Epigenetic DNA Modifications Are Correlated With B Chromosomes and Sex in the Cichlid Astatotilapia latifasciata

Author(s)

Cardoso, Adauto Lima ; de Almeida Fantinatti, Bruno Evaristo ; Venturelli, Natalia Bortholazzi ; Carmello, Bianca de Oliveira ; de Oliveira, Rogerio Antonio ; Martins, Cesar

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FRONTIERS IN GENETICS; v. 10, p. 14-pg., 2019-04-12.

Abstract

Supernumerary B chromosomes are dispensable elements found in several groups of eukaryotes, and their impacts in host organisms are not clear. The cichlid fish Astatotilapia latifasciata presents one or two large metacentric B chromosomes. These elements affect the transcription of several classes of RNAs. Here, we evaluated the epigenetic DNA modification status of B chromosomes using immunocytogenetics and assessed the impact of B chromosome presence on the global contents of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and the molecular mechanisms underlying these variations. We found that the B chromosome of A. latifasciata has an active pattern of DNA epimarks, and its presence promotes the loss of 5mC in gonads of females with B chromosome (FB+) and promotes the loss of 5hmC in the muscle of males with the B element (MB+). Based on the transcriptional quantification of DNA modification genes (dnmt, tet, and tdg) and their candidate regulators (idh genes, microRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs) and on RNA-protein interaction prediction, we suggest the occurrence of passive demethylation in gonads of FB+ and 5hmC loss by Tet inhibition or by 5hmC oxidation in MB+ muscle. We suggest that these results can also explain the previously reported variations in the transcription levels of several classes of RNA depending on B chromosome presence. The DNA modifications detected here are also influenced by sex. Although the correlation between B chromosomes and sex has been previously reported, it remains unexplained. The B chromosome of A. latifasciata seems to be active and impacts cell physiology in a very complex way, including at the epigenetic level. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/21546-9 - Immunocytogenetic analysis in the cichlid fish Astatotilapia latifasciata: epigenetic inferences and its contributions in understanding the biological role of B chromosomes
• Grantee: Adauto Lima Cardoso
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/04533-3 - Functional analysis of B chromosomes: the cichlid fish Astatotilapia latifasciata as model
• Grantee: César Martins
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/16661-1 - Sex and B chromosome enigmas: model systems for the study of chromosome and genome evolution
• Grantee: César Martins
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants