scholarly journals Inheritance of Acquired Traits in Insects and Other Animals and the Epigenetic Mechanisms that Break the Weismann Barrier

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
V. Gowri ◽  
Antónia Monteiro
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Histone Acetylation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Noncoding Rnas ◽  
Phenotypic Trait ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Behavioral Trait ◽  
Small Noncoding Rnas ◽  
Generation Times ◽  
Weismann Barrier

The credibility of the Weismann barrier has come into question. Several studies in various animal systems, from mice to worms, have shown that novel environmental stimuli can generate an altered developmental or behavioral trait that can be transmitted to offspring of the following generation. Recently, insects have become ideal models to study the inheritance of acquired traits. This is because insects can be reared in high numbers at low cost, they have short generation times and produce abundant offspring. Numerous studies have shown that an insect can modify its phenotype in response to a novel stimulus to aid its survival, and also that this modified phenotypic trait can be inherited by its offspring. Epigenetic mechanisms are likely at play but, most studies do not address the mechanisms that underlie the inheritance of acquired traits in insects. Here we first review general epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone acetylation and small noncoding RNAs that have been implicated in the transmission of acquired traits in animals, then we focus on the few insect studies in which these mechanisms have been investigated.

Epigenetic Mechanisms in Nematode–Plant Interactions

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarek Hewezi
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Plant Interactions ◽  
Cyst Nematodes ◽  
Small Noncoding Rnas ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Plant Nematode

Epigenetic mechanisms play fundamental roles in regulating numerous biological processes in various developmental and environmental contexts. Three highly interconnected epigenetic control mechanisms, including small noncoding RNAs, DNA methylation, and histone modifications, contribute to the establishment of plant epigenetic profiles. During the past decade, a growing body of experimental work has revealed the intricate, diverse, and dynamic roles that epigenetic modifications play in plant–nematode interactions. In this review, I summarize recent progress regarding the functions of small RNAs in mediating plant responses to infection by cyst and root-knot nematodes, with a focus on the functions of microRNAs. I also recapitulate recent advances in genome-wide DNA methylation analysis and discuss how cyst nematodes induce extensive and dynamic changes in the plant methylome that impact the transcriptional activity of genes and transposable elements. Finally, the potential role of nematode effector proteins in triggering such epigenome changes is discussed.

scholarly journals Leveraging brain cortex-derived molecular data to elucidate epigenetic and transcriptomic drivers of neurological function and disease

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlie Hatcher ◽  
Caroline L. Relton ◽  
Tom R. Gaunt ◽  
Tom G. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Histone Acetylation ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Genetic Variant ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Trait Variation

AbstractIntegrative approaches which harness large-scale molecular datasets can help develop mechanistic insight into findings from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We have performed extensive analyses to uncover transcriptional and epigenetic processes which may play a role in neurological trait variation.This was undertaken by applying Bayesian multiple-trait colocalization systematically across the genome to identify genetic variants responsible for influencing intermediate molecular phenotypes as well as neurological traits. In this analysis we leveraged high dimensional quantitative trait loci data derived from prefrontal cortex tissue (concerning gene expression, DNA methylation and histone acetylation) and GWAS findings for 5 neurological traits (Neuroticism, Schizophrenia, Educational Attainment, Insomnia and Alzheimer’s disease).There was evidence of colocalization for 118 associations suggesting that the same underlying genetic variant influenced both nearby gene expression as well as neurological trait variation. Of these, 73 associations provided evidence that the genetic variant also influenced proximal DNA methylation and/or histone acetylation. These findings support previous evidence at loci where epigenetic mechanisms may putatively mediate effects of genetic variants on traits, such as KLC1 and schizophrenia. We also uncovered evidence implicating novel loci in neurological disease susceptibility, including genes expressed predominantly in brain tissue such as MDGA1, KIRREL3 and SLC12A5.An inverse relationship between DNA methylation and gene expression was observed more than can be accounted for by chance, supporting previous findings implicating DNA methylation as a transcriptional repressor. Our study should prove valuable in helping future studies prioritise candidate genes and epigenetic mechanisms for in-depth functional follow-up analyses.

scholarly journals Epigenetic Regulation of Glycosylation in Cancer and Other Diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 2980
Author(s):  
Rossella Indellicato ◽  
Marco Trinchera
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel Disease ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Epigenetic Regulation ◽  
Bowel Disease ◽  
Noncoding Rnas ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel

In the last few decades, the newly emerging field of epigenetic regulation of glycosylation acquired more importance because it is unraveling physiological and pathological mechanisms related to glycan functions. Glycosylation is a complex process in which proteins and lipids are modified by the attachment of monosaccharides. The main actors in this kind of modification are the glycoenzymes, which are translated from glycosylation-related genes (or glycogenes). The expression of glycogenes is regulated by transcription factors and epigenetic mechanisms (mainly DNA methylation, histone acetylation and noncoding RNAs). This review focuses only on these last ones, in relation to cancer and other diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and IgA1 nephropathy. In fact, it is clear that a deeper knowledge in the fine-tuning of glycogenes is essential for acquiring new insights in the glycan field, especially if this could be useful for finding novel and personalized therapeutics.

scholarly journals Could the Epigenetics of Eosinophils in Asthma and Allergy Solve Parts of the Puzzle?

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8921
Author(s):  
Émile Bélanger ◽  
Catherine Laprise
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Noncoding Rna ◽  
Noncoding Rnas ◽  
Allergic Diseases ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Asthma And Allergy ◽  
Allergies And Asthma

Epigenetics is a field of study investigating changes in gene expression that do not alter the DNA sequence. These changes are often influenced by environmental or social factors and are reversible. Epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNA. Understanding the role of these epigenetic mechanisms in human diseases provides useful information with regard to disease severity and development. Several studies have searched for the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate allergies and asthma; however, only few studies have used samples of eosinophil, a proinflammatory cell type known to be largely recruited during allergic or asthmatic inflammation. Such studies would enable us to better understand the factors that influence the massive recruitment of eosinophils during allergic and asthmatic symptoms. In this review, we sought to summarize different studies that aimed to discover differential patterns of histone modifications, DNA methylation, and noncoding RNAs in eosinophil samples of individuals with certain diseases, with a particular focus on those with asthma or allergic diseases.

scholarly journals Feasible strategies for studying the involvement of DNA methylation and histone acetylation in the stress-induced formation of quality-related metabolites in tea (Camellia sinensis)

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Yang ◽  
Dachuan Gu ◽  
Shuhua Wu ◽  
Xiaochen Zhou ◽  
Jiaming Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Histone Acetylation ◽  
Secondary Metabolism ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Research Strategies ◽  
Metabolism Regulation ◽  
Growth Development ◽  
Regulatory Effects ◽  
Tea Plants

AbstractTea plants are subjected to multiple stresses during growth, development, and postharvest processing, which affects levels of secondary metabolites in leaves and influences tea functional properties and quality. Most studies on secondary metabolism in tea have focused on gene, protein, and metabolite levels, whereas upstream regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this review, we exemplify DNA methylation and histone acetylation, summarize the important regulatory effects that epigenetic modifications have on plant secondary metabolism, and discuss feasible research strategies to elucidate the underlying specific epigenetic mechanisms of secondary metabolism regulation in tea. This information will help researchers investigate the epigenetic regulation of secondary metabolism in tea, providing key epigenetic data that can be used for future tea genetic breeding.

scholarly journals Photoperiod-induced neurotransmitter plasticity declines with aging: an epigenetic regulation?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rory Pritchard ◽  
Helene Chen ◽  
Ben Romoli ◽  
Nicholas C. Spitzer ◽  
Davide Dulcis
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Histone Acetylation ◽  
Epigenetic Regulation ◽  
Synaptic Strength ◽  
Regulation Of Transcription ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Short Day ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
Neurotransmitter Plasticity ◽  
Cell Phenotypes

ABSTRACTNeuroplasticity has classically been understood to arise through changes in synaptic strength or synaptic connectivity. A newly discovered form of neuroplasticity, neurotransmitter switching, involves changes in neurotransmitter identity. Chronic exposure to different photoperiods alters the number of dopamine (tyrosine hydroxylase, TH+) and somatostatin (SST+) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PaVN) of the hypothalamus of adult rats and results in discrete behavioral changes. Here we investigate whether photoperiod-induced neurotransmitter switching persists during aging and whether epigenetic mechanisms of histone acetylation and DNA methylation may contribute to this neurotransmitter plasticity. We show that this plasticity is robust at 1 and at 3 months but reduced in TH+ neurons at 12 months and completely abolished in both TH+ and SST+ neurons by 18 months. De novo methylation and histone 3 acetylation were observed following short-day photoperiod exposure in both TH+ and SST+ neurons at 1 and 3 months while an overall increase in methylation of SST+ neurons paralleled neuroplasticity reduction at 12 and 18 months. Histone acetylation increased in TH+ neurons and decreased in SST+ neurons following short-day exposure at 3 months while the total number of acetylated PaVN neurons remained constant. Reciprocal histone acetylation in TH+ and SST+ neurons suggests the importance of studying epigenetic regulation at the circuit level for identified cell phenotypes. The association of age-dependent reduction in neurotransmitter plasticity and changes in DNA methylation and acetylation patterns in two neuronal phenotypes known to switch transmitter identity suggests mechanistic insights into transmitter plasticity in the aging brain.SIGNIFICANCENeurotransmitter switching, like changes in synaptic strength, formation of new synapses and synapse remodeling, declines with age. This age-dependent reduction in transmitter plasticity is associated with changes in levels of DNA methylase and histone deacetylase that imply epigenetic regulation of transcription. A reciprocal pattern of histone acetylation in a single population of neurons that depends on the transmitter expressed emphasizes the value of studying epigenetic mechanisms at the level of cell phenotypes rather than cell genotypes or whole tissue. The findings may be useful for developing approaches for non-invasive treatment of disorders characterized by neurotransmitter dysfunction.

scholarly journals The Effect of Sorghum Polyphenols on DNA Methylation and Histone Acetylation in Colon Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 328-328
Author(s):  
Zeguela Kamagate ◽  
Ashish Singh ◽  
Dmitriy Smolensky ◽  
Petra Tsuji
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Histone Acetylation ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Colon Cancer Cells

Abstract Objectives Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health issue, accounting for nearly 150,000 cases annually. Because CRC correlates with oxidative stress, exploiting the antioxidative nature of bioactive components in our diet that could potentially inhibit cancer promotion might be beneficial. New varietals of the grain Sorghum bicolor contain high amounts of polyphenols, which may contribute to CRC prevention due to their strong antioxidative and anti-carcinogenic properties. Because gene expression of enzymes may be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms, we are interested in DNA methylation and histone acetylation patterns of genes, including those enzymes that play a role in the promotion or prevention of CRC. Our objective is to examine how high-polyphenol sorghum varietals impact epigenetic mechanisms in human colon cancer cells. Methods We are currently assessing mRNA and protein expression, catalytic activity of DNA-methyltransferases (DNMTs) and histone acetyltransferases, in addition to global DNA methylation and histone acetylation in human HCT116 and CACO-2 colon cancer cells. We treated HCT116 cells with new high-polyphenol or commercially available S. bicolor extracts, solvent control, or 5 μM epigallocatechin gallate as a positive control for up to 48 hours. Total RNA, protein, and DNA were harvested, and mRNA expression of selected genes was quantitated with qPCR, and protein expression is being quantitated with Western blotting. Results Our preliminary results suggest that high-polyphenol S. bicolor may decrease mRNA expression of DNMT1, the key enzyme that upholds methylation patterns after DNA synthesis. Furthermore, mRNA expression of DNMT3A, the enzyme responsible for de novo DNA methylation, was also decreased. We will further investigate global and gene-specific DNA methylation, and the expression of genes involved in tumorigenesis and chemoprevention. Conclusions Consumption of high-polyphenol S. bicolor as part of the human diet may lead to beneficial changes in chromatin methylation or acetylation. Subsequently, the expression of specific genes involved in the promotion or prevention of colorectal cancer may be modified, providing a dietary intervention to CRC. Funding Sources Towson University. Bridges-to-Doctorate grant. USDA ARS Kansas.

The Prognostic and Predictive Value of microRNAs in Patients with H. pylori-positive Gastric Cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (39) ◽  
pp. 4639-4645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Mostafa Parizadeh ◽  
Reza Jafarzadeh-Esfehani ◽  
Amir Avan ◽  
Maryam Ghandehari ◽  
Fatemeh Goldani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Tumor Suppressors ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Noncoding Rnas ◽  
World Population ◽  
Normal Flora ◽  
Small Noncoding Rnas ◽  
Control Gene Expression ◽  
The World ◽  
H Pylori

Gastric cancer (GC) has a high mortality rate with a poor 5-year survival. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is present as part of the normal flora of stomach. It is found in the gastric mucosa of more than half of the world population. This bacterium is involved in developing H. pylori-induced GC due to the regulation of different micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA or miR). miRNAs are small noncoding RNAs and are recognized as prognostic biomarkers for GC that may control gene expression. miRNAs may function as tumor suppressors, or oncogenes. In this review, we evaluated studies that investigated the ectopic expression of miRNAs in the prognosis of H. pylori positive and negative GC.

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