How does epigenetics influence the course of evolution?

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 376(1826), P. 20200111 - 20200111

Published: April 17, 2021

Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene activity that can be transmitted through cell divisions but cannot explained by DNA sequence. Epigenetic mechanisms are central to regulation, phenotypic plasticity, development and preservation genome integrity. often held make a minor contribution evolutionary change because epigenetic states typically erased reset at every generation, therefore, not heritable. Nonetheless, there growing appreciation variation makes direct indirect contributions processes. First, some intergenerationally affect phenotype offspring. Moreover,

Language: Английский

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Epigenetics for Crop Improvement in Times of Global Change

Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 10(8), P. 766 - 766

Published: Aug. 11, 2021

Epigenetics has emerged as an important research field for crop improvement under the on-going climatic changes. Heritable epigenetic changes can arise independently of DNA sequence alterations and have been associated with altered gene expression transmitted phenotypic variation. By modulating plant development physiological responses to environmental conditions, diversity—naturally, genetically, chemically, or environmentally induced—can help optimise traits in era challenged by global climate change. Beyond variation, modifications may contribute breeding providing useful markers allowing use epigenome diversity predict performance increase final production. Given difficulties transferring knowledge mechanisms from model plants crops, various strategies emerged. Among those are modelling frameworks dedicated predicting epigenetically controlled-adaptive traits, epigenetics vitro regeneration accelerate breeding, specific marks that modulate interest. The key challenge agriculture faces 21st century is production speeding up resilient species. Therefore, provides fundamental molecular information potential direct applications enhancement, tolerance, adaptation within context

Language: Английский

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Deep inside the epigenetic memories of stressed plants

Trends in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28(2), P. 142 - 153

Published: Nov. 17, 2022

Language: Английский

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RNAi suppression of DNA methylation affects the drought stress response and genome integrity in transgenic poplar

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 232(1), P. 80 - 97

Published: June 15, 2021

Trees are long-lived organisms that continuously adapt to their environments, a process in which epigenetic mechanisms likely play key role. Via downregulation of the chromatin remodeler DECREASED IN DNA METHYLATION 1 (DDM1) poplar (Populus tremula × Populus alba) RNAi lines, we examined how methylation coordinates genomic and physiological responses moderate water deficit. We compared growth drought response two RNAi-ddm1 lines wild-type (WT) trees under well-watered deficit/rewatering conditions, analyzed methylomes, transcriptomes, mobilomes phytohormone contents shoot apical meristem. The were more tolerant drought-induced cavitation but did not differ height or stem diameter growth. About 5000 differentially methylated regions consistently detected both colocalizing with 910 genes 89 active transposable elements. Under deficit 136 expressed found, including many involved pathways; changes concentrations also detected. Finally, combination hypomethylation led mobility Our findings suggest major roles for regulation hormone-related stress responses, maintenance genome integrity through repression

Language: Английский

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The Polycomb repressive complex 2 deposits H3K27me3 and represses transposable elements in a broad range of eukaryotes

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33(20), P. 4367 - 4380.e9

Published: Sept. 21, 2023

The mobility of transposable elements (TEs) contributes to evolution genomes. Their uncontrolled activity causes genomic instability; therefore, expression TEs is silenced by host are marked with DNA and H3K9 methylation, which associated silencing in flowering plants, animals, fungi. However, distantly related groups eukaryotes, H3K27me3 deposited the Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), an epigenetic mark gene plants animals. direct PRC2 has so far only been shown one species ciliates. To test if silences a broader range we generated mutants reduced analyzed role extant along lineage Archaeplastida diatom P. tricornutum. In this red alga C. merolae, greater proportion than genes were repressed PRC2, whereas bryophytes. contained potential cis-elements recognized transcription factors neighbor as transcriptional units PRC2. Thus, observed not but also diatoms ciliates, suggesting that silence last common ancestor eukaryotes. We hypothesize during Archaeplastida, TE fragments selected shape regulation, controlling networks regulated

Language: Английский

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Population analysis reveals the roles of DNA methylation in tomato domestication and metabolic diversity

Science China Life Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 66(8), P. 1888 - 1902

Published: March 23, 2023

Language: Английский

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Conditional GWAS of non-CG transposon methylation in Arabidopsis thaliana reveals major polymorphisms in five genes

PLoS Genetics, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 18(9), P. e1010345 - e1010345

Published: Sept. 9, 2022

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed that the striking natural variation for DNA CHH-methylation (mCHH; H is A, T, or C) of transposons has oligogenic architecture involving major alleles at a handful known methylation regulators. Here we use conditional GWAS approach to show CHG-methylation (mCHG) similar genetic architecture-once mCHH statistically controlled for. We identify five key trans-regulators appear modulate mCHG levels, and they interact with previously identified modifier in regulating transposon mobilization.

Language: Английский

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Epigenetic variation: A major player in facilitating plant fitness under changing environmental conditions

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Oct. 18, 2022

Recent research in plant epigenetics has increased our understanding of how epigenetic variability can contribute to adaptive phenotypic plasticity natural populations. Studies show that environmental changes induce switches either independently or complementation with the genetic variation. Although most induced gets reset between generations and is short-lived, some variation becomes transgenerational results heritable traits. The short-term responses provide first tier transient required for local adaptations while stress memory help plants respond better recurring long-term stresses. These variations translate into an additional diversity which stable epialleles. In recent years, studies have been conducted on populations related various biological processes, ecological factors, communities, habitats. With advent advanced NGS-based technologies, targeting diverse environments manifold enhance stimuli facilitating fitness. Taking all points together a frame, present review compilation present-day knowledge role its fitness benefits systems

Language: Английский

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Millennia-long epigenetic fluctuations generate intragenic DNA methylation variance in Arabidopsis populations

Cell Systems, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(11), P. 953 - 967.e17

Published: Nov. 1, 2023

Methylation of CG dinucleotides (mCGs), which regulates eukaryotic genome functions, is epigenetically propagated by Dnmt1/MET1 methyltransferases. How mCG established and transmitted across generations despite imperfect enzyme fidelity unclear. Whether variation in natural populations governed genetic or epigenetic inheritance also remains mysterious. Here, we show that MET1 de novo activity, enhanced existing proximate methylation, seeds stabilizes Arabidopsis thaliana genes. activity restricted active demethylation suppressed histone variant H2A.Z, producing localized patterns. Based on these observations, develop a stochastic mathematical model precisely recapitulates dynamics predicts intragenic patterns their population-scale given only site spacing. Our results demonstrate establishment, inheritance, variance constitute unified process, revealing undergoes large, millennia-long fluctuations can therefore mediate evolution this timescale.

Language: Английский

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Human management of ongoing evolutionary processes in agroecosystems

Plants People Planet, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 11, 2024

Societal Impact Statement Agricultural sustainability depends on the adaptation of crops to their local environment. Smallholder farmers who save seed provide an essential “evosystem” service by growing locally adapted varieties that can recruit biodiversity enhance growth and defense. While professional plant breeding has diverted evolutionary processes away from adaptation, smallholder farmers, particularly those in centers origin for crops, benefit society selecting propagating diverse crop allow perpetuate. Given smallholders support through generation evosystem services, changes policy practice are needed livelihoods ways mitigate risk recognize important contributions agricultural sustainability. To reach this work, a Spanish language version paper is available Supporting Information (see Translation_ES). [Correction added 18 June 2024, after first online publication: The preceding sentence been version.] Summary Long‐term food security depend protecting eco‐evolutionary select crops. Since systems structure how people acquire seed, institutional social influence within agroecosystems. World War II, rise bifurcated into traditional formal systems, which negatively affected agrobiodiversity, evolution, In often plants best desired qualities, landrace adapt environmental conditions. or centralized buy seeds bred primarily maximizing yield under ideal When source externally, underlying disrupted. Here, we argue services , resulting maintenance use genetic diversity society. We present framework enable necessary sustainable agriculture. discuss human values alter underlie adaptation. conclude developing policies managing ecological address current future challenges global

Language: Английский

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