Cytosine methylation is a conserved epigenetic feature found throughout the phylum Platyhelminthes

Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-121892
  • Background: The phylum Platyhelminthes (flatworms) contains an important group of bilaterian organisms responsible for many debilitating and chronic infectious diseases of human and animal populations inhabiting the planet today. In addition to their biomedical and veterinary relevance, some platyhelminths are also frequently used models for understanding tissue regeneration and stem cell biology. Therefore, the molecular (genetic and epigenetic) characteristics that underlie trophic specialism, pathogenicity or developmental maturation areBackground: The phylum Platyhelminthes (flatworms) contains an important group of bilaterian organisms responsible for many debilitating and chronic infectious diseases of human and animal populations inhabiting the planet today. In addition to their biomedical and veterinary relevance, some platyhelminths are also frequently used models for understanding tissue regeneration and stem cell biology. Therefore, the molecular (genetic and epigenetic) characteristics that underlie trophic specialism, pathogenicity or developmental maturation are likely to be pivotal in our continued studies of this important metazoan group. Indeed, in contrast to earlier studies that failed to detect evidence of cytosine or adenine methylation in parasitic flatworm taxa, our laboratory has recently defined a critical role for cytosine methylation in Schistosoma mansoni oviposition, egg maturation and ovarian development. Thus, in order to identify whether this epigenetic modification features in other platyhelminth species or is a novelty of S. mansoni, we conducted a study simultaneously surveying for DNA methylation machinery components and DNA methylation marks throughout the phylum using both parasitic and non-parasitic representatives. Results: Firstly, using both S. mansoni DNA methyltransferase 2 (SmDNMT2) and methyl-CpG binding domain protein (SmMBD) as query sequences, we illustrate that essential DNA methylation machinery components are well conserved throughout the phylum. Secondly, using both molecular (methylation specific amplification polymorphism, MSAP) and immunological (enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay, ELISA) methodologies, we demonstrate that representative species (Echinococcus multilocularis, Protopolystoma xenopodis, Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma japonicum, Fasciola hepatica and Polycelis nigra) within all four platyhelminth classes (Cestoda, Monogenea, Trematoda and 'Turbellaria') contain methylated cytosines within their genome compartments. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings provide the first direct evidence for a functionally conserved and enzymatically active DNA methylation system throughout the Platyhelminthes. Defining how this epigenetic feature shapes phenotypic diversity and development within the phylum represents an exciting new area of metazoan biology.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author: Kathrin K. Geyer, Iain W. Chalmers, Neil MacKintosh, Julie E. Hirst, Rory Geoghegan, Mathieu Badets, Peter M. Brophy, Klaus Brehm, Karl F. Hoffmann
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-121892
Document Type:Journal article
Faculties:Medizinische Fakultät / Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie
Language:English
Parent Title (English):BMC Genomics
ISSN:1471-2164
Year of Completion:2013
Volume:14
Issue:462
Source:BMC Genomics 2013, 14:462. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-14-462
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-14-462
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 57 Biowissenschaften; Biologie / 571 Physiologie und verwandte Themen
Tag:5-methyl cytosine; CPG binding domain; DNA methylation; complex; echinococcus multilocularis; epgenetics; flatworm; gene; maximum liklihood; methyltransferase homolog; platyhelminthes; proteins; schistoma mansoni; stem cells
Release Date:2016/02/22
Licence (German):License LogoCC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung