Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chenglong Cheng, Yajie Wu, Xin Wang, Qiuyun Xue, Yurong Huang, Faxue Liao, Xiao Wang, Qiangjun Duan, Chenggui Miao
Summary: RNA methylation, especially m6A methylation, plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of hepatic fibrosis (HF). The pathophysiological regulation of HF by RNA methylation is achieved through the interaction of methyltransferases, demethylases, and reading proteins, which may provide a new therapeutic and diagnostic target.
CELL AND BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Karin Rothkegel, Alonso Espinoza, Dayan Sanhueza, Victoria Lillo-Carmona, Anibal Riveros, Reinaldo Campos-Vargas, Claudio Meneses
Summary: This study identified differentially methylated regions in mealy peach fruits that could affect gene expression, revealing genes associated with ethylene signaling, cell wall modification, lipid metabolism, and other metabolic pathways. The results suggest that genetic differences between tolerant and susceptible individuals primarily impact epigenetic regulation over gene expression, leading to mealiness in later stages of development. Further research on this epigenetic mark may be beneficial for breeding programs.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Klara Konecna, Pavla Polanska Sovakova, Karin Antekova, Jiri Fajkus, Miloslava Fojtova
Summary: The study found that exposure to the hypomethylation drug zebularine resulted in shorter telomeres in Arabidopsis plants, with progressive changes across generations, high inter-individual variability, and diverse responses among different ecotypes. Shortening of telomeres corresponded to the transcriptional activation of transposable elements (TEs), indicating a correlated response to zebularine treatment. Changes in telomere lengths and TE transcript levels were not always associated with cytosine hypomethylation, suggesting an independent regulatory mechanism.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Patrycja Kamila Przybylowicz, Katarzyna Ewa Sokolowska, Hubert Rola, Tomasz Kazimierz Wojdacz
Summary: This study reanalyzed the data from previous studies on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome and found that methylation changes in the blood cells of patients with these syndromes may be implicated in their pathogenesis.
JOURNAL OF PAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mansour H. Almatarneh, Ghada G. Kayed, Sanaa S. Al Abbad, Zainab H. A. Alsunaidi, Mohammed S. Al-Sheraideh, Yuming Zhao
Summary: DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mark that regulates gene expression. This study investigated the mechanistic details of the formation of 5-methylcytosine and identified the roles of active site residues and water molecules in the reaction. The results showed that the reaction follows a concerted mechanism involving the participation of water molecules, and alanine and arginine have significant catalytic effects on the process.
ARABIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guifang Zhang, Nuo Li, Dongjie Zhang, Zhijiang Li, Aiwu Zhang, Xijuan Guo
Summary: This study investigated the epigenetic diversity of 50 japonica rice samples from five regions in Heilongjiang Province, China, using MSAP technology. The results showed significant differences in the methylation status and levels of the japonica rice genome among different regions. Cluster analysis indicated no obvious correlation between epigenetic differences and geographical locations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ayushi Gupta, Suresh Nair
Summary: DNA methylation plays a critical role in cellular differentiation, development, gene regulation, genome integrity, and phenotypic plasticity in insects. However, its evolutionary potential and role in facilitating rapid adaptations in insects remain unclear. In this study, methylation patterns in the brown planthopper (BPH), a major rice pest, were investigated under pesticide and nutritional stress across its life stages. The heritability and persistence of stress-induced methylation marks in BPH were also determined. The results showed that DNA methylation patterns in BPH vary with environmental cues and are specific to each life stage. Additionally, it was found that the stress-induced methylation marks in BPH are heritable but fade over generations in the absence of stressors, suggesting potential fitness costs associated with maintaining the stressed epigenotype. Furthermore, the study demonstrated the impact of 5-azacytidine-mediated disruption of BPH methylome on the expression of stress-responsive genes, highlighting demethylation/methylation as a phenomenon underlying stress resilience in BPH.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Patrizia D'Aquila, Giada Sena, Michele Crudo, Giuseppe Passarino, Dina Bellizzi
Summary: The potential antibacterial activity of ten essential oils against Chromobacterium violaceum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis was evaluated in this study. The results showed that Origanum vulgare and Foeniculum vulgare had the most significant inhibitory effect on bacterial growth. The sub-inhibitory concentrations of essential oils also affected the biofilm formation, violacein amount, and gelatinase activity of C. violaceum and E. faecalis, suggesting their role in modulating the Quorum Sensing process and epigenetic changes.
Article
Plant Sciences
Haoquan Wang, Huan Lu, Zixuan Yang, Zixu Zhang, Mengshuo Li, Zheng Zhang, Weimin Dai, Xiaoling Song, Kenneth M. Olsen, Sheng Qiang
Summary: The lodging variation among different Chinese weedy rice strains and between weedy rice and cultivated rice was compared in this study. The results showed that indica-derived weedy rice strains had higher lodging levels in southern China, while japonica-derived strains had lower lodging levels in the north. The more lodging-prone indica weedy rice had lower bending stress and lignin content, and a lower cellulose to lignin ratio compared to co-occurring cultivated rice. DNA methylation of lignin synthesis-related genes affected the expression levels and the cellulose to lignin ratio, thus regulating lodging variation in weedy rice.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xuan Ma, Feng Xing, Qingxiao Jia, Qinglu Zhang, Tong Hu, Baoguo Wu, Lin Shao, Yu Zhao, Qifa Zhang, Dao-Xiu Zhou
Summary: Heterosis refers to the superior performance of hybrid lines over inbred parental lines. The study found that there are significant DNA methylation differences between parental varieties in hybrid rice, and dynamic methylation variations during development in hybrids. Additionally, most of the allelic-specific expression genes in hybrid rice are associated with DNA methylation, with a negative correlation between ASE and allelic-specific methylation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samantha L. Bock, Christopher R. Smaga, Jessica A. McCoy, Benjamin B. Parrott
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns to investigate temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) species, specifically American alligators, in the face of climate change. Through analyzing DNAm in blood cells of hatchling alligators, sex-associated differentially methylated cytosines (DMCs) and temperature-associated DMCs were identified. DNAm-based models were developed to accurately predict hatchling sex and past incubation temperature.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhiyao Lv, Rui Dai, Haoran Xu, Yongxin Liu, Bo Bai, Ying Meng, Haiyan Li, Xiaofeng Cao, Yang Bai, Xianwei Song, Jingying Zhang
Summary: The histone methylation in rice plays a crucial role in regulating the structure and composition of the root microbiota, especially in shaping the microbial network's hub species. This study reveals that histone methylation-related genes influence the assembly of the root microbiota and highlights the connections between plant epigenetic regulation and root microbiota.
JOURNAL OF GENETICS AND GENOMICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Nicholas A. Weirath, Alexander K. Hurben, Christopher Chao, Suresh S. Pujari, Tao Cheng, Shujun Liu, Natalia Y. Tretyakova
Summary: Ten eleven translocation (TET) dioxygenases are enzymes that play important roles in gene activation and epigenetic remodeling. Inhibitors of TET, such as alpha-ketoglutarate mimics, have been developed, but they may interfere with other enzymes. A recent study reported a new cytosine-based inhibitor called Bobcat339, but further research found that its inhibitory activity against TET enzymes is minimal and mainly comes from contaminating copper ions (Cu(II)).
ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sheng-Nan Zhang, Wan-Ying Xie, Zhi-Qiang Zhai, Chuan Chen, Fang-Jie Zhao, Peng Wang
Summary: Cadmium contamination in food has raised concerns for food safety and human health. This study investigated the effect of Cd-contaminated rice on DNA methylation changes in mice. The results showed that Cd-rice exposure caused differentially methylated sites (DMSs) in genes, leading to altered gene expressions. Supplementation of NaFeEDTA alleviated the toxic effects of Cd-rice exposure. These findings provide epigenetic evidence for the health risks associated with dietary Cd intake.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Alejandro Caceres, Natalia Carreras-Gallo, Sandra Andrusaityte, Mariona Bustamante, Angel Carracedo, Leda Chatzi, Varun B. Dwaraka, Regina Grazuleviciene, Kristine Bjerve Gutzkow, Johanna Lepeule, Lea Maitre, Tavis L. Mendez, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Remy Slama, Ryan Smith, Nikos Stratakis, Cathrine Thomsen, Jose Urquiza, Hannah Went, John Wright, Tiffany Yang, Maribel Casas, Martine Vrijheid, Juan R. Gonzalez
Summary: Prenatal exposures can influence the risk of obesity and neurodevelopmental delay in children, but the effect may differ between different environments. This study identified an environment characterized by low dairy consumption, low cotinine levels in blood for non-smokers, low facility richness, and the presence of green spaces during pregnancy, which can reduce the risk of obesity and neurodevelopmental delay in girls.