Unravelling the Wolbachia evolutionary role: the reprogramming of the host genomic imprinting.

ABSTRACT: Environmental factors can induce significant epigenetic changes that may also be inherited by future generations. The maternally inherited symbiont of arthropods Wolbachia pipientis is an excellent candidate as an 'environmental' factor promoting trans-generational epigenetic changes: by establishing intimate relationships with germ-line cells, epigenetic effects of Wolbachia symbiosis would be manifested as a 'maternal effect', in which infection of the mother modulates the offspring phenotype. In the leafhopper Zyginidia pullula, Wolbachia feminizes genetic males, leaving them as intersexes. With the exception of male chitinous structures that are present in the last abdominal segment, feminized males display phenotypic features that are typical of females. These include ovaries that ran

SUBMITTER: Negri I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2690474 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature