title: DNA methyltransferases have an essential role in female fecundity in brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens.
abstract: DNA methylation is an ancient epigenetic modification present in all three domains of life. However, the understanding of DNA methylation in insects is limited. Here, we amplified the full-length transcripts of the DNA methyltransferases Nlu-Dnmt1 and Nlu-Dnmt3, indicating that a complete DNA methylation toolkit exists in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, a destructive pest in rice production. Nlu-DNMT1 and Nlu-DNMT3 had the conserved motifs and domains of the DNA methyltransferase family. Nlu-Dnmt1 and Nlu-Dnmt3 were highly expressed in the mated and gravid female adults but weakly expressed in larvae, male adults, and virgin female adults. Silencing Nlu-Dnmt1 and Nlu-Dnmt3 in gravid brachypterous female adults led to fewer offspring, suggesting that DNA methylation regulates female fecundity in insects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Jiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Yanru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Chuanlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: lifei03@tsinghua.org.cn.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D012275:Oryza / Q000469:parasitology; D010802:Phylogeny; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases
keywords: DNA methylation; Female fecundity; Gene expression; Nilaparvata lugens; RNA interference