Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2025
15:27
Extracting DNA from the Gut Microbes of the Termite Zootermopsis Angusticollis and Visualizing Gut Microbes
Published on: May 28, 2007
15.5K
Histone Deacetylase 3 Is Involved in Maintaining Queen Hallmarks of a Termite
Louis Allan Okwaro1, Judith Korb1,2
1Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Molecular Ecology
|October 5, 2024
Summary
Epigenetics, specifically histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), influences queen traits in termites. Silencing HDAC3 promotes queen hallmarks like longevity and fecundity by altering aging and hormone signaling pathways.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics and Molecular Biology
- Insect Endocrinology
- Social Insect Biology
Background:
- Caste polyphenism in social insects is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms, but the precise role of histone acetylation remains debated.
- Queen hallmarks, such as extended lifespan and high fecundity, are crucial for social insect colony success.
- Understanding the molecular basis of these traits is key to deciphering social evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) in maintaining queen-specific traits in the termite Cryptotermes secundus.
- To determine if histone de/acetylation influences longevity and fecundity pathways.
- To explore the link between epigenetic modifications, nutrition, and reproductive capacity.
Main Methods:
- RNA interference (RNAi) was used to silence the HDAC3 gene in termites.
- Fat body transcriptomes were analyzed to assess gene expression changes.
- Chemical communication profiles were examined.
- Hormonal signaling pathways, including IIS and JH, were investigated.
Main Results:
- Silencing HDAC3 in termites induced signals associated with queen hallmarks, including enhanced queen signaling and defense against aging.
- Reduced insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) and juvenile hormone (JH) signaling were observed.
- Histone acetylation appeared to convey nutritional effects, similar to a protein-enriched diet.
- Reduced JH signaling did not negatively impact fecundity-related vitellogenesis, suggesting an uncoupling of longevity and fecundity pathways.
Conclusions:
- Histone de/acetylation, mediated by HDAC3, plays a significant role in establishing and maintaining queen characteristics in social insects.
- The findings suggest an uncoupling of longevity and fecundity pathways in the fat body, potentially explaining the exceptional lifespan and reproductive capacity of queens.
- Epigenetic regulation of caste traits offers insights into the evolution of sociality and reproductive strategies.
Keywords:
ageingchemical communicationepigeneticsfecundityhistone acetylationlife historysocial insectstermitesMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:32Histone Modification
13.1K
The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone...
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone...
13.1K
02:25Spreading of Chromatin Modifications
8.2K
The histone proteins in the nucleosomes are post-translationally modified (PTM) to increase or decrease access to DNA. The commonly observed PTMs are methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination of lysine amino acids in the histone H3 tail region. These histone modifications have specific meaning for the cell. Hence, they are called "histone code". The protein complex involved in histone modification is termed as "reader-writer" complex.
Writers
The writer...
Writers
The writer...
8.2K
01:12The Nucleosome Core Particle
890
Nucleosomes are the DNA-histone complex, where the DNA strand is wound around the histone core. The histone core is an octamer containing two copies of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone proteins.
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their primary aim is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. On the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access histone-bound DNA during...
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their primary aim is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. On the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access histone-bound DNA during...
890
02:38Heterochromatin
11.5K
The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at...
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at...
11.5K
03:17Inheritance of Chromatin Structures
6.2K
Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying...
6.2K
01:02Role of Microtubules in Cell Wall Deposition
2.3K
Microtubules are small hollow tubes in eukaryotic cells. The cell wall microtubules are polymerized dimers of two globular proteins, α-tubulin and β-tubulin, two globular proteins. With a diameter of about 25 nm, microtubules are the widest components of the cytoskeleton. They help the cell resist compression and provide a track along which vesicles move through the cell or pull replicated chromosomes to opposite ends of a dividing cell. Microtubules go through quick cycles of...
2.3K