Effects of DNA Methylation and Chromatin State on Rates of Molecular Evolution in Insects.

ABSTRACT: Epigenetic information is widely appreciated for its role in gene regulation in eukaryotic organisms. However, epigenetic information can also influence genome evolution. Here, we investigate the effects of epigenetic information on gene sequence evolution in two disparate insects: the fly Drosophila melanogaster, which lacks substantial DNA methylation, and the ant Camponotus floridanus, which possesses a functional DNA methylation system. We found that DNA methylation was positively correlated with the synonymous substitution rate in C. floridanus, suggesting a key effect of DNA methylation on patterns of gene evolution. However, our data suggest the link between DNA methylation and elevated rates of synonymous substitution was explained, in large part, by the targeting of DNA methylatio

SUBMITTER: Glastad KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4751555 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature