Epigenetic mechanisms that interact in the development of social insects

Epigenetic mechanisms regulate and stabilize a broad range of biological processes without altering the primary DNA sequence.This regulation is achieved through DNA methylation, post-translational histone modifications (PTMs), and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs).These mechanisms facilitate rapid and flexible changes in gene expression in response to environmental cues such as temperature, humidity, nutrition, and chemical exposure.Upon detection of these signals, the neuroendocrine system relays the information to target tissues, where it initiates the reprogramming of gene expression and the subsequent generation of phenotypic changes.Among the most extensively studied phenomena are development, sex and caste determination, seasonal effects, dispersal, and behavioral polyphenisms.These diverse phenotypes result from the epigenetic modulation of a shared genome, enabling genetically identical individuals to produce distinct "morphs."This review summarizes current understanding of the core epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs and elucidates their pivotal role in the gene regulation of polyphenism in social insects.

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