We describe non-coding RNAs, pseudogenes and transposable elements, and highlight tissue-specific expression and methylation patterns. Resequencing of forty wild accessions provided insights into genome-wide genetic variation, and QTL regions were identified for a seedling colour phenotype. Altogether, these data will serve as a tool for pennycress improvement in general and for translational research across the Brassicaceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Nunn
- ecSeq Bioinformatics GmbHLeipzigGermany
- Department of Computer ScienceLeipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
| | - Isaac Rodríguez‐Arévalo
- GeneticsFaculty of BiologyLudwig Maximilians UniversityMartinsriedGermany
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology GmbHAustrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
| | - Zenith Tandukar
- Department of Agronomy and Plant GeneticsUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMNUSA
| | - Katherine Frels
- Department of Agronomy and Plant GeneticsUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMNUSA
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of NebraskaLincolnNEUSA
| | | | | | - Panpan Zhang
- Institut de Recherche pour le DéveloppementUMR232 DIADEMontpellierFrance
- Laboratory of Plant Genome and DevelopmentUniversity of PerpignanPerpignanFrance
| | - Daniela Ramos Cruz
- GeneticsFaculty of BiologyLudwig Maximilians UniversityMartinsriedGermany
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology GmbHAustrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
| | - Katharina Jandrasits
- GeneticsFaculty of BiologyLudwig Maximilians UniversityMartinsriedGermany
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology GmbHAustrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
| | - Christa Lanz
- Department of Molecular BiologyMax Planck Institute for Developmental BiologyTübingenGermany
| | - Anthony Brusa
- Department of Agronomy and Plant GeneticsUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMNUSA
| | - Marie Mirouze
- Institut de Recherche pour le DéveloppementUMR232 DIADEMontpellierFrance
- Laboratory of Plant Genome and DevelopmentUniversity of PerpignanPerpignanFrance
| | - Kevin Dorn
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMNUSA
- USDA‐ARSSoil Management and Sugarbeet ResearchFort CollinsCOUSA
| | - David W Galbraith
- BIO5 InstituteArizona Cancer CenterDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of ArizonaSchool of Plant SciencesTucsonAZUSA
| | - Brice A. Jarvis
- School of Biological SciencesIllinois State UniversityNormalILUSA
| | - John C. Sedbrook
- School of Biological SciencesIllinois State UniversityNormalILUSA
| | - Donald L. Wyse
- Department of Agronomy and Plant GeneticsUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMNUSA
| | | | | | - Peter F. Stadler
- Department of Computer ScienceLeipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
- Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the SciencesLeipzigGermany
| | - Detlef Weigel
- Department of Molecular BiologyMax Planck Institute for Developmental BiologyTübingenGermany
| | - M. David Marks
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMNUSA
| | - James A. Anderson
- Department of Agronomy and Plant GeneticsUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMNUSA
| | - Claude Becker
- GeneticsFaculty of BiologyLudwig Maximilians UniversityMartinsriedGermany
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology GmbHAustrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
| | - Ratan Chopra
- Department of Agronomy and Plant GeneticsUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMNUSA
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMNUSA
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48
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Huang X, Wang W, Gong T, Wickell D, Kuo LY, Zhang X, Wen J, Kim H, Lu F, Zhao H, Chen S, Li H, Wu W, Yu C, Chen S, Fan W, Chen S, Bao X, Li L, Zhang D, Jiang L, Khadka D, Yan X, Liao Z, Zhou G, Guo Y, Ralph J, Sederoff RR, Wei H, Zhu P, Li FW, Ming R, Li Q. The flying spider-monkey tree fern genome provides insights into fern evolution and arborescence. NATURE PLANTS 2022; 8:500-512. [PMID: 35534720 PMCID: PMC9122828 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-022-01146-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
To date, little is known about the evolution of fern genomes, with only two small genomes published from the heterosporous Salviniales. Here we assembled the genome of Alsophila spinulosa, known as the flying spider-monkey tree fern, onto 69 pseudochromosomes. The remarkable preservation of synteny, despite resulting from an ancient whole-genome duplication over 100 million years ago, is unprecedented in plants and probably speaks to the uniqueness of tree ferns. Our detailed investigations into stem anatomy and lignin biosynthesis shed new light on the evolution of stem formation in tree ferns. We identified a phenolic compound, alsophilin, that is abundant in xylem, and we provided the molecular basis for its biosynthesis. Finally, analysis of demographic history revealed two genetic bottlenecks, resulting in rapid demographic declines of A. spinulosa. The A. spinulosa genome fills a crucial gap in the plant genomic landscape and helps elucidate many unique aspects of tree fern biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Wenling Wang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ting Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - David Wickell
- Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Plant Biology Section, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Li-Yaung Kuo
- Institute of Molecular & Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Xingtan Zhang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jialong Wen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Fachuang Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Hansheng Zhao
- State Forestry Administration Key Open Laboratory on the Science and Technology of Bamboo and Rattan, Institute of Gene for Bamboo and Rattan Resources, International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing, China
| | - Song Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Wenqi Wu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Changjiang Yu
- College of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Su Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Chen
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiuqi Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Longyu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Dipak Khadka
- GoldenGate International College, Tribhuvan University, Battisputali, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Xiaojing Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenyang Liao
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Gongke Zhou
- College of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yalong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry and DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ronald R Sederoff
- Forest Biotechnology Group, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Hairong Wei
- College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA.
| | - Ping Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Fay-Wei Li
- Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- Plant Biology Section, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Ray Ming
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
| | - Quanzi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.
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49
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Genetic and Epigenetic Signatures Associated with the Divergence of Aquilegia Species. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13050793. [PMID: 35627179 PMCID: PMC9141525 DOI: 10.3390/genes13050793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Widely grown in the Northern Hemisphere, the genus Aquilegia (columbine) is a model system in adaptive radiation research. While morphological variations between species have been associated with environmental factors, such as pollinators, how genetic and epigenetic factors are involved in the rapid divergence in this genus remains under investigated. In this study, we surveyed the genomes and DNA methylomes of ten Aquilegia species, representative of the Asian, European and North American lineages. Our analyses of the phylogeny and population structure revealed high genetic and DNA methylomic divergence across these three lineages. By multi-level genome-wide scanning, we identified candidate genes exhibiting lineage-specific genetic or epigenetic variation patterns that were signatures of inter-specific divergence. We demonstrated that these species-specific genetic variations and epigenetic variabilities are partially independent and are both functionally related to various biological processes vital to adaptation, including stress tolerance, cell reproduction and DNA repair. Our study provides an exploratory overview of how genetic and epigenetic signatures are associated with the diversification of the Aquilegia species.
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50
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Williams BP, Bechen LL, Pohlmann DA, Gehring M. Somatic DNA demethylation generates tissue-specific methylation states and impacts flowering time. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:1189-1206. [PMID: 34954804 PMCID: PMC8972289 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Cytosine methylation is a reversible epigenetic modification of DNA. In plants, removal of cytosine methylation is accomplished by the four members of the DEMETER (DME) family of 5-methylcytosine DNA glycosylases, named DME, DEMETER-LIKE2 (DML2), DML3, and REPRESSOR OF SILENCING1 (ROS1) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Demethylation by DME is critical for seed development, preventing experiments to determine the function of the entire gene family in somatic tissues by mutant analysis. Here, we bypassed the reproductive defects of dme mutants to create somatic quadruple homozygous mutants of the entire DME family. dme; ros1; dml2; and dml3 (drdd) leaves exhibit hypermethylated regions compared with wild-type leaves and rdd triple mutants, indicating functional redundancy among all four demethylases. Targets of demethylation include regions co-targeted by RNA-directed DNA methylation and, surprisingly, CG gene body methylation, indicating dynamic methylation at these less-understood sites. Additionally, many tissue-specific methylation differences are absent in drdd, suggesting a role for active demethylation in generating divergent epigenetic states across wild-type tissues. Furthermore, drdd plants display an early flowering phenotype, which involves 5'-hypermethylation and transcriptional down-regulation of FLOWERING LOCUS C. Active DNA demethylation is therefore required for proper methylation across somatic tissues and defines the epigenetic landscape of intergenic and coding regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben P Williams
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Lindsey L Bechen
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Deborah A Pohlmann
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Mary Gehring
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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