AlphaBeta: Computational inference of epimutation rates and spectra from high-throughput DNA methylation data in plants
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Arabidopsis thaliana
PROVIDER: GSE153055 | GEO | 2020/08/21
REPOSITORIES: GEO
Similar Datasets
Project description:Stochastic changes in DNA methylation (i.e., spontaneous epimutations) contribute to methylome diversity in plants. Here, we describe AlphaBeta, a computational method for estimating the precise rate of such stochastic events using pedigree-based DNA methylation data as input. We demonstrate how AlphaBeta can be employed to study transgenerationally heritable epimutations in clonal or sexually derived mutation accumulation lines, as well as somatic epimutations in long-lived perennials. Application of our method to published and new data reveals that spontaneous epimutations accumulate neutrally at the genome-wide scale, originate mainly during somatic development and that they can be used as a molecular clock for age-dating trees.
| S-EPMC7539454 | biostudies-literature
Project description:AlphaBeta: Computational inference of epimutation rates and spectra from high-throughput DNA methylation data in plants
| PRJNA641352 | ENA
Project description:Constitutional epimutations of tumor suppressor genes manifest as promoter methylation and transcriptional silencing of a single allele in normal somatic tissues, thereby predisposing to cancer. Constitutional MLH1 epimutations occur in individuals with young-onset cancer and demonstrate non-Mendelian inheritance through their reversal in the germline. We report a cancer-affected family showing dominant transmission of soma-wide highly mosaic MLH1 methylation and transcriptional repression linked to a particular genetic haplotype. The epimutation was erased in spermatozoa but reinstated in the somatic cells of the next generation. The affected haplotype harbored two single nucleotide substitutions in tandem: c.-27C>A located near the transcription initiation site and c.85G>T. The c.-27C>A variant significantly reduced transcriptional activity in reporter assays and is the probable cause of this epimutation. Five members of a three-generation Caucasian Lynch syndrome family with an autosomal dominant MLH1 epimutation linked to a single nucleotide variant (c.-27C>A) within the MLH1 5'UTR were examined for copy number variations and retention of heterozygosity on chromosome 3. These five carriers of constitutional MLH1 methylation and the c.-27C>A variant were compared with 300 healthy Caucasian controls from the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium using three algorithms (QuantiSNP, PennCNV, COKGEN) to detect any copy number variants. The five family members studied were female (the proband II5, her affected mother I1, and three asymptomatic relatives II2, II4 and III2) are labeled according to the pedigree in Figure 3 of the associated publication (Hitchins et al., Cancer Cell, 2011). The supplementary file 'GSE30348_gw6.lrr_baf.txt' contains log R ratio and B-allele frequency values in a tab-delimited format with one marker per row.
2011-07-01 | E-GEOD-30348 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Constitutional epimutations of tumor suppressor genes manifest as promoter methylation and transcriptional silencing of a single allele in normal somatic tissues, thereby predisposing to cancer. Constitutional MLH1 epimutations occur in individuals with young-onset cancer and demonstrate non-Mendelian inheritance through their reversal in the germline. We report a cancer-affected family showing dominant transmission of soma-wide highly mosaic MLH1 methylation and transcriptional repression linked to a particular genetic haplotype. The epimutation was erased in spermatozoa but reinstated in the somatic cells of the next generation. The affected haplotype harbored two single nucleotide substitutions in tandem: c.-27C>A located near the transcription initiation site and c.85G>T. The c.-27C>A variant significantly reduced transcriptional activity in reporter assays and is the probable cause of this epimutation.
2011-07-01 | GSE30348 | GEO
Project description:Mistakes in the maintenance of CG methylation is a source of heritable epimutations in plants. Multigenerational surveys indicate that the rate of these stochastic events varies substantially across the genome, with some regions harboring localized “epimutation hotspots”. Using Arabidopsis as a model, we show that epimutation hotspots are indexed by a specific set of chromatin states (CS) that map to sub-regions of gene body methylation genes. Although these regions comprise only ~12% of all CGs in the genome, they account for ~63% of all epimutation events per unit time. Molecular profiling revealed that these regions contain unique sequence features, harbor steady-state intermediate methylation levels, and act as putative targets of antagonistic DNA methylation pathways. We further demonstrate that experimentally-induced shifts in steady-state methylation in these hotspot regions are sufficient to significantly alter local epimutation intensities. Our work thus lays foundation for dissecting the molecular mechanisms of epimutation hotspots in plants.
2021-12-02 | GSE178684 | GEO
Project description:Failure to maintain DNA methylation patterns during plant development can occasionally give rise to so-called "spontaneous epimutations". These stochastic methylation changes are sometimes heritable across generations and thus accumulate in plant genomes over time. Recent evidence indicates that spontaneous epimutations have a major role in shaping patterns of methylation diversity in plant populations. Using single CG dinucleotides as units of analysis, previous work has shown that the epimutation rate is several orders of magnitude higher than the genetic mutation rate. While these large rate differences have obvious implications for understanding genome-methylome co-evolution, the functional relevance of single CG methylation changes remains questionable. In contrast to single CG, solid experimental evidence has linked methylation gains and losses in larger genomic regions with transcriptional variation and heritable phenotypic effects. Here we show that such region-level changes arise stochastically at about the same rate as those at individual CG sites, are only marginal dependent on region size and cytosine density, but strongly dependent on chromosomal location. We also find consistent evidence that region-level epimutations are not restricted to CG contexts but also frequently occur in non-CG regions at the genome-wide scale. Taken together, our results support the view that many differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in natural populations originate from epimutation events and may not be effectively tagged by proximal SNPs. This possibility reinforces the need for epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) in plants as a way to identify the epigenetic basis of complex traits.
| S-EPMC8322157 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Failure to maintain DNA methylation patterns during plant development can occasionally give rise to so-called "spontaneous epimutations". These stochastic methylation changes are sometimes heritable across generations and thus accumulate in plant genomes over time. Recent evidence indicates that spontaneous epimutations have a major role in shaping patterns of methylation diversity in plant populations. Using single CG dinucleotides as units of analysis, previous work has shown that the epimutation rate is several orders of magnitude higher than the genetic mutation rate. While these large rate differences have obvious implications for understanding genome-methylome co-evolution, the functional relevance of single CG methylation changes remains questionable. In contrast to single CG, solid experimental evidence has linked methylation gains and losses in larger genomic regions with transcriptional variation and heritable phenotypic effects. Here we show that such region-level changes arise stochastically at about the same rate as those at individual CG sites, are only marginal dependent on region size and cytosine density, but strongly dependent on chromosomal location. We also find consistent evidence that region-level epimutations are not restricted to CG contexts but also frequently occur in non-CG regions at the genome-wide scale. Taken together, our results support the view that many differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in natural populations originate from epimutation events and may not be effectively tagged by proximal SNPs. This possibility reinforces the need for epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) in plants as a way to identify the epigenetic basis of complex traits.
| S-EPMC8322157 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Jet fuel hydrocarbons is the generic name for aviation fuels used in gas-turbine engine powered aircrafts. Due to the widespread use of jet fuel hydrocarbons, this compound has been recognized as the single largest chemical exposure for military personnel. Previous animal studies have demonstrated the ability of jet fuel (JP-8) exposure to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease susceptibility in subsequent generations. The diseases observed include late puberty, kidney, obesity and multiple disease pathologies. The current study was designed to identify potential sperm DNA methylation biomarkers for specific transgenerational diseases. Observations identify few disease specific differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs) called epimutations in the transgenerational F3 generation great-grand-offspring rats ancestrally exposed to jet fuel. The potential epigenetic DMRs were identified for late puberty, kidney, obesity, and multiple diseases, and found to be predominantly disease specific. These disease specific DMRs have associated genes previously shown to be linked with each of these specific diseases. Therefore, the germline (i.e. sperm) has environmentally induced ancestrally derived epimutations that have the potential to transgenerationally transmit disease susceptibilities to subsequent generations. Epigenetic biomarkers for specific diseases could be developed as medical diagnostics to facilitate clinical management of disease and allow preventative medicine therapeutics.
2020-10-01 | GSE155922 | GEO
Project description:Plastic derived compounds are one of the most frequent daily world-wide exposures. Previously a mixture of plastic derived toxicants involving bisphenol A (BPA), Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) at lower dose exposures of a gestating female rat were found to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease to the offspring (F1 generation), grand-offspring (F2 generation) and great-grand-offspring (F3 generation). Epigenetic analysis of the male sperm was found to result in differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs) in the transgenerational F3 generation male sperm. The current study is distinct and was designed to identify potential sperm DNA methylation biomarkers for specific transgenerational diseases. Observations show disease specific DMRs called epimutations in the transgenerational F3 generation great-grand-offspring rats ancestrally exposed to plastics. The epigenetic DMR biomarkers were identified for testis disease, kidney disease, and multiple (≥2) diseases. These disease sperm epimutation biomarkers were found to be predominantly disease specific. The genomic locations and features of these DMRs were identified. Interestingly, the disease specific DMR associated genes were previously shown to be linked with each of the specific diseases. Therefore, the germline has ancestrally derived epimutations that potentially transmit transgenerational disease susceptibilities. Epigenetic biomarkers for specific diseases could be used as diagnostics to facilitate clinical management of disease and preventative medicine.
2021-03-16 | GSE163412 | GEO
Project description:To elucidate the role of epimutation in antifungal resistance of Mucor, epimutations were isolated that confer resistance to 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-FOA). We identified epimutant strains that exhibit resistance to 5-FOA without mutations in either of the 5-FOA target genes, pyrF or pyrG. Using sRNA sequencing, we demonstrate that these epimutants harbor sRNA against either pyrF or pyrG, and further show that this sRNA is lost after reversion to drug sensitivity.
2019-01-16 | GSE113706 | GEO