Aphids: a model for polyphenism and epigenetics.
Aphids: a model for polyphenism and epigenetics.
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DOI：
10.1155/2012/431531
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发表时间：
2012
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Brisson JA
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Srinivasan DG;Brisson JA
环境条件可以在短期和长期的时间尺度上，甚至在几代人的时间尺度上改变生物体的形式、功能和行为。雌性蚜虫对特定的环境线索作出反应，通过传递信号来改变其后代的发育。这些表观遗传现象将蚜虫定位为表型可塑性研究的模型。蚜虫这种表观遗传的分子基础以及这种遗传系统是如何进化的仍然是没有答案的问题。随着豌豆蚜虫基因组序列的可用性，新的基因组学技术和正在进行的蚜虫基因组学项目，这些问题现在可以得到解决。本文综述了蚜虫的表观遗传现象以及近年来蚜虫表观遗传学分子基础的研究进展。功能性DNA甲基化系统、功能性小RNA系统和扩展的染色质修饰基因的发现为分析蚜虫可塑性背景下的这些途径提供了一个平台。有了这些工具和进一步的研究，蚜虫是研究多表型分子表观遗传学的一个新兴模型系统。
Environmental conditions can alter the form, function, and behavior of organisms over short and long timescales, and even over generations. Aphid females respond to specific environmental cues by transmitting signals that have the effect of altering the development of their offspring. These epigenetic phenomena have positioned aphids as a model for the study of phenotypic plasticity. The molecular basis for this epigenetic inheritance in aphids and how this type of inheritance system could have evolved are still unanswered questions. With the availability of the pea aphid genome sequence, new genomics technologies, and ongoing genomics projects in aphids, these questions can now be addressed. Here, we review epigenetic phenomena in aphids and recent progress toward elucidating the molecular basis of epigenetics in aphids. The discovery of a functional DNA methylation system, functional small RNA system, and expanded set of chromatin modifying genes provides a platform for analyzing these pathways in the context of aphid plasticity. With these tools and further research, aphids are an emerging model system for studying the molecular epigenetics of polyphenisms.