Sex-chromosome-dependent aging in female heterogametic methylomes
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DNA methylation-based indices predict mortality and provide insights into aging mechanisms. Even though sex chromosomes are thought to play an important role in sex-specific aging, they have been largely ignored in epigenetic aging studies. We identified age-related CpG (AR-CpG) sites in the full methylomes of two avian species (zebra finch and jackdaw), including for the first time the avian sex chromosomes (Z and the female-specific, haploid W). In both species, we find a high concentration of AR-CpG sites on the W chromosome, with DNA methylation levels predominantly decreasing with age. Our results highlight distinct age-related changes in sex chromosome DNA methylation compared to the rest of the genome, suggesting that this feature of sex chromosomes may contribute to sex-dependent aging.
