Laing L V, Viana J, Dempster E L, Uren Webster T M, van Aerle R, Mill J, Santos E M
Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom.
University of Exeter Medical School, RILD Building, University of Exeter, Exeter EX2 5DW, United Kingdom.
Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2018 Aug;222:16-25. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2018.04.004. Epub 2018 Apr 12.
Reproduction is an essential process for life and is regulated by complex hormone networks and environmental factors. To date, little is known about the contribution of epigenetic mechanisms to the regulation of reproduction, particularly in lower vertebrates. We used the zebrafish (Danio rerio) model to investigate the sex-specific transcription and DNA methylation profiles for genes involved in the regulation of reproduction and in epigenetic signalling in the livers and gonads. We found evidence for associations between DNA promotor methylation and transcription for esr1 (gonads and female livers), amh (gonads) and dnmt1 (livers). In the liver, esr1 was shown to be significantly over-expressed in females compared to males, and its promoter was significantly hypo-methylated in females compared to males. In the gonads, genes involved in epigenetic processes including dnmt1, dnmt3 and hdac1 were over-expressed in the ovary compared to the testis. In addition, dnmt1 and dnmt3 transcription in the testis was found to be strongly correlated with global DNA methylation. These data provide evidence of the sex-specific epigenetic regulation and transcription of genes involved in reproduction and epigenetic signalling in a commonly used vertebrate model.
繁殖是生命的一个基本过程，受复杂的激素网络和环境因素调控。迄今为止，关于表观遗传机制对繁殖调控的贡献知之甚少，尤其是在低等脊椎动物中。我们利用斑马鱼（Danio rerio）模型来研究参与繁殖调控以及肝脏和性腺中表观遗传信号传导的基因的性别特异性转录和DNA甲基化谱。我们发现了DNA启动子甲基化与esr1（性腺和雌性肝脏）、amh（性腺）和dnmt1（肝脏）的转录之间存在关联的证据。在肝脏中，与雄性相比，esr1在雌性中显著过度表达，并且其启动子在雌性中与雄性相比显著低甲基化。在性腺中，与睾丸相比，参与表观遗传过程的基因（包括dnmt1、dnmt3和hdac1）在卵巢中过度表达。此外，发现睾丸中的dnmt1和dnmt3转录与整体DNA甲基化密切相关。这些数据为常用脊椎动物模型中参与繁殖和表观遗传信号传导的基因的性别特异性表观遗传调控和转录提供了证据。
