Haidar Laura, Georgescu Marius, Drăghici George Andrei, Bănățean-Dunea Ioan, Nica Dragoș Vasile, Șerb Alina-Florina
Department of Functional Sciences, Physiology Discipline, Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babeș" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timişoara, Romania.
Center of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies (CIFBIOTEH), "Victor Babeș" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timişoara, Romania.
Life (Basel). 2024 Apr 22;14(4):537. doi: 10.3390/life14040537.
The role of DNA methylation in mollusks is just beginning to be understood. This review synthesizes current knowledge on this potent molecular hallmark of epigenetic control in gastropods-the largest class of mollusks and ubiquitous inhabitants of diverse habitats. Their DNA methylation machinery shows a high degree of conservation in CG maintenance methylation mechanisms, driven mainly by DNMT1 homologues, and the presence of MBD2 and MBD2/3 proteins as DNA methylation readers. The mosaic-like DNA methylation landscape occurs mainly in a CG context and is primarily confined to gene bodies and housekeeping genes. DNA methylation emerges as a critical regulator of reproduction, development, and adaptation, with tissue-specific patterns being observed in gonadal structures. Its dynamics also serve as an important regulatory mechanism underlying learning and memory processes. DNA methylation can be affected by various environmental stimuli, including as pathogens and abiotic stresses, potentially impacting phenotypic variation and population diversity. Overall, the features of DNA methylation in gastropods are complex, being an essential part of their epigenome. However, comprehensive studies integrating developmental stages, tissues, and environmental conditions, functional annotation of methylated regions, and integrated genomic-epigenomic analyses are lacking. Addressing these knowledge gaps will advance our understanding of gastropod biology, ecology, and evolution.
DNA甲基化在软体动物中的作用才刚刚开始被了解。本综述综合了目前关于腹足纲动物（软体动物中最大的一类，广泛分布于各种栖息地）这一强大的表观遗传控制分子标志的知识。它们的DNA甲基化机制在CG维持甲基化机制方面表现出高度保守性，主要由DNMT1同源物驱动，并且存在MBD2和MBD2/3蛋白作为DNA甲基化阅读器。马赛克样的DNA甲基化图谱主要发生在CG环境中，并且主要局限于基因体和管家基因。DNA甲基化成为繁殖、发育和适应的关键调节因子，在性腺结构中观察到组织特异性模式。其动态变化也是学习和记忆过程的重要调节机制。DNA甲基化会受到各种环境刺激的影响，包括病原体和非生物胁迫，这可能会影响表型变异和种群多样性。总体而言，腹足纲动物中DNA甲基化的特征很复杂，是其表观基因组的重要组成部分。然而，缺乏整合发育阶段、组织和环境条件、甲基化区域的功能注释以及综合基因组 - 表观基因组分析的全面研究。填补这些知识空白将推动我们对腹足纲动物生物学、生态学和进化的理解。
