An association betweenDnmt1andWntin the production of oocytes in the whiteflyBemisia tabaci

Abstract

AbstractThe function of methylation in insects and the DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) genes that influence methylation remains uncertain. We used RNAi to reduce the gene expression ofDnmt1within the whiteflyBemisia tabaci, a hemipteran species that relies onDnmt1for proper gametogenesis. We then used RNA-seq to test ana priorihypothesis that meiosis related genetic pathways would be perturbed. We generally did not find an overall effect on meiosis related pathways. However, we found that genes in theWntpathway, genes associated with the entry into meiosis in vertebrates, were differentially expressed. Our results are consistent withDnmt1knockdown influencing specific pathways and not causing general transcriptional response. This is a finding that is also seen with other insect species. We also characterized the methylome ofB. tabaciand assessed the influence ofDnmt1knockdown on cytosine methylation. This species has methylome characteristics comparable to other hemipterans regarding overall level, enrichment within gene bodies, and bimodal distribution of methylated/non-methylated genes. Very little differential methylation was observed, and difference of methylation were not associated with differences of gene expression. The effect onWntpresents an interesting new candidate pathway for future studies.