title: Elucidating the molecular bases of epigenetic inheritance in non-model invertebrates: the case of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita.
abstract: Root-knot nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne are biotrophic plant parasites that exhibit different life cycles and reproduction modes, ranging from classical amphimixis to obligatory mitotic parthenogenesis (apomixis), depending on the species. Meloidogyne incognita, an apomictic species, exhibits a worldwide distribution and a wide host range affecting more than 3000 plant species. Furthermore, evidences suggest that apomixis does not prevent M. incognita from adapting to its environment in contrast to what is expected from mitotic parthenogenesis that should theoretically produce clonal progenies. This raises questions about mechanisms of genome plasticity leading to genetic variation and adaptive evolution in apomictic animals. We reasoned that epigenetic mechanisms might in part be responsible for the generation of phenotypic variants that provide potential for rapid adaptation. We established therefore a pipeline to investigate the principal carriers of epigenetic information, DNA methylation and post-translational histone modifications. Even if M. incognita possesses the epigenetic machinery i.e., chromatin modifying enzymes, 5-methyl-cytosine and 5-hydroxy-methyl-cytosine content is absent or very weak. In contrast, we demonstrated that the canonical histone modifications are present and chromatin shows typical nucleosome structure. This work is the first characterization of carriers of epigenetic information in M. incognita and constitutes a preamble to further investigate if M. incognita development and its adaptation to plant hosts are under epigenetic control. Our pipeline should allow performing similar types of studies in any non-model organism.
authors.affiliation: INRA, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, UMR 1355 ISA Sophia-Antipolis, France ; CNRS, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, UMR 7254 ISA Sophia-Antipolis, France ; Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, UMR ISA Sophia-Antipolis, France.
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perfus-Barbeoch
authors.affiliation: INRA, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, UMR 1355 ISA Sophia-Antipolis, France ; CNRS, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, UMR 7254 ISA Sophia-Antipolis, France ; Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, UMR ISA Sophia-Antipolis, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castagnone-Sereno
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Biochemie, MPI für Chemische Ökologie Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reichelt
authors.affiliation: Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia Perpignan, France ; Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, CNRS, UMR5244 Perpignan, France.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fneich
authors.affiliation: Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia Perpignan, France ; Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, CNRS, UMR5244 Perpignan, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roquis
authors.affiliation: INRA, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, UMR 1355 ISA Sophia-Antipolis, France ; CNRS, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, UMR 7254 ISA Sophia-Antipolis, France ; Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, UMR ISA Sophia-Antipolis, France.
authors.forename: Loris
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pratx
authors.affiliation: Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia Perpignan, France ; Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, CNRS, UMR5244 Perpignan, France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cosseau
authors.affiliation: Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia Perpignan, France ; Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, CNRS, UMR5244 Perpignan, France.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grunau
authors.affiliation: INRA, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, UMR 1355 ISA Sophia-Antipolis, France ; CNRS, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, UMR 7254 ISA Sophia-Antipolis, France ; Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, UMR ISA Sophia-Antipolis, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abad
keywords: DNA-methylation; Meloidogyne incognita; chromatin; epigenetics; histone modification