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DNA methylation predicts age and provides insight into exceptional longevity of bats

Author

Listed:
  • Gerald S. Wilkinson

    (University of Maryland)

  • Danielle M. Adams

    (University of Maryland)

  • Amin Haghani

    (University of California)

  • Ake T. Lu

    (University of California)

  • Joseph Zoller

    (University of California)

  • Charles E. Breeze

    (Altius Institute for Biomedical Sciences)

  • Bryan D. Arnold

    (Illinois College)

  • Hope C. Ball

    (Northeast Ohio Medical University)

  • Gerald G. Carter

    (The Ohio State University)

  • Lisa Noelle Cooper

    (Northeast Ohio Medical University)

  • Dina K. N. Dechmann

    (Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
    University of Konstanz
    Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute)

  • Paolo Devanna

    (Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics)

  • Nicolas J. Fasel

    (University of Lausanne)

  • Alexander V. Galazyuk

    (Northeast Ohio Medical University)

  • Linus Günther

    (Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science)

  • Edward Hurme

    (University of Maryland
    University of Konstanz)

  • Gareth Jones

    (University of Bristol)

  • Mirjam Knörnschild

    (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
    Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science)

  • Ella Z. Lattenkamp

    (Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics
    Ludwig Maximilians University Munich)

  • Caesar Z. Li

    (University of California)

  • Frieder Mayer

    (Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science)

  • Josephine A. Reinhardt

    (State University of New York)

  • Rodrigo A. Medellin

    (Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria)

  • Martina Nagy

    (Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science)

  • Brian Pope

    (Lubee Bat Conservancy)

  • Megan L. Power

    (University College Dublin)

  • Roger D. Ransome

    (University of Bristol)

  • Emma C. Teeling

    (University College Dublin)

  • Sonja C. Vernes

    (Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics
    Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour
    The University of St Andrews)

  • Daniel Zamora-Mejías

    (Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria)

  • Joshua Zhang

    (University of California)

  • Paul A. Faure

    (McMaster University)

  • Lucas J. Greville

    (McMaster University)

  • L. Gerardo Herrera M.

    (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)

  • José J. Flores-Martínez

    (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)

  • Steve Horvath

    (University of California
    University of California)

Abstract

Exceptionally long-lived species, including many bats, rarely show overt signs of aging, making it difficult to determine why species differ in lifespan. Here, we use DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles from 712 known-age bats, representing 26 species, to identify epigenetic changes associated with age and longevity. We demonstrate that DNAm accurately predicts chronological age. Across species, longevity is negatively associated with the rate of DNAm change at age-associated sites. Furthermore, analysis of several bat genomes reveals that hypermethylated age- and longevity-associated sites are disproportionately located in promoter regions of key transcription factors (TF) and enriched for histone and chromatin features associated with transcriptional regulation. Predicted TF binding site motifs and enrichment analyses indicate that age-related methylation change is influenced by developmental processes, while longevity-related DNAm change is associated with innate immunity or tumorigenesis genes, suggesting that bat longevity results from augmented immune response and cancer suppression.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerald S. Wilkinson & Danielle M. Adams & Amin Haghani & Ake T. Lu & Joseph Zoller & Charles E. Breeze & Bryan D. Arnold & Hope C. Ball & Gerald G. Carter & Lisa Noelle Cooper & Dina K. N. Dechmann & , 2021. "DNA methylation predicts age and provides insight into exceptional longevity of bats," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-21900-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21900-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Adriana Arneson & Amin Haghani & Michael J. Thompson & Matteo Pellegrini & Soo Bin Kwon & Ha Vu & Emily Maciejewski & Mingjia Yao & Caesar Z. Li & Ake T. Lu & Marco Morselli & Liudmilla Rubbi & Bret B, 2022. "A mammalian methylation array for profiling methylation levels at conserved sequences," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Steve Horvath & Joshua Zhang & Amin Haghani & Ake T. Lu & Zhe Fei, 2024. "Fundamental equations linking methylation dynamics to maximum lifespan in mammals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Justine K. Kitony & Kelly Colt & Bradley W. Abramson & Nolan T. Hartwick & Semar Petrus & Emadeldin H. E. Konozy & Nisa Karimi & Levi Yant & Todd P. Michael, 2024. "Chromosome-level baobab genome illuminates its evolutionary trajectory and environmental adaptation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.

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