Histone H3 and H4 Modifications Point to Transcriptional Suppression as a Component of Winter Freeze Tolerance in the Gall Fly <i>Eurosta solidaginis</i>
The goldenrod gall fly (<i>Eurosta solidaginis)</i> is a well-studied model of insect freeze tolerance. In situations of prolonged winter subzero temperatures, larvae of <i>E. solidaginis</i> accept ice penetration throughout extracellular spaces while protecting the intracel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/12/10153 |
| _version_ | 1797594261002125312 |
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| author | Tighe Bloskie Kenneth B. Storey |
| author_facet | Tighe Bloskie Kenneth B. Storey |
| author_sort | Tighe Bloskie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The goldenrod gall fly (<i>Eurosta solidaginis)</i> is a well-studied model of insect freeze tolerance. In situations of prolonged winter subzero temperatures, larvae of <i>E. solidaginis</i> accept ice penetration throughout extracellular spaces while protecting the intracellular environment by producing extreme amounts of glycerol and sorbitol as cryoprotectants. Hypometabolism (diapause) is implemented, and energy use is reprioritized to essential pathways. Gene transcription is one energy-expensive process likely suppressed over the winter, in part, due to epigenetic controls. The present study profiled the prevalence of 24 histone H3/H4 modifications of <i>E. solidaginis</i> larvae after 3-week acclimations to decreasing environmental temperatures (5 °C, −5 °C and −15 °C). Using immunoblotting, the data show freeze-mediated reductions (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in seven permissive histone modifications (H3K27me1, H4K20me1, H3K9ac, H3K14ac, H3K27ac, H4K8ac, H3R26me2a). Along with the maintenance of various repressive marks, the data are indicative of a suppressed transcriptional state at subzero temperatures. Elevated nuclear levels of histone H4, but not histone H3, were also observed in response to both cold and freeze acclimation. Together, the present study provides evidence for epigenetic-mediated transcriptional suppression in support of the winter diapause state and freeze tolerance of <i>E. solidaginis</i>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:21:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-30804cf094bd42768703d7e983c4bd63 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:21:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
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| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-30804cf094bd42768703d7e983c4bd632023-11-18T10:49:27ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-06-0124121015310.3390/ijms241210153Histone H3 and H4 Modifications Point to Transcriptional Suppression as a Component of Winter Freeze Tolerance in the Gall Fly <i>Eurosta solidaginis</i>Tighe Bloskie0Kenneth B. Storey1Institute of Biochemistry and Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, CanadaInstitute of Biochemistry and Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, CanadaThe goldenrod gall fly (<i>Eurosta solidaginis)</i> is a well-studied model of insect freeze tolerance. In situations of prolonged winter subzero temperatures, larvae of <i>E. solidaginis</i> accept ice penetration throughout extracellular spaces while protecting the intracellular environment by producing extreme amounts of glycerol and sorbitol as cryoprotectants. Hypometabolism (diapause) is implemented, and energy use is reprioritized to essential pathways. Gene transcription is one energy-expensive process likely suppressed over the winter, in part, due to epigenetic controls. The present study profiled the prevalence of 24 histone H3/H4 modifications of <i>E. solidaginis</i> larvae after 3-week acclimations to decreasing environmental temperatures (5 °C, −5 °C and −15 °C). Using immunoblotting, the data show freeze-mediated reductions (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in seven permissive histone modifications (H3K27me1, H4K20me1, H3K9ac, H3K14ac, H3K27ac, H4K8ac, H3R26me2a). Along with the maintenance of various repressive marks, the data are indicative of a suppressed transcriptional state at subzero temperatures. Elevated nuclear levels of histone H4, but not histone H3, were also observed in response to both cold and freeze acclimation. Together, the present study provides evidence for epigenetic-mediated transcriptional suppression in support of the winter diapause state and freeze tolerance of <i>E. solidaginis</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/12/10153histone modificationepigeneticsfreeze tolerancehypometabolismgoldenrod gall fly |
| spellingShingle | Tighe Bloskie Kenneth B. Storey Histone H3 and H4 Modifications Point to Transcriptional Suppression as a Component of Winter Freeze Tolerance in the Gall Fly <i>Eurosta solidaginis</i> International Journal of Molecular Sciences histone modification epigenetics freeze tolerance hypometabolism goldenrod gall fly |
| title | Histone H3 and H4 Modifications Point to Transcriptional Suppression as a Component of Winter Freeze Tolerance in the Gall Fly <i>Eurosta solidaginis</i> |
| title_full | Histone H3 and H4 Modifications Point to Transcriptional Suppression as a Component of Winter Freeze Tolerance in the Gall Fly <i>Eurosta solidaginis</i> |
| title_fullStr | Histone H3 and H4 Modifications Point to Transcriptional Suppression as a Component of Winter Freeze Tolerance in the Gall Fly <i>Eurosta solidaginis</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Histone H3 and H4 Modifications Point to Transcriptional Suppression as a Component of Winter Freeze Tolerance in the Gall Fly <i>Eurosta solidaginis</i> |
| title_short | Histone H3 and H4 Modifications Point to Transcriptional Suppression as a Component of Winter Freeze Tolerance in the Gall Fly <i>Eurosta solidaginis</i> |
| title_sort | histone h3 and h4 modifications point to transcriptional suppression as a component of winter freeze tolerance in the gall fly i eurosta solidaginis i |
| topic | histone modification epigenetics freeze tolerance hypometabolism goldenrod gall fly |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/12/10153 |
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