Environmental challenge rewires functional connections among human genes.

A fundamental question in biology is how a limited number of genes combinatorially govern cellular responses to environmental changes. While the prevailing hypothesis is that relationships between genes, processes, and ontologies could be plastic to achieve this adaptability, quantitatively comparing human gene functional connections between specific environmental conditions at scale is very challenging. Therefore, it remains unclear whether and how human genetic interaction networks are rewired in response to changing environmental conditions. Here, we developed a framework for mapping context-specific genetic interactions, enabling us to measure the plasticity of human genetic architecture upon environmental challenge for ~250,000 interactions, using cell cycle interruption, genotoxic perturbation, and nutrient deprivation as archetypes. We discover large-scale rewiring of human gene relationships across conditions, highlighted by dramatic shifts in the functional connections of epigenetic regulators (TIP60), cell cycle regulators (PP2A), and glycolysis metabolism. Our study demonstrates that upon environmental perturbation, intra-complex genetic rewiring is rare while inter-complex rewiring is common, suggesting a modular and flexible evolutionary genetic strategy that allows a limited number of human genes to enable adaptation to a large number of environmental conditions.

Loss of LDAH associated with prostate cancer and hearing loss.

Great strides in gene discovery have been made using a multitude of methods to associate phenotypes with genetic variants, but there still remains a substantial gap between observed symptoms and identified genetic defects. Herein, we use the convergence of various genetic and genomic techniques to investigate the underpinnings of a constellation of phenotypes that include prostate cancer (PCa) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in a human subject. Through interrogation of the subject's de novo, germline, balanced chromosomal translocation, we first identify a correlation between his disorders and a poorly annotated gene known as lipid droplet associated hydrolase (LDAH). Using data repositories of both germline and somatic variants, we identify convergent genomic evidence that substantiates a correlation between loss of LDAH and PCa. This correlation is validated through both in vitro and in vivo models that show loss of LDAH results in increased risk of PCa and, to a lesser extent, SNHL. By leveraging convergent evidence in emerging genomic data, we hypothesize that loss of LDAH is involved in PCa and other phenotypes observed in support of a genotype-phenotype association in an n-of-one human subject.

Genome-Wide Transcriptional Response to Varying RpoS Levels in Escherichia coli K-12.

The alternative sigma factor RpoS is a central regulator of many stress responses in Escherichia coli The level of functional RpoS differs depending on the stress. The effect of these differing concentrations of RpoS on global transcriptional responses remains unclear. We investigated the effect of RpoS concentration on the transcriptome during stationary phase in rich media. We found that 23% of genes in the E. coli genome are regulated by RpoS, and we identified many RpoS-transcribed genes and promoters. We observed three distinct classes of response to RpoS by genes in the regulon: genes whose expression changes linearly with increasing RpoS level, genes whose expression changes dramatically with the production of only a little RpoS ("sensitive" genes), and genes whose expression changes very little with the production of a little RpoS ("insensitive"). We show that sequences outside the core promoter region determine whether an RpoS-regulated gene is sensitive or insensitive. Moreover, we show that sensitive and insensitive genes are enriched for specific functional classes and that the sensitivity of a gene to RpoS corresponds to the timing of induction as cells enter stationary phase. Thus, promoter sensitivity to RpoS is a mechanism to coordinate specific cellular processes with growth phase and may also contribute to the diversity of stress responses directed by RpoS.IMPORTANCE The sigma factor RpoS is a global regulator that controls the response to many stresses in Escherichia coli Different stresses result in different levels of RpoS production, but the consequences of this variation are unknown. We describe how changing the level of RpoS does not influence all RpoS-regulated genes equally. The cause of this variation is likely the action of transcription factors that bind the promoters of the genes. We show that the sensitivity of a gene to RpoS levels explains the timing of expression as cells enter stationary phase and that genes with different RpoS sensitivities are enriched for specific functional groups. Thus, promoter sensitivity to RpoS is a mechanism that coordinates specific cellular processes in response to stresses.

The dynamic DNA methylation cycle from egg to sperm in the honey bee Apis mellifera.

In honey bees (Apis mellifera), the epigenetic mark of DNA methylation is central to the developmental regulation of caste differentiation, but may also be involved in additional biological functions. In this study, we examine the whole genome methylation profiles of three stages of the haploid honey bee genome: unfertilised eggs, the adult drones that develop from these eggs and the sperm produced by these drones. These methylomes reveal distinct patterns of methylation. Eggs and sperm show 381 genes with significantly different CpG methylation patterns, with the vast majority being more methylated in eggs. Adult drones show greatly reduced levels of methylation across the genome when compared with both gamete samples. This suggests a dynamic cycle of methylation loss and gain through the development of the drone and during spermatogenesis. Although fluxes in methylation during embryogenesis may account for some of the differentially methylated sites, the distinct methylation patterns at some genes suggest parent-specific epigenetic marking in the gametes. Extensive germ line methylation of some genes possibly explains the lower-than-expected frequency of CpG sites in these genes. We discuss the potential developmental and evolutionary implications of methylation in eggs and sperm in this eusocial insect species.

Whole-genome DNA methylation profile of the jewel wasp (Nasonia vitripennis).

The epigenetic mark of DNA methylation, the addition of a methyl (CH3) group to a cytosine residue, has been extensively studied in many mammalian genomes and, although it is commonly found at the promoter regions of genes, it is also involved in a number of different biological functions. In other complex animals, such as social insects, DNA methylation has been determined to be involved in caste differentiation and to occur primarily in gene bodies. The role of methylation in nonsocial insects, however, has not yet been explored thoroughly. Here, we present the whole-genome DNA methylation profile of the nonsocial hymenopteran, the jewel wasp (Nasonia vitripennis). From high-throughput sequencing of bisulfite-converted gDNA extracted from male Nasonia thoraces, we were able to determine which cytosine residues are methylated in the entire genome. We found that an overwhelming majority of methylated sites (99.7%) occur at cytosines followed by a guanine in the 3' direction (CpG sites). Additionally, we found that a majority of methylation in Nasonia occurs within exonic regions of the genome (more than 62%). Overall, methylation is sparse in Nasonia, occurring only at 0.18% of all sites and at 0.63% of CpGs. Our analysis of the Nasonia methylome revealed that in contrast to the methylation profile typically seen in mammals, methylation is sparse and is constrained primarily to exons. This methylation profile is more similar to that of the social hymenopteran species, the honey bee (Apis mellifera). In presenting the Nasonia methylome, we hope to promote future investigation of the regulatory function of DNA methylation in both social and nonsocial hymenoptera.