Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Biocampus, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France.
Open Biol. 2022 Jul;12(7):220047. doi: 10.1098/rsob.220047. Epub 2022 Jul 6.
The reproductive castes of eusocial insects are often characterized by extreme lifespans and reproductive output, indicating an absence of the fecundity/longevity trade-off. The role of DNA methylation in the regulation of caste- and age-specific gene expression in eusocial insects is controversial. While some studies find a clear link to caste formation in honeybees and ants, others find no correlation when replication is increased across independent colonies. Although recent studies have identified transcription patterns involved in the maintenance of high reproduction throughout the long lives of queens, the role of DNA methylation in the regulation of these genes is unknown. We carried out a comparative analysis of DNA methylation in the regulation of caste-specific transcription and its importance for the regulation of fertility and longevity in queens of the higher termite . We found evidence for significant, well-regulated changes in DNA methylation in mature compared to young queens, especially in several genes related to ageing and fecundity in mature queens. We also found a strong link between methylation and caste-specific alternative splicing. This study reveals a complex regulatory role of fat body DNA methylation both in the division of labour in termites, and during the reproductive maturation of queens.
真社会性昆虫的生殖级通常具有极长的寿命和生殖输出，表明不存在繁殖力/寿命权衡。DNA 甲基化在真社会性昆虫中调节级型和年龄特异性基因表达中的作用存在争议。虽然一些研究发现 DNA 甲基化与蜜蜂和蚂蚁的级型形成有明显联系，但当在独立的群体中增加复制时，其他研究则发现没有相关性。尽管最近的研究已经确定了维持长寿命的高繁殖所需的转录模式，但 DNA 甲基化在这些基因调控中的作用尚不清楚。我们对高等白蚁女王中调节级型特异性转录的 DNA 甲基化及其对调节生育力和寿命的重要性进行了比较分析。我们发现，与年轻女王相比，成熟女王的 DNA 甲基化存在显著的、调控良好的变化，尤其是与成熟女王衰老和生育力相关的几个基因。我们还发现甲基化与级型特异性选择性剪接之间存在很强的联系。这项研究揭示了脂肪体 DNA 甲基化在白蚁劳动分工以及女王生殖成熟过程中的复杂调节作用。
