Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) method for non-model fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and evidence of histone modifications

PLoS One. 2018 Mar 15;13(3):e0194420. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194420. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Interactions between DNA and proteins located in the cell nucleus play an important role in controlling physiological processes by specifying, augmenting and regulating context-specific transcription events. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) is a widely used methodology to study DNA-protein interactions and has been successfully used in various cell types for over three decades. More recently, by combining ChIP with genomic screening technologies and Next Generation Sequencing (e.g. ChIP-seq), it has become possible to profile DNA-protein interactions (including covalent histone modifications) across entire genomes. However, the applicability of ChIP-chip and ChIP-seq has rarely been extended to non-model species because of a number of technical challenges. Here we report a method that can be used to identify genome wide covalent histone modifications in a group of non-model fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae). The method was developed by testing and refining protocols that have been used in model organisms, including Drosophila melanogaster. We demonstrate that this method is suitable for a group of economically important pest fruit fly species, viz., Bactrocera dorsalis, Ceratitis capitata, Zeugodacus cucurbitae and Bactrocera tryoni. We also report an example ChIP-seq dataset for B. tryoni, providing evidence for histone modifications in the genome of a tephritid fruit fly for the first time. Since tephritids are major agricultural pests globally, this methodology will be a valuable resource to study taxa-specific evolutionary questions and to assist with pest management. It also provides a basis for researchers working with other non-model species to undertake genome wide DNA-protein interaction studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ceratitis capitata / classification
  • Ceratitis capitata / genetics
  • Ceratitis capitata / metabolism
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation / methods*
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Diptera / classification
  • Diptera / genetics
  • Diptera / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism*
  • Genome, Insect / genetics
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods
  • Histone Code*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Species Specificity
  • Tephritidae / classification
  • Tephritidae / genetics
  • Tephritidae / metabolism*

Substances

  • Histones
  • Insect Proteins
  • DNA

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Horticulture Innovation Australia Ltd (HIA) as project AI14002 of the HIA Transformational Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme to NK, SLC and ARC. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.