DNA Methylation Regulates Transcription Factor-Specific Neurodevelopmental but Not Sexually Dimorphic Gene Expression Dynamics in Zebra Finch Telencephalon

Autor: Jolien Diddens, Louis Coussement, Carolina Frankl-Vilches, Gaurav Majumdar, Sandra Steyaert, Sita M. Ter Haar, Jeroen Galle, Ellen De Meester, Sarah De Keulenaer, Wim Van Criekinge, Charlotte A. Cornil, Jacques Balthazart, Annemie Van Der Linden, Tim De Meyer, Wim Vanden Berghe
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, Vol 9 (2021)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2296-634X
DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.583555
Popis: Song learning in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) is a prototypical example of a complex learned behavior, yet knowledge of the underlying molecular processes is limited. Therefore, we characterized transcriptomic (RNA-sequencing) and epigenomic (RRBS, reduced representation bisulfite sequencing; immunofluorescence) dynamics in matched zebra finch telencephalon samples of both sexes from 1 day post hatching (1 dph) to adulthood, spanning the critical period for song learning (20 and 65 dph). We identified extensive transcriptional neurodevelopmental changes during postnatal telencephalon development. DNA methylation was very low, yet increased over time, particularly in song control nuclei. Only a small fraction of the massive differential expression in the developing zebra finch telencephalon could be explained by differential CpG and CpH DNA methylation. However, a strong association between DNA methylation and age-dependent gene expression was found for various transcription factors (i.e., OTX2, AR, and FOS) involved in neurodevelopment. Incomplete dosage compensation, independent of DNA methylation, was found to be largely responsible for sexually dimorphic gene expression, with dosage compensation increasing throughout life. In conclusion, our results indicate that DNA methylation regulates neurodevelopmental gene expression dynamics through steering transcription factor activity, but does not explain sexually dimorphic gene expression patterns in zebra finch telencephalon.
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