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Insects
Special Issues
Epigenetics in Insects
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Epigenetics in Insects

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Molecular Biology and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 April 2021) | Viewed by 35364

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Frédérique Peronnet

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Biology Paris Seine (IBPS), Sorbonne Université CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
Interests: developmental biology; epigenetics; phenotypic plasticity; developmental stability; Drosophila
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jean-Michel Gibert

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Biology Paris Seine (IBPS), Sorbonne Université-CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
Interests: phenotypic plasticity; robustness; epigenetics; pigmentation; temperature; Drosophila
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the 1950s, Conrad Waddington was put on the trail of epigenetics by the observation that thoracic appendages in fruit flies could be modified by changing developmental temperature or treating embryos with ether. It is therefore only natural to devote a Special Issue to Epigenetics in Insects. Epigenetics has been more recently defined as the study of mitotically and/or meiotically heritable changes in gene function that cannot be explained by changes in DNA sequence (Riggs et al., 1996). Many epigenetic mechanisms have been discovered and studied in detail in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, in which they play crucial roles in the structural organization of chromosomes, in gene regulation during development, and in the control of transposable elements. However, epigenetics is also a very active field of research in other insect species. Indeed, phenotype plasticity in response to environmental changes is very usual in insects and frequently involves epigenetic mechanisms. This Special Issue will report recent discoveries illustrating the major role of epigenetics in a range of insects.

Dr. Frédérique Peronnet
Dr. Jean-Michel Gibert
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • epigenetics
  • insects
  • histone marks
  • DNA methylation
  • small RNAs
  • phenotypic plasticity

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1223 KiB  
Article
Male-Biased microRNA Discovery in the Pea Aphid
by Xiaomi Liu, Erica L. Culbert and Jennifer A. Brisson
Insects 2021, 12(6), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12060533 - 8 Jun 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2572
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms modulate gene expression levels during development, shaping how a single genome produces a diversity of phenotypes. Here, we begin to explore the epigenetic regulation of sexual dimorphism in pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) by focusing on microRNAs. Previous analyses of [...] Read more.
Epigenetic mechanisms modulate gene expression levels during development, shaping how a single genome produces a diversity of phenotypes. Here, we begin to explore the epigenetic regulation of sexual dimorphism in pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) by focusing on microRNAs. Previous analyses of microRNAs in aphids have focused solely on females, so we performed deep sequencing of a sample containing early-stage males. We used this sample, plus samples from Genbank, to find 207 novel pea aphid microRNA coding loci. We localized microRNA loci to a chromosome-level assembly of the pea aphid genome and found that those on the X chromosome have lower overall expression compared to those on autosomes. We then identified a set of 19 putative male-biased microRNAs and found them enriched on the X chromosome. Finally, we performed protein-coding RNA-Seq of first instar female and male pea aphids to identify genes with lower expression in males. 10 of these genes were predicted targets of the 19 male-biased microRNAs. Our study provides the most complete set of microRNAs in the pea aphid to date and serves as foundational work for future studies on the epigenetic control of sexual dimorphism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics in Insects)
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Review

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17 pages, 1367 KiB  
Review
Phenotypic Plasticity: What Has DNA Methylation Got to Do with It?
by Elizabeth J. Duncan, Christopher B. Cunningham and Peter K. Dearden
Insects 2022, 13(2), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13020110 - 19 Jan 2022
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 7507
Abstract
How does one genome give rise to multiple, often markedly different, phenotypes in response to an environmental cue? This phenomenon, known as phenotypic plasticity, is common amongst plants and animals, but arguably the most striking examples are seen in insects. Well-known insect examples [...] Read more.
How does one genome give rise to multiple, often markedly different, phenotypes in response to an environmental cue? This phenomenon, known as phenotypic plasticity, is common amongst plants and animals, but arguably the most striking examples are seen in insects. Well-known insect examples include seasonal morphs of butterfly wing patterns, sexual and asexual reproduction in aphids, and queen and worker castes of eusocial insects. Ultimately, we need to understand how phenotypic plasticity works at a mechanistic level; how do environmental signals alter gene expression, and how are changes in gene expression translated into novel morphology, physiology and behaviour? Understanding how plasticity works is of major interest in evolutionary-developmental biology and may have implications for understanding how insects respond to global change. It has been proposed that epigenetic mechanisms, specifically DNA methylation, are the key link between environmental cues and changes in gene expression. Here, we review the available evidence on the function of DNA methylation of insects, the possible role(s) for DNA methylation in phenotypic plasticity and also highlight key outstanding questions in this field as well as new experimental approaches to address these questions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics in Insects)
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16 pages, 3732 KiB  
Review
The Paramount Role of Drosophila melanogaster in the Study of Epigenetics: From Simple Phenotypes to Molecular Dissection and Higher-Order Genome Organization
by Jean-Michel Gibert and Frédérique Peronnet
Insects 2021, 12(10), 884; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12100884 - 29 Sep 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3890
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster has played a paramount role in epigenetics, the study of changes in gene function inherited through mitosis or meiosis that are not due to changes in the DNA sequence. By analyzing simple phenotypes, such as the bristle position or cuticle pigmentation, [...] Read more.
Drosophila melanogaster has played a paramount role in epigenetics, the study of changes in gene function inherited through mitosis or meiosis that are not due to changes in the DNA sequence. By analyzing simple phenotypes, such as the bristle position or cuticle pigmentation, as read-outs of regulatory processes, the identification of mutated genes led to the discovery of major chromatin regulators. These are often conserved in distantly related organisms such as vertebrates or even plants. Many of them deposit, recognize, or erase post-translational modifications on histones (histone marks). Others are members of chromatin remodeling complexes that move, eject, or exchange nucleosomes. We review the role of D. melanogaster research in three epigenetic fields: Heterochromatin formation and maintenance, the repression of transposable elements by piRNAs, and the regulation of gene expression by the antagonistic Polycomb and Trithorax complexes. We then describe how genetic tools available in D. melanogaster allowed to examine the role of histone marks and show that some histone marks are dispensable for gene regulation, whereas others play essential roles. Next, we describe how D. melanogaster has been particularly important in defining chromatin types, higher-order chromatin structures, and their dynamic changes during development. Lastly, we discuss the role of epigenetics in a changing environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics in Insects)
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29 pages, 8030 KiB  
Review
Insect Epigenetic Mechanisms Facing Anthropogenic-Derived Contamination, an Overview
by Gabriela Olivares-Castro, Lizethly Cáceres-Jensen, Carlos Guerrero-Bosagna and Cristian Villagra
Insects 2021, 12(9), 780; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090780 - 31 Aug 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 6657
Abstract
Currently, the human species has been recognized as the primary species responsible for Earth’s biodiversity decline. Contamination by different chemical compounds, such as pesticides, is among the main causes of population decreases and species extinction. Insects are key for ecosystem maintenance; unfortunately, their [...] Read more.
Currently, the human species has been recognized as the primary species responsible for Earth’s biodiversity decline. Contamination by different chemical compounds, such as pesticides, is among the main causes of population decreases and species extinction. Insects are key for ecosystem maintenance; unfortunately, their populations are being drastically affected by human-derived disturbances. Pesticides, applied in agricultural and urban environments, are capable of polluting soil and water sources, reaching non-target organisms (native and introduced). Pesticides alter insect’s development, physiology, and inheritance. Recently, a link between pesticide effects on insects and their epigenetic molecular mechanisms (EMMs) has been demonstrated. EMMs are capable of regulating gene expression without modifying genetic sequences, resulting in the expression of different stress responses as well as compensatory mechanisms. In this work, we review the main anthropogenic contaminants capable of affecting insect biology and of triggering EMMs. EMMs are involved in the development of several diseases in native insects affected by pesticides (e.g., anomalous teratogenic reactions). Additionally, EMMs also may allow for the survival of some species (mainly pests) under contamination-derived habitats; this may lead to biodiversity decline and further biotic homogenization. We illustrate these patterns by reviewing the effect of neonicotinoid insecticides, insect EMMs, and their ecological consequences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics in Insects)
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17 pages, 1024 KiB  
Review
Contribution of Epigenetic Mechanisms in the Regulation of Environmentally-Induced Polyphenism in Insects
by Gautier Richard, Julie Jaquiéry and Gaël Le Trionnaire
Insects 2021, 12(7), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12070649 - 15 Jul 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5125
Abstract
Many insect species display a remarkable ability to produce discrete phenotypes in response to changes in environmental conditions. Such phenotypic plasticity is referred to as polyphenism. Seasonal, dispersal and caste polyphenisms correspond to the most-studied examples that are environmentally-induced in insects. Cues that [...] Read more.
Many insect species display a remarkable ability to produce discrete phenotypes in response to changes in environmental conditions. Such phenotypic plasticity is referred to as polyphenism. Seasonal, dispersal and caste polyphenisms correspond to the most-studied examples that are environmentally-induced in insects. Cues that induce such dramatic phenotypic changes are very diverse, ranging from seasonal cues, habitat quality changes or differential larval nutrition. Once these signals are perceived, they are transduced by the neuroendocrine system towards their target tissues where gene expression reprogramming underlying phenotypic changes occur. Epigenetic mechanisms are key regulators that allow for genome expression plasticity associated with such developmental switches. These mechanisms include DNA methylation, chromatin remodelling and histone post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs) as well as non-coding RNAs and have been studied to various extents in insect polyphenism. Differential patterns of DNA methylation between phenotypes are usually correlated with changes in gene expression and alternative splicing events, especially in the cases of dispersal and caste polyphenism. Combinatorial patterns of histone PTMs provide phenotype-specific epigenomic landscape associated with the expression of specific transcriptional programs, as revealed during caste determination in honeybees and ants. Alternative phenotypes are also usually associated with specific non-coding RNA profiles. This review will provide a summary of the current knowledge of the epigenetic changes associated with polyphenism in insects and highlights the potential for these mechanisms to be key regulators of developmental transitions triggered by environmental cues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics in Insects)
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20 pages, 1476 KiB  
Review
(Epi)Genetic Mechanisms Underlying the Evolutionary Success of Eusocial Insects
by Kayli R. Sieber, Taylor Dorman, Nicholas Newell and Hua Yan
Insects 2021, 12(6), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12060498 - 27 May 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 8435
Abstract
Eusocial insects, such as bees, ants, and wasps of the Hymenoptera and termites of the Blattodea, are able to generate remarkable diversity in morphology and behavior despite being genetically uniform within a colony. Most eusocial insect species display caste structures in which reproductive [...] Read more.
Eusocial insects, such as bees, ants, and wasps of the Hymenoptera and termites of the Blattodea, are able to generate remarkable diversity in morphology and behavior despite being genetically uniform within a colony. Most eusocial insect species display caste structures in which reproductive ability is possessed by a single or a few queens while all other colony members act as workers. However, in some species, caste structure is somewhat plastic, and individuals may switch from one caste or behavioral phenotype to another in response to certain environmental cues. As different castes normally share a common genetic background, it is believed that much of this observed within-colony diversity results from transcriptional differences between individuals. This suggests that epigenetic mechanisms, featured by modified gene expression without changing genes themselves, may play an important role in eusocial insects. Indeed, epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, have been shown to influence eusocial insects in multiple aspects, along with typical genetic regulation. This review summarizes the most recent findings regarding such mechanisms and their diverse roles in eusocial insects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics in Insects)
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