Whole organism integrated DNA methylation and transcriptomics analysis of butterfly metamorphosis.

ABSTRACT: Metamorphosis is one of the most fascinating developmental processes in the natural world. The underlying molecular events resulting in the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, including the epigenetic and transcriptomic programs, remain elusive. By integrating DNA and RNA long-read sequencing of the entire body of five consecutive stages from larval to late-pupal development in a laboratory butterfly, we characterise the fundamental metabolic and developmental transitions taking place. We identify a progression from lipid metabolism in larvae towards an up-regulation of muscle formation and mitochondrial energy generation in pupae. Intra-genic CpG methylation correlates with, but does not appear to dictate, gene expression. The level of 5-hydroxymethlcytosine modification det

SUBMITTER: Hesketh A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12518556 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature