Epigenetic Modifications May Regulate the Activation of the Hypopharyngeal Gland of Honeybees (Apis Mellifera) During Winter
DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification primarily responsible for individual phenotypic variation. This modification has been reported to play an important role in caste, brain plasticity, and body development in honeybees (Apis mellifera). Here, we report the DNA methylation profile of honeyb...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Genetics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2020.00046/full |
| _version_ | 1828821352289665024 |
|---|---|
| author | Kang Wang Zhen-guo Liu Zhe-guang Lin Ling Yin Fu-chao Gao Guo-hong Chen Ting Ji |
| author_facet | Kang Wang Zhen-guo Liu Zhe-guang Lin Ling Yin Fu-chao Gao Guo-hong Chen Ting Ji |
| author_sort | Kang Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification primarily responsible for individual phenotypic variation. This modification has been reported to play an important role in caste, brain plasticity, and body development in honeybees (Apis mellifera). Here, we report the DNA methylation profile of honeybee hypopharyngeal glands, from atrophy in winter to arousal in the following spring, through the use of whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Consistent with previous studies in other Apis species, we found low methylation levels of the hypopharyngeal gland genome that were mostly of the CG type. Notably, we observed a strong preference for CpG methylation, which was localized in promoters and exon regions. This result further indicated that, in honeybees, DNA methylation may regulate gene expression by mediating alternative splicing, in addition to silencing gene in the promoter regions. After assessment by correlation analysis, we identified seven candidate proteins encoded by differentially methylated genes, including aristaless-related homeobox, forkhead box protein O, headcase, alpha-amylase, neural-cadherin, epidermal growth factor receptor, and aquaporin, which are reported to be involved in cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Hypomethylation followed by upregulated expression of these candidates suggested that DNA methylation may play significant roles in the activation of hypopharyngeal glands in overwintering honeybees. Overall, this study elucidates epigenetic modification differences in honeybee hypopharyngeal glands by comparing an inactive winter state to an aroused state in the following spring, which could provide further insight into the evolution of insect sociality and regulatory plasticity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T12:52:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-243dc4e7a4eb4edd9e300e0b331ed7bc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-8021 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T12:52:43Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Genetics |
| spelling | doaj.art-243dc4e7a4eb4edd9e300e0b331ed7bc2022-12-22T00:23:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212020-02-011110.3389/fgene.2020.00046503070Epigenetic Modifications May Regulate the Activation of the Hypopharyngeal Gland of Honeybees (Apis Mellifera) During WinterKang Wang0Zhen-guo Liu1Zhe-guang Lin2Ling Yin3Fu-chao Gao4Guo-hong Chen5Ting Ji6College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaJiangsu Agri-animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou, ChinaMudanjiang Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaDNA methylation is an epigenetic modification primarily responsible for individual phenotypic variation. This modification has been reported to play an important role in caste, brain plasticity, and body development in honeybees (Apis mellifera). Here, we report the DNA methylation profile of honeybee hypopharyngeal glands, from atrophy in winter to arousal in the following spring, through the use of whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Consistent with previous studies in other Apis species, we found low methylation levels of the hypopharyngeal gland genome that were mostly of the CG type. Notably, we observed a strong preference for CpG methylation, which was localized in promoters and exon regions. This result further indicated that, in honeybees, DNA methylation may regulate gene expression by mediating alternative splicing, in addition to silencing gene in the promoter regions. After assessment by correlation analysis, we identified seven candidate proteins encoded by differentially methylated genes, including aristaless-related homeobox, forkhead box protein O, headcase, alpha-amylase, neural-cadherin, epidermal growth factor receptor, and aquaporin, which are reported to be involved in cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Hypomethylation followed by upregulated expression of these candidates suggested that DNA methylation may play significant roles in the activation of hypopharyngeal glands in overwintering honeybees. Overall, this study elucidates epigenetic modification differences in honeybee hypopharyngeal glands by comparing an inactive winter state to an aroused state in the following spring, which could provide further insight into the evolution of insect sociality and regulatory plasticity.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2020.00046/fullhoneybeehypopharyngeal glandsactivationoverwinteringDNA methylation |
| spellingShingle | Kang Wang Zhen-guo Liu Zhe-guang Lin Ling Yin Fu-chao Gao Guo-hong Chen Ting Ji Epigenetic Modifications May Regulate the Activation of the Hypopharyngeal Gland of Honeybees (Apis Mellifera) During Winter Frontiers in Genetics honeybee hypopharyngeal glands activation overwintering DNA methylation |
| title | Epigenetic Modifications May Regulate the Activation of the Hypopharyngeal Gland of Honeybees (Apis Mellifera) During Winter |
| title_full | Epigenetic Modifications May Regulate the Activation of the Hypopharyngeal Gland of Honeybees (Apis Mellifera) During Winter |
| title_fullStr | Epigenetic Modifications May Regulate the Activation of the Hypopharyngeal Gland of Honeybees (Apis Mellifera) During Winter |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epigenetic Modifications May Regulate the Activation of the Hypopharyngeal Gland of Honeybees (Apis Mellifera) During Winter |
| title_short | Epigenetic Modifications May Regulate the Activation of the Hypopharyngeal Gland of Honeybees (Apis Mellifera) During Winter |
| title_sort | epigenetic modifications may regulate the activation of the hypopharyngeal gland of honeybees apis mellifera during winter |
| topic | honeybee hypopharyngeal glands activation overwintering DNA methylation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2020.00046/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kangwang epigeneticmodificationsmayregulatetheactivationofthehypopharyngealglandofhoneybeesapismelliferaduringwinter AT zhenguoliu epigeneticmodificationsmayregulatetheactivationofthehypopharyngealglandofhoneybeesapismelliferaduringwinter AT zheguanglin epigeneticmodificationsmayregulatetheactivationofthehypopharyngealglandofhoneybeesapismelliferaduringwinter AT lingyin epigeneticmodificationsmayregulatetheactivationofthehypopharyngealglandofhoneybeesapismelliferaduringwinter AT fuchaogao epigeneticmodificationsmayregulatetheactivationofthehypopharyngealglandofhoneybeesapismelliferaduringwinter AT guohongchen epigeneticmodificationsmayregulatetheactivationofthehypopharyngealglandofhoneybeesapismelliferaduringwinter AT tingji epigeneticmodificationsmayregulatetheactivationofthehypopharyngealglandofhoneybeesapismelliferaduringwinter |