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Title: The impact of epigenetic information on genome evolution
Epigenetic information affects gene function by interacting with chromatin, while not changing the DNA sequence itself. However, it has become apparent that the interactions between epigenetic information and chromatin can, in fact, indirectly lead to DNA mutations and ultimately influence genome evolution. This review evaluates the ways in which epigenetic information affects genome sequence and evolution. We discuss how DNA methylation has strong and pervasive effects on DNA sequence evolution in eukaryotic organisms. We also review how the physical interactions arising from the connections between histone proteins and DNA affect DNA mutation and repair. We then discuss how a variety of epigenetic mechanisms exert substantial effects on genome evolution by suppressing the movement of transposable elements. Finally, we examine how genome expansion through gene duplication is also partially controlled by epigenetic information. Overall, we conclude that epigenetic information has widespread indirect effects on DNA sequences in eukaryotes and represents a potent cause and constraint of genome evolution. This article is part of the theme issue ‘How does epigenetics influence the course of evolution?’  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2019799
PAR ID:
10274725
Author(s) / Creator(s):
;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume:
376
Issue:
1826
ISSN:
0962-8436
Page Range / eLocation ID:
20200114
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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