Dataset Information

RNA interference knockdown of DNA methyl-transferase 3 affects gene alternative splicing in the honey bee.

ABSTRACT: Studies of DNA methylation from fungi, plants, and animals indicate that gene body methylation is ancient and highly conserved in eukaryotic genomes, but its role has not been clearly defined. It has been postulated that regulation of alternative splicing of transcripts was an original function of DNA methylation, but a direct experimental test of the effect of methylation on alternative slicing at the whole genome level has never been performed. To do this, we developed a unique method to administer RNA interference (RNAi) in a high-throughput and noninvasive manner and then used it to knock down the expression of DNA methyl-transferase 3 (dnmt3), which is required for de novo DNA methylation. We chose the honey bee (Apis mellifera) for this test because it has recently emerged as an important model organism for studying the effects of DNA methylation on development and social behavior, and DNA methylation in honey bees is predominantly on gene bodies. Here we show that dnmt3 RNAi decreased global genomic methylation level as expected and in addition caused widespread and diverse changes in alternative splicing in fat tissue. Four different types of splicing events were affected by dnmt3 gene knockdown, and change in two types, exon skipping and intron retention, was directly related to decreased methylation. These results demonstrate that one function of gene body DNA methylation is to regulate alternative splicing.

SUBMITTER: Li-Byarlay H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3732956 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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RNA interference knockdown of DNA methyl-transferase 3 affects gene alternative splicing in the honey bee.

Li-Byarlay Hongmei H Li Yang Y Stroud Hume H Feng Suhua S Newman Thomas C TC Kaneda Megan M Hou Kirk K KK Worley Kim C KC Elsik Christine G CG Wickline Samuel A SA Jacobsen Steven E SE Ma Jian J Robinson Gene E GE

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20130712 31

Studies of DNA methylation from fungi, plants, and animals indicate that gene body methylation is ancient and highly conserved in eukaryotic genomes, but its role has not been clearly defined. It has been postulated that regulation of alternative splicing of transcripts was an original function of DNA methylation, but a direct experimental test of the effect of methylation on alternative slicing at the whole genome level has never been performed. To do this, we developed a unique method to admin ...[more]

PMID: 23852726

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Project description:Study on differential gene expression and splicing between wildtype and clock mutants. This study is part of a comparative analysis of the role of Protein Methyltransferase 5 in the regulation of transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes simultaneously in Arabidopsis and Drosophila. Circadian rhythms allow organisms to time biological processes to the most appropriate phases of the day/night cycle1. Post-transcriptional regulation is emerging as an important component of circadian networks2-6, but the molecular mechanisms linking the circadian clock to the control of RNA processing are largely unknown. Here we show that Protein Arginine Methyl Transferase 5 (PRMT5), which transfers methyl groups to arginine residues present in histones7 and Sm spliceosomal proteins8,9, links the circadian clock to the control of alternative splicing in plants. Mutations in prmt5impair multiple circadian rhythms in Arabidopsis thaliana and this phenotype is caused, at least in part, by a strong alteration in alternative splicing of the core-clock gene PSEUDO RESPONSE REGULATOR 9 (PRR9). Furthermore, genome wide studies show that PRMT5 contributes to regulate many pre-mRNA splicing events most likely modulating 5´splice site (5´ss) recognition. PRMT5 expression shows daily and circadian oscillations, and this contributes to mediate the circadian regulation of expression and alternative splicing of a subset of genes. Circadian rhythms in locomotor activity are also disrupted in dart5, a mutant affected in the Drosophila melanogaster PRMT5 homolog, and this is associated with alterations in splicing of the core-clock gene period (per) and several clock associated genes. Our results reveal a key role for PRMT5 in the regulation of alternative splicing and indicate that the interplay between the circadian clock and the regulation of alternative splicing by PRMT5 constitutes a common mechanism that helps organisms to synchronize physiological processes with daily changes in environmental conditions.

Dataset Information

RNA interference knockdown of DNA methyl-transferase 3 affects gene alternative splicing in the honey bee.

Publications

RNA interference knockdown of DNA methyl-transferase 3 affects gene alternative splicing in the honey bee.

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