Dnmt1 is essential for egg production and embryo viability in the large milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus

BACKGROUND: The function of cytosine (DNA) methylation in insects remains inconclusive due to a lack of mutant and/or genetic studies. RESULTS: Here, we provide evidence for the functional role of the maintenance DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) in an insect using experimental manipulation. Through RNA interference (RNAi), we successfully posttranscriptionally knocked down Dnmt1 in ovarian tissue of the hemipteran Oncopeltus fasciatus (the large milkweed bug). Individuals depleted for Dnmt1, and subsequently DNA methylation, failed to reproduce. Eggs were inviable and declined in number, and nuclei structure of follicular epithelium was aberrant. Erasure of DNA methylation from gene or transposon element bodies did not reveal a direct causal link to steady-state mRNA levels in somatic cells. These results reveal an important function of Dnmt1 seemingly not contingent on directly controlling gene expression. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides direct experimental evidence for a functional role of Dnmt1 in egg production and embryo viability and uncovers a trivial role, if any, for DNA methylation in control of gene expression in O. fasciatus. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13072-018-0246-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.