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Rate, spectrum, and evolutionary dynamics of spontaneous epimutations

ABSTRACT: Stochastic changes in cytosine methylation are a source of heritable epigenetic and phenotypic diversity in plants. Using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, we derive robust estimates of the rate at which methylation is spontaneously gained (forward epimutation) or lost (backward epimutation) at individual cytosines and construct a comprehensive picture of the epimutation landscape in this species. We demonstrate that the dynamic interplay between forward and backward epimutations is modulated by genomic context and show that subtle contextual differences have profoundly shaped patterns of methylation diversity in A. thaliana natural populations over evolutionary timescales. Theoretical arguments indicate that the epimutation rates reported here are high enough to rapidly uncouple genetic from epigenetic variation, but low enough for new epialleles to sustain long-term selection responses. Our results provide new insights into methylome evolution and its population-level consequences.

ORGANISM(S): Arabidopsis thaliana

PROVIDER: GSE64463 | GEO | 2015/05/13

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA271082

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Rate, spectrum, and evolutionary dynamics of spontaneous epimutations

Project description:Stochastic changes in cytosine methylation are a source of heritable epigenetic and phenotypic diversity in plants. Using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, we derive robust estimates of the rate at which methylation is spontaneously gained (forward epimutation) or lost (backward epimutation) at individual cytosines and construct a comprehensive picture of the epimutation landscape in this species. We demonstrate that the dynamic interplay between forward and backward epimutations is modulated by genomic context and show that subtle contextual differences have profoundly shaped patterns of methylation diversity in A. thaliana natural populations over evolutionary timescales. Theoretical arguments indicate that the epimutation rates reported here are high enough to rapidly uncouple genetic from epigenetic variation, but low enough for new epialleles to sustain long-term selection responses. Our results provide new insights into methylome evolution and its population-level consequences. MethylC-seq of Arabidopsis thaliana

2015-05-13 | E-GEOD-64463 | biostudies-arrayexpress

An evolutionary epigenetic clock in plants [Accessions]

Project description:Molecular clocks are the basis for dating the divergence between lineages over macro-evolutionary timescales (~104-108 years). However, classical DNA-based clocks tick too slowly to inform us about the recent past. Here, we demonstrate that stochastic DNA methylation changes at a subset of cytosines in plant genomes possess a clock-like behavior. This ‘epimutation-clock’ is orders of magnitude faster than DNA-based clocks and enables phylogenetic explorations on a scale of years to centuries. We show experimentally that epimutation-clocks recapitulate known topologies and branching times of intra-species phylogenetic trees in the selfing plant A. thaliana and the clonal seagrass Z. marina, which represent the two primary modes of plant reproduction. This discovery will open new possibilities for high-resolution temporal studies of plant biodiversity.

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Project description:Background: Constitutional MLH1 epimutations are characterized by monoallelic methylation of the MLH1 promoter throughout normal tissues, accompanied by allele-specific silencing. The mechanism underlying primary MLH1 epimutations is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to perform an in-depth characterization of constitutional MLH1 epimutations targeting the aberrantly methylated region around MLH1 and other genomic loci. Methods: Twelve MLH1 epimutation carriers, 61 Lynch syndrome patients and 41 healthy controls, were analyzed by Infinium Human Methylation 450K beadchip, and targeted molecular techniques were used to characterize the MLH1 epimutation in carriers and their inheritance pattern. Results: No nucleotide or structural variants were identified in-cis on the epimutated allele in ten carriers, in which intergenerational methylation erasure was demonstrated in two, suggesting primary type of epimutation. CNVs outside the MLH1 locus were found in two cases. EPM2AIP1-MLH1 CpG island was identified as the sole differentially methylated region in MLH1 epimutation carriers compared to controls. Conclusion: Primary constitutional MLH1 epimutations arise as a focal epigenetic event at the EPM2AIP1-MLH1 CpG island in the absence of cis-acting genetic variants. Further molecular characterization is needed to elucidate the mechanistic basis of MLH1 epimutations and their heritability/reversibility.

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Primary constitutional MLH1 epimutations: a focal epigenetic event [FFPE data sets]

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Epigenetic inheritance mediates phenotypic evolution in natural populations

Project description:Genetic variation is regarded as a prerequisite for evolution. Theoretical models suggest epigenetic information inherited independently of DNA sequence can also enable evolution. However, whether epigenetic inheritance mediates phenotypic evolution in natural populations is unknown. Here we show that natural epigenetic DNA methylation variation in gene bodies regulates genes expression, and thereby influences the natural variation of complex traits in Arabidopsis thaliana. Notably, the effects of methylation variation on phenotypic diversity and gene expression variance are comparable with those of DNA sequence polymorphism. We also identify methylation epialleles in numerous genes associated with environmental conditions in native habitats, suggesting that intragenic methylation facilitates adaptation to fluctuating environments. Our results demonstrate that methylation variation fundamentally shapes phenotypic diversity in natural populations and provides an epigenetic basis for adaptive Darwinian evolution independent of genetic polymorphism.

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Heterochromatin is a quantitative trait locus associated with spontaneous epiallele formation

Project description:Epialleles are meiotically inherited variations in expression states that are not linked to changes in DNA sequence. Although they are well documented to persist in plant genomes, their molecular origins are unknown. Here, we show using a variety of mutant and experimental populations that epialleles in Arabidopsis thaliana result from feedback regulation of pathways that primarily function to maintain DNA methylation at heterochromatin. Perturbations to maintenance of heterochromatin methylation leads to feedback regulation of DNA methylation in genes, with a preference for genes with pre-existing DNA methylation. Using epigenetic recombinant inbred lines (epiRIL), we show that epiallelic variation is enriched in euchromatin, yet, associated with QTL primarily located in heterochromatin. Mapping three-dimensional chromatin contacts reveals that genes that are hotspots for epiallelic variation have increased contact frequencies with regions possessing H3K9me2. Altogether, these data show that feedback regulation of pathways that evolved to maintain heterochromatin silencing leads to the origins of spontaneous epialleles.

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Divergence among rice cultivars reveals roles for transposition and epimutation in ongoing evolution of genomic imprinting

Project description:To understand the evolution of imprinting mechanisms in the rice species Oryza sativa, we analyzed DNA methylation, transcription and small RNA expression in embryo and endosperm. Cultivars chosen to represent the genetic diversity of cultivated Oryza sativa comprised Nipponbare and Kitaake of the japonica subspecies, and IR64 and 93-11 cultivars of the indica subspecies. While imprinted expression is generally conserved among rice cultivars, approximately 10% of imprinted genes show imprinting divergence across the four cultivars. Analyses of DNA methylation and small RNAs revealed that small RNA producing loci are closely associated with genic regions and four times more likely to be imprinted than genes. However, imprinting divergence most often correlated with DNA methylation epimutations. Correlative epialleles were largely stable within subspecies. Small indels and transposable element insertions were found at half of the epimutated loci and associated with imprinting divergence at half of the remaining loci. Correlating epigenetic and genetic variation occurred at key regulatory regions – the promoter and transcription start site of maternally-biased genes, and the promoter and gene body of paternally-biased genes. Our results reinforce models for the role of maternal-specific DNA hypomethylation in imprint formation at both maternally and paternally biased genes, and highlight the role of transposition events and epimutation in rice imprinting evolution.

2021-06-29 | GSE130122 | GEO

Epigenomic and genome structural diversity in a worldwide collection of Arabidopsis thaliana

Project description:Epigenetic variation can impact gene transcription and may play roles in phenotypic diversity and adaptation. Here we report 1,107 high quality single-base resolution methylomes, and 1,210 transcriptomes from the 1001 Arabidopsis Genomes population. Analyses reveal strong effects of geographic origin on average DNA methylation levels, alterations of gene expression by epialleles and a highly complex genetic basis for DNA methylation. Physical genome maps for nine of the most diverse accessions revealed how transposable elements and other structural variations shaped the epigenome to allow rapid adaptation to environmental changes, with strong emphasis on disease resistance. Analysis of the cistromes and epicistromes in these accessions revealed a significant association between both methylation and nucleotide variation and the conservation of transcription factor binding sites. The Arabidopsis thaliana 1001 Epigenomes Project now provides a comprehensive resource to help further understand how epigenetic variation contributes to both molecular and phenotypes in natural populations of the most widely studied reference plant.

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Stable Inheritance of Spontaneous Epialleles in Arabidopsis thaliana

Project description:This research uses consecutive generations of two independent mutation accumulation (MA) lines in model organism A. thaliana to understand transgenerational stability of epialleles via self-fertilization. With whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, regions of instability were identified and quantified. The vast majority of the methylated genome is stably inherited to offspring and the identified unstable regions do not change frequently between generations. Additionally, an epigenetic cross of two MA lines was created to understand inheritance patterns of epialleles via outcrossing in the absence of genetic variation. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing was used to predict epigenotype of the offspring without single nucleotide polymorphisms. In regions of differential methylation between the parents, about half of regions show predictable inheritance.

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