Data from: Epigenomic changes in Ostrinia moths under elevated pupal and adult temperature

Epigenetic changes in methylation of DNA may occur in response to
environmental stressors, including warming climates. DNA methylation may
also play an important role in regulating gene expression during both male
and female reproduction in many insect species. ­­­­­However, it is
currently unknown how DNA methylation shifts when individuals are
reproducing under warmer temperatures. We exposed European corn borer
moths (Ostrinia nubilalis) to heat during the pupal and adult life stages
then investigated changes in DNA methylation across the genome using
enzymatic methyl-seq (EM-seq). We compared methylation patterns in
reproductive males and females exposed to heat (28°C) to those that
experienced an ambient temperature (23°C). We found that heat exposure led
to a small but significant increase in the percentage of methylated CpG
sites throughout the genome in both sexes. However, DNA methylation rates
were higher in females and differential methylation following heat
exposure localized to unique regions in each sex. In males, methylation
shifted within genes belonging to pathways including Hippo signaling,
ubiquitin mediated proteolysis, DNA damage repair, and spermatogenesis. In
females, differential methylation occurred in genes related to histone
modification and oogenesis. Our results suggest that DNA methylation
patterns respond to a moderate heat exposure in Lepidoptera and provide
insight into epigenetic responses to heatwaves, suggesting novel pathways
that may be involved in responding to heat stress during metamorphosis and
reproduction.