Changes in gene body methylation do not correlate with changes in gene expression in Anthozoa or Hexapoda
Abstract Background As human activity alters the planet, there is a pressing need to understand how organisms adapt to environmental change. Of growing interest in this area is the role of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, in tailoring gene expression to fit novel conditions. Here,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Genomics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-022-08474-z |
| _version_ | 1811335465743155200 |
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| author | Groves Dixon Mikhail Matz |
| author_facet | Groves Dixon Mikhail Matz |
| author_sort | Groves Dixon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background As human activity alters the planet, there is a pressing need to understand how organisms adapt to environmental change. Of growing interest in this area is the role of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, in tailoring gene expression to fit novel conditions. Here, we reanalyzed nine invertebrate (Anthozoa and Hexapoda) datasets to validate a key prediction of this hypothesis: changes in DNA methylation in response to some condition correlate with changes in gene expression. Results In accord with previous observations, baseline levels of gene body methylation (GBM) positively correlated with transcription, and negatively correlated with transcriptional variation between conditions. Correlations between changes in GBM and transcription, however, were negligible. There was also no consistent negative correlation between methylation and transcription at the level of gene body methylation class (either highly- or lowly-methylated), anticipated under the previously described “seesaw hypothesis”. Conclusion Our results do not support the direct involvement of GBM in regulating dynamic transcriptional responses in invertebrates. If changes in DNA methylation regulate invertebrate transcription, the mechanism must involve additional factors or regulatory influences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:24:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ef8997ae48084ea0ac3042938bcb6b01 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2164 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:24:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Genomics |
| spelling | doaj.art-ef8997ae48084ea0ac3042938bcb6b012022-12-22T02:37:51ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642022-03-0123111110.1186/s12864-022-08474-zChanges in gene body methylation do not correlate with changes in gene expression in Anthozoa or HexapodaGroves Dixon0Mikhail Matz1Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at AustinDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at AustinAbstract Background As human activity alters the planet, there is a pressing need to understand how organisms adapt to environmental change. Of growing interest in this area is the role of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, in tailoring gene expression to fit novel conditions. Here, we reanalyzed nine invertebrate (Anthozoa and Hexapoda) datasets to validate a key prediction of this hypothesis: changes in DNA methylation in response to some condition correlate with changes in gene expression. Results In accord with previous observations, baseline levels of gene body methylation (GBM) positively correlated with transcription, and negatively correlated with transcriptional variation between conditions. Correlations between changes in GBM and transcription, however, were negligible. There was also no consistent negative correlation between methylation and transcription at the level of gene body methylation class (either highly- or lowly-methylated), anticipated under the previously described “seesaw hypothesis”. Conclusion Our results do not support the direct involvement of GBM in regulating dynamic transcriptional responses in invertebrates. If changes in DNA methylation regulate invertebrate transcription, the mechanism must involve additional factors or regulatory influences.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-022-08474-zEpigeneticsDNA methylationGene regulationPlasticityTranscriptomicsGene body methylation |
| spellingShingle | Groves Dixon Mikhail Matz Changes in gene body methylation do not correlate with changes in gene expression in Anthozoa or Hexapoda BMC Genomics Epigenetics DNA methylation Gene regulation Plasticity Transcriptomics Gene body methylation |
| title | Changes in gene body methylation do not correlate with changes in gene expression in Anthozoa or Hexapoda |
| title_full | Changes in gene body methylation do not correlate with changes in gene expression in Anthozoa or Hexapoda |
| title_fullStr | Changes in gene body methylation do not correlate with changes in gene expression in Anthozoa or Hexapoda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in gene body methylation do not correlate with changes in gene expression in Anthozoa or Hexapoda |
| title_short | Changes in gene body methylation do not correlate with changes in gene expression in Anthozoa or Hexapoda |
| title_sort | changes in gene body methylation do not correlate with changes in gene expression in anthozoa or hexapoda |
| topic | Epigenetics DNA methylation Gene regulation Plasticity Transcriptomics Gene body methylation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-022-08474-z |
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