Dataset Information

Pattern of DNA Methylation in Daphnia: Evolutionary Perspective.

ABSTRACT: DNA methylation is an evolutionary ancient epigenetic modification that is phylogenetically widespread. Comparative studies of the methylome across a diverse range of non-conventional and conventional model organisms is expected to help reveal how the landscape of DNA methylation and its functions have evolved. Here, we explore the DNA methylation profile of two species of the crustacean Daphnia using whole genome bisulfite sequencing. We then compare our data with the methylomes of two insects and two mammals to achieve a better understanding of the function of DNA methylation in Daphnia. Using RNA-sequencing data for all six species, we investigate the correlation between DNA methylation and gene expression. DNA methylation in Daphnia is mainly enriched within the coding regions of genes, with the highest methylation levels observed at exons 2-4. In contrast, vertebrate genomes are globally methylated, and increase towards the highest methylation levels observed at exon 2, and maintained across the rest of the gene body. Although DNA methylation patterns differ among all species, their methylation profiles share a bimodal distribution across the genomes. Genes with low levels of CpG methylation and gene expression are mainly enriched for species specific genes. In contrast, genes associated with high methylated CpG sites are highly transcribed and evolutionary conserved across all species. Finally, the positive correlation between internal exons and gene expression potentially points to an evolutionary conserved mechanism, whereas the negative regulation of gene expression via methylation of promoters and exon 1 is potentially a secondary mechanism that has been evolved in vertebrates.

SUBMITTER: Kvist J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6097596 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Pattern of DNA Methylation in Daphnia: Evolutionary Perspective.

Kvist Jouni J Gonçalves Athanàsio Camila C Shams Solari Omid O Brown James B JB Colbourne John K JK Pfrender Michael E ME Mirbahai Leda L

Genome biology and evolution 20180801 8

DNA methylation is an evolutionary ancient epigenetic modification that is phylogenetically widespread. Comparative studies of the methylome across a diverse range of non-conventional and conventional model organisms is expected to help reveal how the landscape of DNA methylation and its functions have evolved. Here, we explore the DNA methylation profile of two species of the crustacean Daphnia using whole genome bisulfite sequencing. We then compare our data with the methylomes of two insects ...[more]

PMID: 30060190

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Project description:To profile the Daphnia species methylome and to achieve a better understanding of the level of variations in the methylome of Daphnia species, we performed whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBSeq) of adult Daphnia magna Bham2 strain and Daphnia pulex Eloise Butler strain (EB45 and EB31 strains). We also analysed the correlation between gene expression and methylation in the two species, using data generated in this study and RNA-seq data from Orsini, et al. 2016. We found that methylation percentage across the genome of Daphnia spp. follows a bimodal distribution. Furthermore, CpG methylation in Daphnia predominantly occurs at coding regions. Although methylation levels significantly decrease towards the 3’ end of a gene with a significant drop in methylation levels from one exon to the neighbouring intron, there is a clear spike in relative methylation levels between exon and intron boundaries, which may be linked to regulation of splicing. We further demonstrate that DNA methylation in Daphnia is responsive to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We also compared the methylation and gene expression correlations found in Daphnia to publicly available dataset from two other invertebrate species (Apis mellifera and Nasonia vitripennis) and two vertebrate species (Homo sapiens and Mus musculus). We observed that similar to other invertebrates, Daphnia’s genome is sparsely methylated at a lower level and the methylation is predominantly focused at gene body while in vertebrate species the genome is heavily methylated (global methylation). Although the level and distribution of methylation across CpG sites is different between vertebrates and invertebrates it is possible that methylation density at coding regions has the same function between vertebrates and invertebrates. We demonstrate evolutionary conservation of a positive correlation between high methylation density at coding regions and gene expression across vertebrates and invertebrates, leading to potentially ensuring continuous high expression of genes required throughout the life in both vertebrates and invertebrates.

Dataset Information

Pattern of DNA Methylation in Daphnia: Evolutionary Perspective.

Publications

Pattern of DNA Methylation in Daphnia: Evolutionary Perspective.

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