D3366: Epigenetics regulation of reproduction and embryonic development in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum

Histone acetyltransferases (HAT) that transfer acetyl groups and histone deacetylases (HDAC) that remove acetyl groups from lysine residues in histone tails influence chromatin structure and regulate many biological processes, including development and reproduction. We identified genes coding for 22 HATs and 12 HDACs in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. RNA interference assays were employed to determine the effect of the knockdown of HATs and HDACs on T. castaneum reproduction and embryonic development. Knockdown in the expression of 12 HAT genes affected oogenesis, and eight HAT genes affected embryogenesis. Similarly, Knockdown in the expression of two HDAC genes affected oogenesis and embryogenesis. These data suggest that acetylation levels of histones regulated by HATs and HDACs play important roles in female reproduction and embryonic development of T. castaneum.