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Chen J, Guan Z, Sun L, Fan X, Wang D, Yu X, Lyu L, Qi G. N 6-methyladenosine modification of RNA controls dopamine synthesis to influence labour division in ants. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17322. [PMID: 38501589 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17322] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA has been reported to remodel gene expression in response to environmental conditions; however, the biological role of m6A in social insects remains largely unknown. In this study, we explored the role of m6A in the division of labour by worker ants (Solenopsis invicta). We first determined the presence of m6A in RNAs from the brains of worker ants and found that m6A methylation dynamics differed between foragers and nurses. Depletion of m6A methyltransferase or chemical suppression of m6A methylation in foragers resulted in a shift to 'nurse-like' behaviours. Specifically, mRNAs of dopamine receptor 1 (Dop1) and dopamine transporter (DAT) were modified by m6A, and their expression increased dopamine levels to promote the behavioural transition from foragers to nurses. The abundance of Dop1 and DAT mRNAs and their stability were reduced by the inhibition of m6A modification caused by the silencing of Mettl3, suggesting that m6A modification in worker ants modulates dopamine synthesis, which regulates labour division. Collectively, our results provide the first example of the epitranscriptomic regulation of labour division in social insects and implicate m6A regulatory mechanism as a potential novel target for controlling red imported fire ants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ziying Guan
- Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lina Sun
- Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xinlin Fan
- Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Desen Wang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lihua Lyu
- Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guojun Qi
- Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Chen Y, Lai Y, Liu R, Yao L, Yu XQ, Wang X. Transcriptome-wide analysis of mRNA N 6 -methyladenosine modification in the embryonic development of Spodoptera frugiperda. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:1229-1244. [PMID: 36606528 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13172] [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: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A) RNA is the most abundant modification of mRNA, and has been demonstrated in regulating various post-transcriptional processes. Many studies have shown that m6 A methylation plays key roles in sex determination, neuronal functions, and embryonic development in Drosophila and mammals. Here, we analyzed transcriptome-wide profile of m6 A modification in the embryonic development of the destructive agricultural pest Spodoptera frugiperda. We found that the 2 key mRNA m6 A methyltransferases SfrMETTL3 and SfrMETTL14 have high homologies with other insects and mammals, suggesting that SfrMETTL3 and SfrMETTL14 may have conserved function among different species. From methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis, we obtained 46 869 m6 A peaks representing 8 587 transcripts in the 2-h embryos after oviposition, and 41 389 m6 A peaks representing 9 230 transcripts in the 24-h embryos. In addition, 5 995 m6 A peaks were differentially expressed including 3 752 upregulated and 2243 downregulated peaks. Functional analysis with Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes suggested that differentially expressed m6 A peak-modified genes were enriched in cell and organ development between the 2- and 24-h embryos. By conjoint analysis of methylated RNA immunoprecipitation-seq and RNA-seq data, we found that RNA m6 A methylation may regulate the transcriptional levels of genes related to tissue and organ development from 2- to 24-h embryos. Our study reveals the role of RNA m6 A epigenetic regulation in the embryonic development of S. frugiperda, and provides new insights for the embryonic development of insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqing Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yushan Lai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Runzhou Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Yao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Qiang Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyun Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
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Yang D, Zhao G, Zhang HM. m 6A reader proteins: the executive factors in modulating viral replication and host immune response. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1151069. [PMID: 37325513 PMCID: PMC10266107 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1151069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most abundant covalent modification of RNA. It is a reversible and dynamic process induced by various cellular stresses including viral infection. Many m6A methylations have been discovered, including on the genome of RNA viruses and on RNA transcripts of DNA viruses, and these methylations play a positive or negative role on the viral life cycle depending on the viral species. The m6A machinery, including the writer, eraser, and reader proteins, achieves its gene regulatory role by functioning in an orchestrated manner. Notably, data suggest that the biological effects of m6A on target mRNAs predominantly depend on the recognition and binding of different m6A readers. These readers include, but are not limited to, the YT521-B homology (YTH) domain family, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (HNRNPs), insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BPs), and many others discovered recently. Indeed, m6A readers have been recognized not only as regulators of RNA metabolism but also as participants in a variety of biological processes, although some of these reported roles are still controversial. Here, we will summarize the recent advances in the discovery, classification, and functional characterization of m6A reader proteins, particularly focusing on their roles and mechanisms of action in RNA metabolism, gene expression, and viral replication. In addition, we also briefly discuss the m6A-associated host immune responses in viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Decheng Yang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Guangze Zhao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Huifang Mary Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Wan L, Liu J, Huang C, Zhu Z, Wang K, Sun G, Zhu L, Hu Z. Comprehensive Analysis and Functional Characteristics of Differential Expression of N6-Methyladenosine Methylation Modification in the Whole Transcriptome of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Mediators Inflamm 2022; 2022:4766992. [PMID: 36330380 PMCID: PMC9626244 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4766992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most prevalent chemical modification in eukaryotic mRNA and is associated with the development of various immune diseases. However, the role of m6A methylation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) development is unclear. We preliminarily explored the role of m6A methylation-related mRNAs in RA for its clinical application. The discovery of m6A methylation-modifying genes in this study may provide a fresh perspective on the development of drugs for RA treatment. High-throughput sequencing combined with methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP-seq) and RNA sequencing were used to assess whole-transcriptome m6A modifications in the synovium of patients with RA. The relationship between m6A-modified target genes and RA inflammation and macrophages was determined. The expression of the m6A-modified significant transcript-enriched inflammatory signaling pathway was assessed through animal experiments. Differentially expressed m6A genes were correlated with macrophage activation involved in immune response, vascular endothelium, MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K - Akt signaling pathway, and other inflammatory processes. Furthermore, combined analysis with m6A-seq and RNA-seq revealed 120 genes with significant changes in both m6A modification and mRNA expression. We selected the top 3 candidate mRNAs that were upregulated and downregulated simultaneously. The expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) mRNA and protein in RA patients was lower than that in healthy control (HC). SHC-binding protein 1 (SHCBP1) and neurexophilin-3 (NXPH3) mRNA expressions were increased in RA patients. The expression of M1 macrophages was increased in RA patients. RA markers are such as rheumatoid factor (RF) and peptide containing citrulline (CCP). Further animal experiments showed that the expression of synovial MAPK, PI3K, and Akt1 proteins in the RA model was increased, and the PTEN, p-PTEN protein expression was decreased. PI3K, Akt1, PTEN, and p-PTEN were correlated to RA joint inflammation. This study revealed a unique pattern of differential m6A methylation modifications in RA and concluded that m6A modification is related to the occurrence of RA synovial inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medical Education Ministry, Hefei 230038, China
| | - Jian Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medical Education Ministry, Hefei 230038, China
| | - Chuanbing Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China
| | - Ziheng Zhu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medical Education Ministry, Hefei 230038, China
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Guanghan Sun
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Lei Zhu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China
| | - Zhongxiang Hu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230000, China
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