Social context influences the expression of DNA methyltransferase genes in the honeybee

Carlos Antônio Mendes Cardoso-Júnior,Klaus Hartfelder,Vincent Dietemann,Michael Eyer,Benjamin Dainat

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-29377-8

Carlos Antônio Mendes Cardoso-Júnior, Klaus Hartfelder + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-29377-8

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Abstract

DNA methylation is a reversible epigenetic modification that alters gene expression without altering the nucleotide sequence. Epigenetic modifications have been suggested as crucial mediators between social interactions and gene expression in mammals. However, little is known about the role of DNA methylation in the life cycle of social invertebrates. Recently, honeybees have become an attractive model to study epigenetic processes in social contexts. Although DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) enzymes responsible for DNA methylation are known in this model system, the influence of social stimuli on this process remains largely unexplored. By quantifying the expression of DNMT genes (dnmt1a, dnmt2 and dnmt3) under different demographical conditions characterized by the absence or presence of immatures and young adults, we tested whether the social context affected the expression of DNMT genes. The three DNMT genes had their expression altered, indicating that distinct molecular processes were affected by social interactions. These results open avenues for future investigations into regulatory epigenetic mechanisms underlying complex traits in social invertebrates.

Highlights

DNA methylation is a reversible epigenetic modification that alters gene expression without altering the nucleotide sequence
Apis mellifera, colonies contain thousands of individuals interacting as a superorganism[15,16] and represent an attractive model to study the impact of social context on epigenetic processes
The RT-qPCR analyses performed over 35 days, which cover most of the lifespan of an adult worker in summer, revealed that the expression levels of dnmt1a were significantly higher at day 5 in workers from colonies with young adults, when compared with the two groups lacking young adults (Fig. 2a)

Summary

Introduction

DNA methylation is a reversible epigenetic modification that alters gene expression without altering the nucleotide sequence. The three DNMT genes had their expression altered, indicating that distinct molecular processes were affected by social interactions. These results open avenues for future investigations into regulatory epigenetic mechanisms underlying complex traits in social invertebrates. Apis mellifera, colonies contain thousands of individuals interacting as a superorganism[15,16] and represent an attractive model to study the impact of social context on epigenetic processes. In this species, social context varies according to demographic and seasonal changes[17,18].

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