Unique DNA Methylation Profiles Are Associated with cis-Variation in Honey Bees. 2019

Boris Yagound, and Nicholas M A Smith, and Gabriele Buchmann, and Benjamin P Oldroyd, and Emily J Remnant
Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia.

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification that mediates diverse processes such as cellular differentiation, phenotypic plasticity, and genomic imprinting. Mounting evidence suggests that local DNA sequence variation can be associated with particular DNA methylation states, indicating that the interplay between genetic and epigenetic factors may contribute synergistically to the phenotypic complexity of organisms. Social insects such as ants, bees, and wasps have extensive phenotypic plasticity manifested in their different castes, and this plasticity has been associated with variation in DNA methylation. Yet, the influence of genetic variation on DNA methylation state remains mostly unknown. Here we examine the importance of sequence-specific methylation at the genome-wide level, using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of the semen of individual honey bee males. We find that individual males harbor unique DNA methylation patterns in their semen, and that genes that are more variable at the epigenetic level are also more likely to be variable at the genetic level. DNA sequence variation can affect DNA methylation by modifying CG sites directly, but can also be associated with local variation in cis that is not CG-site specific. We show that covariation in sequence polymorphism and DNA methylation state contributes to the individual-specificity of epigenetic marks in social insects, which likely promotes their retention across generations, and their capacity to influence evolutionary adaptation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D005260 Female Females
D005786 Gene Expression Regulation Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation. Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression
D000073336 Whole Genome Sequencing Techniques to determine the entire sequence of the GENOME of an organism or individual. Complete Genome Sequencing,Genome Sequencing, Complete,Genome Sequencing, Whole,Sequencing, Complete Genome,Sequencing, Whole Genome
D000081122 Epigenome A network of chemical compounds surrounding DNA that modify the genome without altering the DNA sequences and have a role in determining which genes are active in a cell. DNA Methylome,Methylome,DNA Methylomes,Epigenomes,Methylome, DNA,Methylomes,Methylomes, DNA
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001516 Bees Insect members of the superfamily Apoidea, found almost everywhere, particularly on flowers. About 3500 species occur in North America. They differ from most WASPS in that their young are fed honey and pollen rather than animal food. Apidae,Apis,Apis mellifera,Apis mellifica,European Honey Bee,Honey Bee Drone,Bee,Bee, European Honey,Drone, Honey Bee,European Honey Bees,Honey Bee Drones,Honey Bee, European
D012661 Semen The thick, yellowish-white, viscid fluid secretion of male reproductive organs discharged upon ejaculation. In addition to reproductive organ secretions, it contains SPERMATOZOA and their nutrient plasma. Seminal Plasma,Plasma, Seminal
D013447 Sulfites Inorganic salts of sulfurous acid. Sulfite,Sulfites, Inorganic,Inorganic Sulfites
D019175 DNA Methylation Addition of methyl groups to DNA. DNA methyltransferases (DNA methylases) perform this reaction using S-ADENOSYLMETHIONINE as the methyl group donor. DNA Methylations,Methylation, DNA,Methylations, DNA

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