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Immunostaining for DNA Modifications: Computational Analysis of Confocal Images
Published on: September 7, 2017
DNA methylomes and transcriptomes analysis reveal implication of host DNA methylation machinery in BmNPV
Haoling Huang1, Ping Wu2,3,4, Shaolun Zhang1
1Sericultural Research Institute, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212018, China.
Background:
Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) is a major pathogen that threatens the sustainability of the sericultural industry. DNA methylation is a widespread gene regulation mode in epigenetics, which plays an important role in host immune response. Until now, little has been known about epigenetic regulation on virus diseases in insects. This study aims to explore the role of DNA methylation in BmNPV proliferation.
Results:
Inhibiting DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) activity of silkworm can suppress BmNPV replication. The integrated analysis of transcriptomes and DNA methylomes in silkworm midguts infected with or without BmNPV showed that both the expression pattern of transcriptome and DNA methylation pattern are changed significantly upon BmNPV infection. A total of 241 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were observed in BmNPV infected midguts, among which, 126 DMRs were hyper-methylated and 115 DMRs were hypo-methylated. Significant differences in both mRNA transcript level and DNA methylated levels were found in 26 genes. BS-PCR validated the hypermethylation of BGIBMGA014008, a structural maintenance of chromosomes protein gene in the BmNPV-infected midgut. In addition, DNMT inhibition reduced the expression of inhibitor of apoptosis family genes, iap1 from BmNPV, Bmiap2, BmSurvivin1 and BmSurvivin2.
Conclusion:
Our results indicate that DNA methylation plays positive roles in BmNPV proliferation and loss of DNMT activity could induce the apoptosis of infected cells to suppress BmNPV proliferation. Our results may provide a new idea and research direction for the molecular mechanism on insect-virus interaction.
Insights
DNA methylation promotes Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) proliferation. Inhibiting DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) activity triggers infected cell apoptosis, suppressing BmNPV replication and offering new insights into insect-virus interactions.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Insect Pathology
- Molecular Virology
Background:
- Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) poses a significant threat to sericulture.
- DNA methylation is a key epigenetic regulator in host immune responses.
- Epigenetic regulation of insect virus diseases remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of DNA methylation in BmNPV proliferation.
- To understand the molecular mechanisms of insect-virus interactions.
Main Methods:
- Integrated analysis of transcriptomes and DNA methylomes in BmNPV-infected silkworm midguts.
- Inhibition of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) activity.
- Bisulfite PCR (BS-PCR) validation.
Main Results:
- BmNPV infection significantly alters DNA methylation patterns and gene expression in silkworm midguts.
- 241 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified, with 126 hyper-methylated and 115 hypo-methylated.
- DNMT inhibition reduced BmNPV replication and the expression of apoptosis inhibitor genes (iap1, Bmiap2, BmSurvivin1, BmSurvivin2).
Conclusions:
- DNA methylation positively regulates BmNPV proliferation.
- Loss of DNMT activity induces apoptosis in infected cells, suppressing BmNPV.
- Findings offer novel perspectives on insect-virus interaction mechanisms.
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