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Metzger DCH, Earhart ML, Schulte PM. Genomic and Epigenomic Influences on Resilience across Scales: Lessons from the Responses of Fish to Environmental Stressors. Integr Comp Biol 2024; 64:853-866. [PMID: 38632046 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icae019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors that influence the resilience of biological systems to environmental change is a pressing concern in the face of increasing human impacts on ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them. However, most considerations of biological resilience have focused at the community and ecosystem levels, whereas here we discuss how including consideration of processes occurring at lower levels of biological organization may provide insights into factors that influence resilience at higher levels. Specifically, we explore how processes at the genomic and epigenomic levels may cascade up to influence resilience at higher levels. We ask how the concepts of "resistance," or the capacity of a system to minimize change in response to a disturbance, and "recovery," or the ability of a system to return to its original state following a disturbance and avoid tipping points and resulting regime shifts, map to these lower levels of biological organization. Overall, we suggest that substantial changes at these lower levels may be required to support resilience at higher levels, using selected examples of genomic and epigenomic responses of fish to climate-change-related stressors such as high temperature and hypoxia at the levels of the genome, epigenome, and organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C H Metzger
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Madison L Earhart
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Patricia M Schulte
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
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Baduel P, Sammarco I, Barrett R, Coronado‐Zamora M, Crespel A, Díez‐Rodríguez B, Fox J, Galanti D, González J, Jueterbock A, Wootton E, Harney E. The evolutionary consequences of interactions between the epigenome, the genome and the environment. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13730. [PMID: 39050763 PMCID: PMC11266121 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The epigenome is the suite of interacting chemical marks and molecules that helps to shape patterns of development, phenotypic plasticity and gene regulation, in part due to its responsiveness to environmental stimuli. There is increasing interest in understanding the functional and evolutionary importance of this sensitivity under ecologically realistic conditions. Observations that epigenetic variation abounds in natural populations have prompted speculation that it may facilitate evolutionary responses to rapid environmental perturbations, such as those occurring under climate change. A frequent point of contention is whether epigenetic variants reflect genetic variation or are independent of it. The genome and epigenome often appear tightly linked and interdependent. While many epigenetic changes are genetically determined, the converse is also true, with DNA sequence changes influenced by the presence of epigenetic marks. Understanding how the epigenome, genome and environment interact with one another is therefore an essential step in explaining the broader evolutionary consequences of epigenomic variation. Drawing on results from experimental and comparative studies carried out in diverse plant and animal species, we synthesize our current understanding of how these factors interact to shape phenotypic variation in natural populations, with a focus on identifying similarities and differences between taxonomic groups. We describe the main components of the epigenome and how they vary within and between taxa. We review how variation in the epigenome interacts with genetic features and environmental determinants, with a focus on the role of transposable elements (TEs) in integrating the epigenome, genome and environment. And we look at recent studies investigating the functional and evolutionary consequences of these interactions. Although epigenetic differentiation in nature is likely often a result of drift or selection on stochastic epimutations, there is growing evidence that a significant fraction of it can be stably inherited and could therefore contribute to evolution independently of genetic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Baduel
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale SupérieurePSL University, CNRSParisFrance
| | - Iris Sammarco
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of SciencesPrůhoniceCzechia
| | - Rowan Barrett
- Redpath Museum and Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | | | | | | | - Janay Fox
- Redpath Museum and Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Dario Galanti
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology (EvE)University of TuebingenTübingenGermany
| | | | - Alexander Jueterbock
- Algal and Microbial Biotechnology Division, Faculty of Biosciences and AquacultureNord UniversityBodøNorway
| | - Eric Wootton
- Redpath Museum and Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Ewan Harney
- Institute of Evolutionary BiologyCSIC, UPFBarcelonaSpain
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
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3
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Toorie A, Hall CD, Vassoler FM, Peltz G, Byrnes EM. Preconception opioids interact with mouse strain to alter morphine withdrawal in the next generation. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:1435-1446. [PMID: 38503843 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06574-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Transgenerational effects of preconception morphine exposure in female rats have been reported which suggest that epigenetic modifications triggered by female opioid exposure, even when that exposure ends several weeks prior to pregnancy, has significant ramifications for their future offspring. OBJECTIVE The current study compares two mouse strains with well-established genetic variation in their response to mu opioid receptor agonists, C57BL/6J (BL6) and 129S1/svlmJ (129) to determine whether genetic background modifies the impact of preconception opioid exposure. METHODS Adolescent females from both strains were injected daily with morphine for a total of 10 days using an increasing dosing regimen with controls receiving saline. Several weeks after their final injection, aged-matched BL6 and 129 morphine (Mor-F0) or saline (Sal-F0) females were mated with drug naïve males to generate Mor-F1 and Sal-F1 offspring, respectively. As adults, F1 mice were made morphine dependent using thrice daily morphine injections for 4 days. On day 5, mice were administered either saline or morphine followed 3 h later by naloxone. Behavioral and physiological signs of withdrawal were then measured. RESULTS Regardless of strain or sex, morphine-dependent Mor-F1 mice had significantly lower levels of withdrawal-induced corticosterone but significantly higher glucose levels when compared to Sal-F1 controls. In contrast, both strain- and preconception opioid exposure effects on physical signs of morphine dependence were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Toorie
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Rhode Island College, 600 Mount Pleasant Ave, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Claire Davidson Hall
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA, USA
| | - Fair M Vassoler
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA, USA
| | - Gary Peltz
- Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Byrnes
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA, USA.
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Balard A, Baltazar-Soares M, Eizaguirre C, Heckwolf MJ. An epigenetic toolbox for conservation biologists. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13699. [PMID: 38832081 PMCID: PMC11146150 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Ongoing climatic shifts and increasing anthropogenic pressures demand an efficient delineation of conservation units and accurate predictions of populations' resilience and adaptive potential. Molecular tools involving DNA sequencing are nowadays routinely used for these purposes. Yet, most of the existing tools focusing on sequence-level information have shortcomings in detecting signals of short-term ecological relevance. Epigenetic modifications carry valuable information to better link individuals, populations, and species to their environment. Here, we discuss a series of epigenetic monitoring tools that can be directly applied to various conservation contexts, complementing already existing molecular monitoring frameworks. Focusing on DNA sequence-based methods (e.g. DNA methylation, for which the applications are readily available), we demonstrate how (a) the identification of epi-biomarkers associated with age or infection can facilitate the determination of an individual's health status in wild populations; (b) whole epigenome analyses can identify signatures of selection linked to environmental conditions and facilitate estimating the adaptive potential of populations; and (c) epi-eDNA (epigenetic environmental DNA), an epigenetic-based conservation tool, presents a non-invasive sampling method to monitor biological information beyond the mere presence of individuals. Overall, our framework refines conservation strategies, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of species' adaptive potential and persistence on ecologically relevant timescales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Balard
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences Queen Mary University of London London UK
| | | | - Christophe Eizaguirre
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences Queen Mary University of London London UK
| | - Melanie J Heckwolf
- Department of Ecology Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research Bremen Germany
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Banousse G, Normandeau E, Semeniuk C, Bernatchez L, Audet C. Parental thermal environment controls the offspring phenotype in Brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis): insights from a transcriptomic study. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae051. [PMID: 38478598 PMCID: PMC11075542 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Brook charr is a cold-water species which is highly sensitive to increased water temperatures, such as those associated with climate change. Environmental variation can potentially induce phenotypic changes that are inherited across generations, for instance, via epigenetic mechanisms. Here, we tested whether parental thermal regimes (intergenerational plasticity) and offspring-rearing temperatures (within-generational plasticity) modify the brain transcriptome of Brook charr progeny (fry stage). Parents were exposed to either cold or warm temperatures during final gonad maturation and their progeny were reared at 5 or 8 °C during the first stages of development. Illumina Novaseq6000 was used to sequence the brain transcriptome at the yolk sac resorption stage. The number of differentially expressed genes was very low when comparing fry reared at different temperatures (79 differentially expressed genes). In contrast, 9,050 differentially expressed genes were significantly differentially expressed between fry issued from parents exposed to either cold or warm temperatures. There was a significant downregulation of processes related to neural and synaptic activity in fry originating from the warm parental group vs fry from the cold parental one. We also observed significant upregulation of DNA methylation genes and of the most salient processes associated with compensation to warming, such as metabolism, cellular response to stress, and adaptive immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghizlane Banousse
- Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski (ISMER), Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR), Rimouski, QC, Canada G5L 2Z9
| | - Eric Normandeau
- Plateforme de bio-informatique de l’IBIS (Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada G1V 0A6
| | - Christina Semeniuk
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), University of Windsor, Windsor, Ont, Canada N9C 1A2
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Céline Audet
- Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski (ISMER), Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR), Rimouski, QC, Canada G5L 2Z9
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Liu B, Li J, Peng Y, Zhang K, Liu Q, Jin X, Zheng S, Wang Y, Gong L, Liu L, Lü Z, Liu Y. Chromosome-level genome assembly and population genomic analysis reveal evolution and local adaptation in common hairfin anchovy (Setipinna tenuifilis). Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17067. [PMID: 37434292 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the genetic structure and the factors associated with adaptive diversity has significant implications for the effective management of wild populations under threat from overfishing and climate change. The common hairfin anchovy (Setipinna tenuifilis) is an economically and ecologically important pelagic fish species, spanning a broad latitudinal gradient along marginal seas of the Northwest Pacific. In this study, we constructed the first reference genome of S. tenuifilis using PacBio long reads and high-resolution chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) technology. The assembled genome was 798.38 Mb with a contig N50 of 1.43 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 32.42 Mb, which were anchored onto 24 pseudochromosomes. A total of 22,019 genes were functionally annotated, which accounted for 95.27% of the predicted protein-coding genes. Chromosomal collinearity analysis revealed chromosome fusion or fission events in Clupeiformes species. Three genetic groups of S. tenuifilis were revealed along the Chinese coast using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq). We investigated the influence of four bioclimatic variables as potential drivers of adaptive divergence in S. tenuifilis, suggesting that these environmental variables, especially sea surface temperature, may play important roles as drivers of spatially varying selection for S. tenuifilis. We also identified candidate functional genes underlying adaptive mechanisms and ecological tradeoffs using redundancy analysis (RDA) and BayeScan analysis. In summary, this study sheds light on the evolution and spatial patterns of genetic variation of S. tenuifilis, providing a valuable genomic resource for further biological and genetic studies on this species and other closely related Clupeiformes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingjian Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Facilitated Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Jiasheng Li
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Facilitated Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Ying Peng
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Facilitated Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Facilitated Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Wuhan Onemore-tech Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China
| | - Xun Jin
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Facilitated Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Sixu Zheng
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Facilitated Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Yunpeng Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Facilitated Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Li Gong
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Facilitated Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Liqin Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Facilitated Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Zhenming Lü
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Facilitated Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Yifan Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Facilitated Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
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Usai G, Fambrini M, Pugliesi C, Simoni S. Exploring the patterns of evolution: Core thoughts and focus on the saltational model. Biosystems 2024; 238:105181. [PMID: 38479653 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2024.105181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The Modern Synthesis, a pillar in biological thought, united Darwin's species origin concepts with Mendel's laws of character heredity, providing a comprehensive understanding of evolution within species. Highlighting phenotypic variation and natural selection, it elucidated the environment's role as a selective force, shaping populations over time. This framework integrated additional mechanisms, including genetic drift, random mutations, and gene flow, predicting their cumulative effects on microevolution and the emergence of new species. Beyond the Modern Synthesis, the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis expands perspectives by recognizing the role of developmental plasticity, non-genetic inheritance, and epigenetics. We suggest that these aspects coexist in the plant evolutionary process; in this context, we focus on the saltational model, emphasizing how saltation events, such as dichotomous saltation, chromosomal mutations, epigenetic phenomena, and polyploidy, contribute to rapid evolutionary changes. The saltational model proposes that certain evolutionary changes, such as the rise of new species, may result suddenly from single macromutations rather than from gradual changes in DNA sequences and allele frequencies within a species over time. These events, observed in domesticated and wild higher plants, provide well-defined mechanistic bases, revealing their profound impact on plant diversity and rapid evolutionary events. Notably, next-generation sequencing exposes the likely crucial role of allopolyploidy and autopolyploidy (saltational events) in generating new plant species, each characterized by distinct chromosomal complements. In conclusion, through this review, we offer a thorough exploration of the ongoing dissertation on the saltational model, elucidating its implications for our understanding of plant evolutionary processes and paving the way for continued research in this intriguing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Usai
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Fambrini
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudio Pugliesi
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Samuel Simoni
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy
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Diehl N, Li H, Scheschonk L, Burgunter-Delamare B, Niedzwiedz S, Forbord S, Sæther M, Bischof K, Monteiro C. The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima I: recent advances in a changing climate. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2024; 133:183-212. [PMID: 38109285 PMCID: PMC10921839 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima is a Laminariales species widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Its physiology and ecology have been studied since the 1960s, given its ecological relevance on western temperate coasts. However, research interest has been rising recently, driven mainly by reports of negative impacts of anthropogenically induced environmental change and by the increased commercial interest in cultivating the species, with several industrial applications for the resulting biomass. SCOPE We used a variety of sources published between 2009 to May 2023 (but including some earlier literature where required), to provide a comprehensive review of the ecology, physiology, biochemical and molecular biology of S. latissima. In so doing we aimed to better understand the species' response to stressors in natural communities, but also inform the sustainable cultivation of the species. CONCLUSION Due to its wide distribution, S. latissima has developed a variety of physiological and biochemical mechanisms to adjust to environmental changes, including adjustments in photosynthetic parameters, modulation of osmolytes and antioxidants, reprogramming of gene expression and epigenetic modifications, among others summarized in this review. This is particularly important because massive changes in the abundance and distribution of S. latissima have already been observed. Namely, presence and abundance of S. latissima has significantly decreased at the rear edges on both sides of the Atlantic, and increased in abundance at the polar regions. These changes were mainly caused by climate change and will therefore be increasingly evident in the future. Recent developments in genomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics have clarified the existence of genetic differentiation along its distributional range with implications in the fitness at some locations. The complex biotic and abiotic interactions unraveled here demonstrated the cascading effects the disappearance of a kelp forest can have in a marine ecosystem. We show how S. latissima is an excellent model to study acclimation and adaptation to environmental variability and how to predict future distribution and persistence under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Diehl
- Marine Botany, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Huiru Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ministry of Education), Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | | | - Bertille Burgunter-Delamare
- Matthias Schleiden Institute of Genetics, Bioinformatics and Molecular Botany, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Sarina Niedzwiedz
- Marine Botany, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Silje Forbord
- Department of Fisheries and New Biomarine Industry, SINTEF Ocean AS, 7465 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Maren Sæther
- Seaweed Solutions AS, Bynesveien 50C, 7018 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kai Bischof
- Marine Botany, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Catia Monteiro
- CIBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources – InBIO Associate Laboratory, Campus of Vairão, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus of Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
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Bernatchez L, Ferchaud AL, Berger CS, Venney CJ, Xuereb A. Genomics for monitoring and understanding species responses to global climate change. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:165-183. [PMID: 37863940 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00657-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
All life forms across the globe are experiencing drastic changes in environmental conditions as a result of global climate change. These environmental changes are happening rapidly, incur substantial socioeconomic costs, pose threats to biodiversity and diminish a species' potential to adapt to future environments. Understanding and monitoring how organisms respond to human-driven climate change is therefore a major priority for the conservation of biodiversity in a rapidly changing environment. Recent developments in genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic technologies are enabling unprecedented insights into the evolutionary processes and molecular bases of adaptation. This Review summarizes methods that apply and integrate omics tools to experimentally investigate, monitor and predict how species and communities in the wild cope with global climate change, which is by genetically adapting to new environmental conditions, through range shifts or through phenotypic plasticity. We identify advantages and limitations of each method and discuss future research avenues that would improve our understanding of species' evolutionary responses to global climate change, highlighting the need for holistic, multi-omics approaches to ecosystem monitoring during global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Bernatchez
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Anne-Laure Ferchaud
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
- Parks Canada, Office of the Chief Ecosystem Scientist, Protected Areas Establishment, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Chloé Suzanne Berger
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Clare J Venney
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Amanda Xuereb
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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Liu J, Ke M, Sun Y, Niu S, Zhang W, Li Y. Epigenetic regulation and epigenetic memory resetting during plant rejuvenation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:733-745. [PMID: 37930766 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Reversal of plant developmental status from the mature to the juvenile phase, thus leading to the restoration of the developmental potential, is referred to as plant rejuvenation. It involves multilayer regulation, including resetting gene expression patterns, chromatin remodeling, and histone modifications, eventually resulting in the restoration of juvenile characteristics. Although plants can be successfully rejuvenated using some forestry practices to restore juvenile morphology, physiology, and reproductive capabilities, studies on the epigenetic mechanisms underlying this process are in the nascent stage. This review provides an overview of the plant rejuvenation process and discusses the key epigenetic mechanisms involved in DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling in the process of rejuvenation, as well as the roles of small RNAs in this process. Additionally, we present new inquiries regarding the epigenetic regulation of plant rejuvenation, aiming to advance our understanding of rejuvenation in sexually and asexually propagated plants. Overall, we highlight the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of plant rejuvenation, providing valuable insights into the complexity of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Engineering Technology Research Center of Black Locust of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Meng Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Engineering Technology Research Center of Black Locust of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yuhan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Engineering Technology Research Center of Black Locust of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Shihui Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Engineering Technology Research Center of Black Locust of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Wenli Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, No.1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China
| | - Yun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Engineering Technology Research Center of Black Locust of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, PR China
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Swaegers J, De Cupere S, Gaens N, Lancaster LT, Carbonell JA, Sánchez Guillén RA, Stoks R. Plasticity and associated epigenetic mechanisms play a role in thermal evolution during range expansion. Evol Lett 2024; 8:76-88. [PMID: 38370551 PMCID: PMC10872138 DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrac007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to global change, many species are shifting their distribution and are thereby confronted with novel thermal conditions at the moving range edges. Especially during the initial phases of exposure to a new environment, it has been hypothesized that plasticity and associated epigenetic mechanisms enable species to cope with environmental change. We tested this idea by capitalizing on the well-documented southward range expansion of the damselfly Ischnura elegans from France into Spain where the species invaded warmer regions in the 1950s in eastern Spain (old edge region) and in the 2010s in central Spain (new edge region). Using a common garden experiment at rearing temperatures matching the ancestral and invaded thermal regimes, we tested for evolutionary changes in (thermal plasticity in) larval life history and heat tolerance in these expansion zones. Through the use of de- and hypermethylating agents, we tested whether epigenetic mechanisms play a role in enabling heat tolerance during expansion. We used the phenotype of the native sister species in Spain, I. graellsii, as proxy for the locally adapted phenotype. New edge populations converged toward the phenotype of the native species through plastic thermal responses in life history and heat tolerance while old edge populations (partly) constitutively evolved a faster life history and higher heat tolerance than the core populations, thereby matching the native species. Only the heat tolerance of new edge populations increased significantly when exposed to the hypermethylating agent. This suggests that the DNA methylation machinery is more amenable to perturbation at the new edge and shows it is able to play a role in achieving a higher heat tolerance. Our results show that both (evolved) plasticity as well as associated epigenetic mechanisms are initially important when facing new thermal regimes but that their importance diminishes with time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janne Swaegers
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Simon De Cupere
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Noah Gaens
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lesley T Lancaster
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - José A Carbonell
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Robby Stoks
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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12
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Peterson CR, Scott CB, Ghaffari R, Dixon G, Matz MV. Mixed Patterns of Intergenerational DNA Methylation Inheritance in Acropora. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae008. [PMID: 38243377 PMCID: PMC11079325 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
For sessile organisms at high risk from climate change, phenotypic plasticity can be critical to rapid acclimation. Epigenetic markers like DNA methylation are hypothesized as mediators of plasticity; methylation is associated with the regulation of gene expression, can change in response to ecological cues, and is a proposed basis for the inheritance of acquired traits. Within reef-building corals, gene-body methylation (gbM) can change in response to ecological stressors. If coral DNA methylation is transmissible across generations, this could potentially facilitate rapid acclimation to environmental change. We investigated methylation heritability in Acropora, a stony reef-building coral. Two Acropora millepora and two Acropora selago adults were crossed, producing eight offspring crosses (four hybrid, two of each species). We used whole-genome bisulfite sequencing to identify methylated loci and allele-specific alignments to quantify per-locus inheritance. If methylation is heritable, differential methylation (DM) between the parents should equal DM between paired offspring alleles at a given locus. We found a mixture of heritable and nonheritable loci, with heritable portions ranging from 44% to 90% among crosses. gBM was more heritable than intergenic methylation, and most loci had a consistent degree of heritability between crosses (i.e. the deviation between parental and offspring DM were of similar magnitude and direction). Our results provide evidence that coral methylation can be inherited but that heritability is heterogenous throughout the genome. Future investigations into this heterogeneity and its phenotypic implications will be important to understanding the potential capability of intergenerational environmental acclimation in reef building corals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carly B Scott
- Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Rashin Ghaffari
- Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Groves Dixon
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Mikhail V Matz
- Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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13
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Venney CJ, Mérot C, Normandeau E, Rougeux C, Laporte M, Bernatchez L. Epigenetic and Genetic Differentiation Between Coregonus Species Pairs. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae013. [PMID: 38271269 PMCID: PMC10849188 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic diversification is classically associated with genetic differentiation and gene expression variation. However, increasing evidence suggests that DNA methylation is involved in evolutionary processes due to its phenotypic and transcriptional effects. Methylation can increase mutagenesis and could lead to increased genetic divergence between populations experiencing different environmental conditions for many generations, though there has been minimal empirical research on epigenetically induced mutagenesis in diversification and speciation. Whitefish, freshwater members of the salmonid family, are excellent systems to study phenotypic diversification and speciation due to the repeated divergence of benthic-limnetic species pairs serving as natural replicates. Here we investigate whole genome genetic and epigenetic differentiation between sympatric benthic-limnetic species pairs in lake and European whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis and Coregonus lavaretus) from four lakes (N = 64). We found considerable, albeit variable, genetic and epigenetic differences between species pairs. All SNP types were enriched at CpG sites supporting the mutagenic nature of DNA methylation, though C>T SNPs were most common. We also found an enrichment of overlaps between outlier SNPs with the 5% highest FST between species and differentially methylated loci. This could possibly represent differentially methylated sites that have caused divergent genetic mutations between species, or divergent selection leading to both genetic and epigenetic variation at these sites. Our results support the hypothesis that DNA methylation contributes to phenotypic divergence and mutagenesis during whitefish speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare J Venney
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Claire Mérot
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- UMR 6553 Ecobio, OSUR, CNRS, Université de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Eric Normandeau
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Clément Rougeux
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Martin Laporte
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP), Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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14
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Sammarco I, Díez Rodríguez B, Galanti D, Nunn A, Becker C, Bossdorf O, Münzbergová Z, Latzel V. DNA methylation in the wild: epigenetic transgenerational inheritance can mediate adaptation in clones of wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca). THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:1621-1635. [PMID: 38058250 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Due to the accelerating climate change, it is crucial to understand how plants adapt to rapid environmental changes. Such adaptation may be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation, which could heritably alter phenotypes without changing the DNA sequence, especially across clonal generations. However, we are still missing robust evidence of the adaptive potential of DNA methylation in wild clonal populations. Here, we studied genetic, epigenetic and transcriptomic variation of Fragaria vesca, a predominantly clonally reproducing herb. We examined samples from 21 natural populations across three climatically distinct geographic regions, as well as clones of the same individuals grown in a common garden. We found that epigenetic variation was partly associated with climate of origin, particularly in non-CG contexts. Importantly, a large proportion of this variation was heritable across clonal generations. Additionally, a subset of these epigenetic changes affected the expression of genes mainly involved in plant growth and responses to pathogen and abiotic stress. These findings highlight the potential influence of epigenetic changes on phenotypic traits. Our findings indicate that variation in DNA methylation, which can be environmentally inducible and heritable, may enable clonal plant populations to adjust to their environmental conditions even in the absence of genetic adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Sammarco
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1, 252 43, Průhonice, Czechia
| | - Bárbara Díez Rodríguez
- Natural Resources and Climate Area, CARTIF Technology Centre, Parque Tecnológico de Boecillo, parc. 205, 47151, Boecillo, Valladolid, Spain
- Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch Strasse 8, D-35043, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Forest Genetics, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Bertoldstraße 17, 79098, Freiburg i. Br., Germany
| | - Dario Galanti
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, UK
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 5, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Adam Nunn
- ecSeq Bioinformatics GmbH, Sternwartenstraße 29, 04103, Saxony, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, University of Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, Leipzig, 04107, Germany
| | - Claude Becker
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Dr Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030, Vienna, Austria
- LMU Biocenter, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Grosshaderner Str. 2-4, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Oliver Bossdorf
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 5, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Zuzana Münzbergová
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1, 252 43, Průhonice, Czechia
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 128 01, Prague, Czechia
| | - Vít Latzel
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1, 252 43, Průhonice, Czechia
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15
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Schiebelhut LM, Guillaume AS, Kuhn A, Schweizer RM, Armstrong EE, Beaumont MA, Byrne M, Cosart T, Hand BK, Howard L, Mussmann SM, Narum SR, Rasteiro R, Rivera-Colón AG, Saarman N, Sethuraman A, Taylor HR, Thomas GWC, Wellenreuther M, Luikart G. Genomics and conservation: Guidance from training to analyses and applications. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13893. [PMID: 37966259 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Environmental change is intensifying the biodiversity crisis and threatening species across the tree of life. Conservation genomics can help inform conservation actions and slow biodiversity loss. However, more training, appropriate use of novel genomic methods and communication with managers are needed. Here, we review practical guidance to improve applied conservation genomics. We share insights aimed at ensuring effectiveness of conservation actions around three themes: (1) improving pedagogy and training in conservation genomics including for online global audiences, (2) conducting rigorous population genomic analyses properly considering theory, marker types and data interpretation and (3) facilitating communication and collaboration between managers and researchers. We aim to update students and professionals and expand their conservation toolkit with genomic principles and recent approaches for conserving and managing biodiversity. The biodiversity crisis is a global problem and, as such, requires international involvement, training, collaboration and frequent reviews of the literature and workshops as we do here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Schiebelhut
- Life and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Merced, California, USA
| | - Annie S Guillaume
- Geospatial Molecular Epidemiology group (GEOME), Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry (LGB), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Arianna Kuhn
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
- Virginia Museum of Natural History, Martinsville, Virginia, USA
| | - Rena M Schweizer
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | | | - Mark A Beaumont
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Margaret Byrne
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Ted Cosart
- Flathead Lake Biology Station, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Brian K Hand
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, Montana, USA
| | - Leif Howard
- Flathead Lake Biology Station, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Steven M Mussmann
- Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Dexter, New Mexico, USA
| | - Shawn R Narum
- Hagerman Genetics Lab, University of Idaho, Hagerman, Idaho, USA
| | - Rita Rasteiro
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Angel G Rivera-Colón
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Norah Saarman
- Department of Biology and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Arun Sethuraman
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Helen R Taylor
- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Gregg W C Thomas
- Informatics Group, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maren Wellenreuther
- Plant and Food Research, Nelson, New Zealand
- University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Gordon Luikart
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
- Flathead Lake Biology Station, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
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16
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de Carvalho CF, Slate J, Villoutreix R, Soria-Carrasco V, Riesch R, Feder JL, Gompert Z, Nosil P. DNA methylation differences between stick insect ecotypes. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:6809-6823. [PMID: 37864542 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, can influence gene regulation and affect phenotypic variation, raising the possibility that they contribute to ecological adaptation. Beginning to address this issue requires high-resolution sequencing studies of natural populations to pinpoint epigenetic regions of potential ecological and evolutionary significance. However, such studies are still relatively uncommon, especially in insects, and are mainly restricted to a few model organisms. Here, we characterize patterns of DNA methylation for natural populations of Timema cristinae adapted to two host plant species (i.e. ecotypes). By integrating results from sequencing of whole transcriptomes, genomes and methylomes, we investigate whether environmental, host and genetic differences of these stick insects are associated with methylation levels of cytosine nucleotides in the CpG context. We report an overall genome-wide methylation level for T. cristinae of ~14%, with methylation being enriched in gene bodies and impoverished in repetitive elements. Genome-wide DNA methylation variation was strongly positively correlated with genetic distance (relatedness), but also exhibited significant host-plant effects. Using methylome-environment association analysis, we pinpointed specific genomic regions that are differentially methylated between ecotypes, with these regions being enriched for genes with functions in membrane processes. The observed association between methylation variation and genetic relatedness, and with the ecologically important variable of host plant, suggests a potential role for epigenetic modification in T. cristinae adaptation. To substantiate such adaptive significance, future studies could test whether methylation can be transmitted across generations and the extent to which it responds to experimental manipulation in field and laboratory studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jon Slate
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | | | - Rüdiger Riesch
- University of Montpellier, CEFE, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Jeffrey L Feder
- Department of Biology, Notre Dame University, South Bend, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Patrik Nosil
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- University of Montpellier, CEFE, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
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17
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Venney CJ, Anastasiadi D, Wellenreuther M, Bernatchez L. The Evolutionary Complexities of DNA Methylation in Animals: From Plasticity to Genetic Evolution. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad216. [PMID: 38015807 PMCID: PMC10701099 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The importance of DNA methylation in plastic responses to environmental change and evolutionary dynamics is increasingly recognized. Here, we provide a Perspective piece on the diverse roles of DNA methylation on broad evolutionary timescales, including (i) short-term transient acclimation, (ii) stable phenotypic evolution, and (iii) genomic evolution. We show that epigenetic responses vary along a continuum, ranging from short-term acclimatory responses in variable environments within a generation to long-term modifications in populations and species. DNA methylation thus unlocks additional potential for organisms to rapidly acclimate to their environment over short timeframes. If these changes affect fitness, they can circumvent the need for adaptive changes at the genome level. However, methylation has a complex reciprocal relationship with genetic variation as it can be genetically controlled, yet it can also induce point mutations and contribute to genomic evolution. When habitats remain constant over many generations, or populations are separated across habitats, initially plastic phenotypes can become hardwired through epigenetically facilitated mutagenesis. It remains unclear under what circumstances plasticity contributes to evolutionary outcomes, and when plastic changes will become permanently encoded into genotype. We highlight how studies investigating the evolution of epigenetic plasticity need to carefully consider how plasticity in methylation state could evolve among different evolutionary scenarios, the possible phenotypic outcomes, its effects on genomic evolution, and the proximate energetic and ultimate fitness costs of methylation. We argue that accumulating evidence suggests that DNA methylation can contribute toward evolution on various timescales, spanning a continuum from acclimatory plasticity to genomic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare J Venney
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS), Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Dafni Anastasiadi
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd, Nelson Research Centre, Nelson, New Zealand
| | - Maren Wellenreuther
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd, Nelson Research Centre, Nelson, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS), Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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18
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Anastasiadi D, Wellenreuther M. A conserved genomic code underpins animal DNA methylation patterns. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:1016-1018. [PMID: 37620218 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Evidence is mounting that non-genetic inheritance impacts evolution, however, how conserved the underlying processes are remains unexplored. Klughammer et al. investigated DNA methylation across the animal kingdom, one important mechanism of non-genetic inheritance. Using a dataset encompassing 580 species, the authors identified conserved associations between sequence and DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafni Anastasiadi
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd, Nelson Research Centre, 293 Akersten St, Nelson 7010, New Zealand.
| | - Maren Wellenreuther
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd, Nelson Research Centre, 293 Akersten St, Nelson 7010, New Zealand; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, 3A Symonds St, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
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19
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Cheng MD, Li CL, Pei XY, Zhang YF, Jia DD, Zuo YB, Cai SL, Li PF, Xin H, Zhang YF. Integrative analysis of DNA methylome and transcriptome reveals epigenetic regulation of bisphenols-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 263:115391. [PMID: 37611474 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac hypertrophy, a kind of cardiomyopathic abnormality, might trigger heart contractile and diastolic dysfunction, and even heart failure. Currently, bisphenols (BPs) including bisphenol A (BPA), and its alternatives bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) are ubiquitously applied in various products and potentially possess high cardiovascular risks for humans. However, the substantial experimental evidences of BPs on heart function, and their structure-related effects on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy are still urgently needed. DNA methylation, a typical epigenetics, play key roles in BPs-induced transcription dysregulation, thereby affecting human health including cardiovascular system. Thus, in this study, we performed RNA-seq and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) to profile the landscapes of BPs-induced cardiotoxicity and to determine the key roles of DNA methylation in the transcription. Further, the capabilities of three BPA analogues, together with BPA, in impacting heart function and changing DNA methylation and transcription were compared. We concluded that similar to BPA, BPAF, BPF and BPS exposure deteriorated heart function in a mouse model, and induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in a H9c2 cell line. BPAF, BPF and BPS all played BPA-like roles in both transcriptive and methylated hierarchies. Moreover, we validated the expression levels of four cardiomyocyte hypertrophy related candidate genes, Psmc1, Piptnm2, Maz and Dusp18, which were all upregulated and with DNA hypomethylation. The findings on the induction of BPA analogues on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and DNA methylation revealed their potential detrimental risks in heart function of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Die Cheng
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, Shandong, PR China; Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong, PR China
| | - Chang-Lei Li
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, Shandong, PR China
| | - Xiang-Yu Pei
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, Shandong, PR China
| | - Yi-Fei Zhang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, Shandong, PR China
| | - Dong-Dong Jia
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, Shandong, PR China
| | - Ying-Bing Zuo
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, Shandong, PR China; Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong, PR China
| | - Shang-Lang Cai
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong, PR China
| | - Pei-Feng Li
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, Shandong, PR China
| | - Hui Xin
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong, PR China.
| | - Yin-Feng Zhang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, Shandong, PR China.
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20
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Lehnert SJ, Bradbury IR, Wringe BF, Van Wyngaarden M, Bentzen P. Multifaceted framework for defining conservation units: An example from Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar) in Canada. Evol Appl 2023; 16:1568-1585. [PMID: 37752960 PMCID: PMC10519414 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Conservation units represent important components of intraspecific diversity that can aid in prioritizing and protecting at-risk populations, while also safeguarding unique diversity that can contribute to species resilience. In Canada, identification and assessments of conservation units is done by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). COSEWIC can recognize conservation units below the species level (termed "designatable units"; DUs) if the unit has attributes that make it both discrete and evolutionarily significant. There are various ways in which a DU can meet criteria of discreteness and significance, and increasing access to "big data" is providing unprecedented information that can directly inform both criteria. Specifically, the incorporation of genomic data for an increasing number of non-model species is informing more COSEWIC assessments; thus, a repeatable, robust framework is needed for integrating these data into DU characterization. Here, we develop a framework that uses a multifaceted, weight of evidence approach to incorporate multiple data types, including genetic and genomic data, to inform COSEWIC DUs. We apply this framework to delineate DUs of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, L.), an economically, culturally, and ecologically significant species, that is also characterized by complex hierarchical population structure. Specifically, we focus on an in-depth example of how our approach was applied to a previously data limited region of northern Canada that was defined by a single large DU. Application of our framework with newly available genetic and genomic data led to subdividing this DU into three new DUs. Although our approach was developed to meet criteria of COSEWIC, it is widely applicable given similarities in the definitions of a conservation unit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Lehnert
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries CentreFisheries and Oceans CanadaSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
| | - Ian R. Bradbury
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries CentreFisheries and Oceans CanadaSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
| | - Brendan F. Wringe
- Bedford Institute of OceanographyFisheries and Oceans CanadaDartmouthNova ScotiaCanada
| | | | - Paul Bentzen
- Biology DepartmentDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
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21
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Vogt G. Phenotypic plasticity in the monoclonal marbled crayfish is associated with very low genetic diversity but pronounced epigenetic diversity. Curr Zool 2023; 69:426-441. [PMID: 37614917 PMCID: PMC10443617 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Clonal organisms are particularly useful to investigate the contribution of epigenetics to phenotypic plasticity, because confounding effects of genetic variation are negligible. In the last decade, the apomictic parthenogenetic marbled crayfish, Procambarus virginalis, has been developed as a model to investigate the relationships between phenotypic plasticity and genetic and epigenetic diversity in detail. This crayfish originated about 30 years ago by autotriploidy from a single slough crayfish Procambarus fallax. As the result of human releases and active spreading, marbled crayfish has established numerous populations in very diverse habitats in 22 countries from the tropics to cold temperate regions. Studies in the laboratory and field revealed considerable plasticity in coloration, spination, morphometric parameters, growth, food preference, population structure, trophic position, and niche width. Illumina and PacBio whole-genome sequencing of marbled crayfish from representatives of 19 populations in Europe and Madagascar demonstrated extremely low genetic diversity within and among populations, indicating that the observed phenotypic diversity and ability to live in strikingly different environments are not due to adaptation by selection on genetic variation. In contrast, considerable differences were found between populations in the DNA methylation patterns of hundreds of genes, suggesting that the environmentally induced phenotypic plasticity is mediated by epigenetic mechanisms and corresponding changes in gene expression. Specific DNA methylation fingerprints persisted in local populations over successive years indicating the existence of epigenetic ecotypes, but there is presently no information as to whether these epigenetic signatures are transgenerationally inherited or established anew in each generation and whether the recorded phenotypic plasticity is adaptive or nonadaptive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günter Vogt
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 234, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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22
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Zhang Y, Toivainen T, Mackenzie K, Yakovlev I, Krokene P, Hytönen T, Grini PE, Fossdal CG. Methylome, transcriptome, and phenotype changes induced by temperature conditions experienced during sexual reproduction in Fragaria vesca. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2023; 175:e13963. [PMID: 37340851 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Temperature conditions experienced during embryogenesis and seed development may induce epigenetic changes that increase phenotypic variation in plants. Here we investigate if embryogenesis and seed development at two different temperatures (28 vs. 18°C) result in lasting phenotypic effects and DNA methylation changes in woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca). Using five European ecotypes from Spain (ES12), Iceland (ICE2), Italy (IT4), and Norway (NOR2 and NOR29), we found statistically significant differences between plants from seeds produced at 18 or 28°C in three of four phenotypic features investigated under common garden conditions. This indicates the establishment of a temperature-induced epigenetic memory-like response during embryogenesis and seed development. The memory effect was significant in two ecotypes: in NOR2 flowering time, number of growth points and petiole length were affected, and in ES12 number of growth points was affected. This indicates that genetic differences between ecotypes in their epigenetic machinery, or other allelic differences, impact this type of plasticity. We observed statistically significant differences between ecotypes in DNA methylation marks in repetitive elements, pseudogenes, and genic elements. Leaf transcriptomes were also affected by embryonic temperature in an ecotype-specific manner. Although we observed significant and lasting phenotypic change in at least some ecotypes, there was considerable variation in DNA methylation between individual plants within each temperature treatment. This within-treatment variability in DNA methylation marks in F. vesca progeny may partly be a result of allelic redistribution from recombination during meiosis and subsequent epigenetic reprogramming during embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yupeng Zhang
- Department of Molecular Plant Biology, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Ås, Norway
- EVOGENE, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tuomas Toivainen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kathryn Mackenzie
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Igor Yakovlev
- Department of Molecular Plant Biology, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Ås, Norway
| | - Paal Krokene
- Department of Molecular Plant Biology, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Ås, Norway
| | - Timo Hytönen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Paul E Grini
- EVOGENE, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Carl Gunnar Fossdal
- Department of Molecular Plant Biology, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Ås, Norway
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23
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Houle C, Gossieaux P, Bernatchez L, Audet C, Garant D. Transgenerational effects on body size and survival in Brook charr ( Salvelinus fontinalis). Evol Appl 2023; 16:1061-1070. [PMID: 37216032 PMCID: PMC10197224 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Higher temperatures are now observed in several ecosystems and act as new selective agents that shape traits and fitness of individuals. Transgenerational effects may be important in modulating adaptation of future generations and buffering negative impacts of temperature changes. The potential for these effects may be important in freshwater fish species, as temperature is a key abiotic component of their environment. Yet, still, relatively few studies have assessed the presence and importance of transgenerational effects under natural conditions. The purpose of this study was to test how parental thermal conditions influenced offspring growth and survival following stocking in Brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis). To do so, part of the breeders were exposed to a "cold" treatment while others were exposed to a "warm" treatment during the final steps of gonad maturation (constant 2°C difference between treatments along the seasonal temperature decrease). The impact on offspring of a selection treatment targeting production traits of interest (absence of sexual maturation at 1+, combined with increased growth) in breeders was also evaluated. After 7-8 months of growth in captivity, offspring were stocked in natural lakes. Their growth and survival were assessed about a year later. Offspring from "cold" breeders showed lower survival than those from "warm" breeders and the selection treatment had no effect on survival. However, the selection treatment was linked to lower Fulton's condition index, which, in turn, was positively correlated to survival in lakes. This study highlights the importance of working in ecological/industrial context to fully assess the different impacts of transgenerational effects on traits and survival. Our results also have important implications for stocking practices used to support the sport fishing industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyne Houle
- Département de BiologieUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQuébecCanada
| | | | - Louis Bernatchez
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS)Université LavalQuébec CityQuébecCanada
| | - Céline Audet
- Institut des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski (ISMER)Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR)RimouskiQuébecCanada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de BiologieUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQuébecCanada
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24
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Niccolò T, Anderson AW, Emidio A. Apomixis: oh, what a tangled web we have! PLANTA 2023; 257:92. [PMID: 37000270 PMCID: PMC10066125 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04124-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis is a complex evolutionary trait with many possible origins. Here we discuss various clues and causes, ultimately proposing a model harmonizing the three working hypotheses on the topic. Asexual reproduction through seeds, i.e., apomixis, is the holy grail of plant biology. Its implementation in modern breeding could be a game-changer for agriculture. It has the potential to generate clonal crops and maintain valuable complex genotypes and their associated heterotic traits without inbreeding depression. The genetic basis and origins of apomixis are still unclear. There are three central hypothesis for the development of apomixis that could be: i) a deviation from the sexual developmental program caused by an asynchronous development, ii) environmentally triggered through epigenetic regulations (a polyphenism of sex), iii) relying on one or more genes/alleles. Because of the ever-increasing complexity of the topic, the path toward a detailed understanding of the mechanisms underlying apomixis remains unclear. Here, we discuss the most recent advances in the evolution perspective of this multifaceted trait. We incorporated our understanding of the effect of endogenous effectors, such as small RNAs, epigenetic regulation, hormonal pathways, protein turnover, and cell wall modification in response to an upside stress. This can be either endogenous (hybridization or polyploidization) or exogenous environmental stress, mainly due to oxidative stress and the corresponding ROS (Reacting Oxygen Species) effectors. Finally, we graphically represented this tangled web.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terzaroli Niccolò
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Aaron W Anderson
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy
- Fulbright Scholar From Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Albertini Emidio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie (CIB), Trieste, Italy
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25
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Ai P, Xue J, Shi Z, Liu Y, Li Z, Li T, Zhao W, Khan MA, Kang D, Wang K, Wang Z. Genome-wide characterization and expression analysis of MYB transcription factors in Chrysanthemum nankingense. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:140. [PMID: 36915063 PMCID: PMC10012607 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04137-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chrysanthemum is a popular ornamental plant worldwide. MYB (v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog) transcription factors play an important role in everything from stress resistance to plant growth and development. However, the MYB family of chrysanthemums has not been the subject of a detailed bioinformatics and expression investigation. RESULTS In this study, we examined 324 CnMYB transcription factors from Chrysanthemum nankingense genome data, which contained 122 Cn1R-MYB, 183 CnR2R3-MYB, 12 Cn3R-MYB, 2 Cn4R-MYB, and 5 atypical CnMYB. The protein motifs and classification of CnMYB transcription factors were analyzed. Among them, motifs 1, 2, 3, and 4 were found to encode the MYB DNA-binding domain in R2R3-MYB proteins, while in other-MYB proteins, the motifs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 encode the MYB DNA-binding domain. Among all CnMYBs, 44 genes were selected due to the presence of CpG islands, while methylation is detected in three genes, including CnMYB9, CnMYB152, and CnMYB219. We analyzed the expression levels of each CnMYB gene in ray floret, disc floret, flower bud, leaf, stem, and root tissues. Based on phylogenetic analysis and gene expression analysis, three genes appeared likely to control cellulose and lignin synthesis in stem tissue, and 16 genes appeared likely to regulate flowering time, anther, pollen development, and flower color. Fifty-one candidate genes that may be involved in stress response were identified through phylogenetic, stress-responseve motif of promoter, and qRT-PCR analyses. According to genes expression levels under stress conditions, six CnMYB genes (CnMYB9, CnMYB172, CnMYB186, CnMYB199, CnMYB219, and CnMYB152) were identified as key stress-responsive genes. CONCLUSIONS This research provides useful information for further functional analysis of the CnMYB gene family in chrysanthemums, as well as offers candidate genes for further study of cellulose and lignin synthesis, flowering traits, salt and drought stress mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penghui Ai
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Plant Germplasm Resources and Genetic Laboratory, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Chrysanthemum Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China
| | - Jundong Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Plant Germplasm Resources and Genetic Laboratory, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Chrysanthemum Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China
| | - Zhongya Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Plant Germplasm Resources and Genetic Laboratory, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Chrysanthemum Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China
| | - Yuru Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Plant Germplasm Resources and Genetic Laboratory, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Chrysanthemum Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China
| | - Zhongai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Plant Germplasm Resources and Genetic Laboratory, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Chrysanthemum Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China
| | - Tong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Plant Germplasm Resources and Genetic Laboratory, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Chrysanthemum Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China
| | - Wenqian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Plant Germplasm Resources and Genetic Laboratory, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Chrysanthemum Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China
| | - Muhammad Ayoub Khan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Plant Germplasm Resources and Genetic Laboratory, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Chrysanthemum Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China
| | - Dongru Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Plant Germplasm Resources and Genetic Laboratory, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Chrysanthemum Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China
| | - Kangxiang Wang
- Technology&Media University of Henan Kaifeng, Jinming Road, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China
| | - Zicheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Plant Germplasm Resources and Genetic Laboratory, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Chrysanthemum Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China.
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26
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Venney CJ, Bouchard R, April J, Normandeau E, Lecomte L, Côté G, Bernatchez L. Captive rearing effects on the methylome of Atlantic salmon after oceanic migration: Sex-specificity and intergenerational stability. Mol Ecol Resour 2023. [PMID: 36760032 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Captive rearing in salmon hatcheries can have considerable impacts on both fish phenotype and fitness within a single generation, even in the absence of genetic change. Evidence for hatchery-induced changes in DNA methylation is becoming abundant, though questions remain on the sex-specificity of these effects, their persistence until spawning and potential for transmission to future generations. Here we performed whole genome methylation sequencing of fin tissue for 16 hatchery and 16 wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) returning to spawn in the Rimouski River, Québec, Canada. We identified two cohorts of hatchery-reared salmon through methylation analysis, one of which was epigenetically similar to wild fish, suggesting that supplementation efforts may be able to minimize the epigenetic effects of hatchery rearing. We found considerable sex-specific effects of hatchery rearing, with few genomic regions being affected in both males and females. We also analysed the methylome of 32 F1 offspring from four groups (pure wild, pure hatchery origin and reciprocal hybrids). We found that few epigenetic changes due to parental hatchery rearing persisted in the F1 offspring though the patterns of inheritance appear to be complex, involving nonadditive effects. Our results suggest that the epigenetic effects of hatchery rearing can be minimal in F0 . There may also be minimal epigenetic inheritance and rapid loss of epigenetic changes associated with hatchery rearing. However, due to sex-specificity and nonadditive patterns of inheritance, methylation changes due to captive rearing are rather complex and the field would benefit from further research on minimizing the epigenetic effects of captive rearing in conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare J Venney
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
- Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Raphaël Bouchard
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
- Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Julien April
- Direction de l'expertise sur la faune aquatique, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Eric Normandeau
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
- Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Laurie Lecomte
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
- Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Guillaume Côté
- Direction de l'expertise sur la faune aquatique, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
- Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
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27
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Edelaar P, Otsuka J, Luque VJ. A generalised approach to the study and understanding of adaptive evolution. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:352-375. [PMID: 36223883 PMCID: PMC10091731 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Evolutionary theory has made large impacts on our understanding and management of the world, in part because it has been able to incorporate new data and new insights successfully. Nonetheless, there is currently a tension between certain biological phenomena and mainstream evolutionary theory. For example, how does the inheritance of molecular epigenetic changes fit into mainstream evolutionary theory? Is niche construction an evolutionary process? Is local adaptation via habitat choice also adaptive evolution? These examples suggest there is scope (and perhaps even a need) to broaden our views on evolution. We identify three aspects whose incorporation into a single framework would enable a more generalised approach to the understanding and study of adaptive evolution: (i) a broadened view of extended phenotypes; (ii) that traits can respond to each other; and (iii) that inheritance can be non-genetic. We use causal modelling to integrate these three aspects with established views on the variables and mechanisms that drive and allow for adaptive evolution. Our causal model identifies natural selection and non-genetic inheritance of adaptive parental responses as two complementary yet distinct and independent drivers of adaptive evolution. Both drivers are compatible with the Price equation; specifically, non-genetic inheritance of parental responses is captured by an often-neglected component of the Price equation. Our causal model is general and simplified, but can be adjusted flexibly in terms of variables and causal connections, depending on the research question and/or biological system. By revisiting the three examples given above, we show how to use it as a heuristic tool to clarify conceptual issues and to help design empirical research. In contrast to a gene-centric view defining evolution only in terms of genetic change, our generalised approach allows us to see evolution as a change in the whole causal structure, consisting not just of genetic but also of phenotypic and environmental variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pim Edelaar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera Utrera km.1, 41013, Seville, Spain.,Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study, Thunbergsvägen 2, SE-75238, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jun Otsuka
- Department of Philosophy, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Hommachi, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Tokyo, 103-0027, Japan
| | - Victor J Luque
- Department of Philosophy, University of Valencia, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 30, 46010, València, Spain
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28
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Venney CJ, Cayuela H, Rougeux C, Laporte M, Mérot C, Normandeau E, Leitwein M, Dorant Y, Præbel K, Kenchington E, Clément M, Sirois P, Bernatchez L. Genome-wide DNA methylation predicts environmentally driven life history variation in a marine fish. Evolution 2023; 77:186-198. [PMID: 36622671 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpac028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications are thought to be one of the molecular mechanisms involved in plastic adaptive responses to environmental variation. However, studies reporting associations between genome-wide epigenetic changes and habitat-specific variations in life history traits (e.g., lifespan, reproduction) are still scarce, likely due to the recent application of methylome resequencing methods to non-model species. In this study, we examined associations between whole genome DNA methylation and environmentally driven life history variation in 2 lineages of a marine fish, the capelin (Mallotus villosus), from North America and Europe. In both lineages, capelin harbor 2 contrasting life history tactics (demersal vs. beach-spawning). Performing whole genome and methylome sequencing, we showed that life history tactics are associated with epigenetic changes in both lineages, though the effect was stronger in European capelin. Genetic differentiation between the capelin harboring different life history tactics was negligible, but we found genome-wide methylation changes in both lineages. We identified 9,125 European and 199 North American differentially methylated regions (DMRs) due to life history. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis for both lineages revealed an excess of terms related to neural function. Our results suggest that environmental variation causes important epigenetic changes that are associated with contrasting life history tactics in lineages with divergent genetic backgrounds, with variable importance of genetic variation in driving epigenetic variation. Our study emphasizes the potential role of genome-wide epigenetic variation in adaptation to environmental variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare J Venney
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Hugo Cayuela
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Clément Rougeux
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Martin Laporte
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Claire Mérot
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Eric Normandeau
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Maëva Leitwein
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Yann Dorant
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Kim Præbel
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ellen Kenchington
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - Marie Clément
- Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.,Labrador Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL, Canada
| | - Pascal Sirois
- Département des sciences fondamentales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, QC, Canada
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
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29
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L Macartney E, M Drobniak S, Nakagawa S, Lagisz M. Evidence base for non-genetic inheritance of environmental exposures in non-human animals and plants: a map of evidence syntheses with bibliometric analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE 2023; 12:1. [PMID: 39294796 PMCID: PMC11378868 DOI: 10.1186/s13750-022-00290-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 09/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Direct effects of parental environment (particularly mothers) on offspring have been frequently demonstrated over the last decades. More recently 'indirect' non-genetic effects of ancestral environment and environmental effects through the patriline have been observed. Such research has captured the interest of many disciplines including biomedical science, toxicology, agriculture, and ecology and evolution due to the importance of understanding environmental effects on individual and population health. Consequently, the secondary literature, aimed at synthesizing non-genetic effects has also been increasing. The non-genetic inheritance secondary literature can be as diverse as the primary literature. Thus, there is a need to 'map' the non-genetic inheritance secondary literature to understand the state of the field and move forward in filling research gaps. Here, we ask four main questions: (1) What evidence exists on the impacts of non-genetic inheritance in non-human animals and plants across disciplines within the secondary 'systematic-like' (evidence synthesis) literature (2) What are the discipline-specific research patterns and gaps? (3) How connected is the literature (i.e., shared citations within and between disciplines, and collaborations between different countries)? (4) What is the overall quality of the non-genetic inheritance SR literature? METHODS We systematically searched for published and grey evidence syntheses on non-genetic inheritance in non-human animals and plants. We then extracted details pertaining to research topics and assigned each article to one of five disciplines (agriculture, biomedical science, ecology and evolution, toxicology, and cross-disciplinary research). We mapped within- and between- discipline research patterns through descriptive statistics and visualizations, and conducted a bibliometric analysis of the 'connectedness' of the literature (i.e., co-citation and collaboration networks). We also conducted a critical appraisal of the included articles. RESULTS We show that most evidence syntheses were in biomedical science and synthesized primary literature on rats and mice. Most evidence syntheses examined 'direct' effects of ancestral environment on descendants, particularly maternal dietary effects on offspring physiology and morphology. Ecology and evolution and cross-disciplinary evidence syntheses included the most diverse range of primary literature in their articles. We also show that most evidence syntheses have at least one author affiliated with an institution in the USA, and that the UK tends to form the most multinational collaborations. Toxicology evidence syntheses were least likely to cite studies outside of its own discipline. Lastly, we show where the quality of the non-genetic inheritance systematic-like literature could be improved. CONCLUSIONS We have highlighted that certain areas of non-genetic inheritance are more frequently synthesised than others which may reflect a stronger interest in certain research topics at either the secondary or primary literature level. Presenting these research patterns and gaps in the literature that will not only make it easier to for researchers to understand the current state of the literature, but will also aid in bridging gaps between disciplines in the future. This will have substantial benefits for our understanding of non-genetic inheritance, with implications for many research fields, including climate change research, ecological and evolutionary theory, and understanding the effects of environmental pollutants on population health. It will also help policy makers identify relevant literature to inform policies, especially related to the negative impacts of environmental factors across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Macartney
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Szymon M Drobniak
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Malgorzata Lagisz
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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30
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Cossette ML, Stewart DT, Haghani A, Zoller JA, Shafer ABA, Horvath S. Epigenetics and island-mainland divergence in an insectivorous small mammal. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:152-166. [PMID: 36226847 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Geographically isolated populations, specifically island-mainland counterparts, tend to exhibit phenotypic variation in many species. The so-called island syndrome occurs when different environmental pressures lead to insular divergence from mainland populations. This phenomenon can be seen in an island population of Nova Scotia masked shrews (Sorex cinereus), which have developed a specialized feeding habit and digestive enzyme compared to their mainland counterparts. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation (DNAm), can impact phenotypes by altering gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Here, we used a de novo masked shrew genome assembly and a mammalian methylation array profiling 37 thousand conserved CpGs to investigate morphological and DNA methylation patterns between island and mainland populations. Island shrews were morphologically and epigenetically different than their mainland counterparts, exhibiting a smaller body size. A gene ontology enrichment analyses of differentially methylated CpGs implicated developmental and digestive system related pathways. Based on our shrew epigenetic clock, island shrews might also be aging faster than their mainland counterparts. This study provides novel insight on phenotypic and epigenetic divergence in island-mainland mammal populations and suggests an underlying role of methylation in island-mainland divergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Laurence Cossette
- Department of Environmental Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Donald T Stewart
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Amin Haghani
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Joseph A Zoller
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Aaron B A Shafer
- Department of Environmental Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Forensic Science, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Altos Labs, San Diego, California, USA
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31
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Vogt G. Environmental Adaptation of Genetically Uniform Organisms with the Help of Epigenetic Mechanisms-An Insightful Perspective on Ecoepigenetics. EPIGENOMES 2022; 7:1. [PMID: 36648862 PMCID: PMC9844400 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes7010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms adapt to different environments by selection of the most suitable phenotypes from the standing genetic variation or by phenotypic plasticity, the ability of single genotypes to produce different phenotypes in different environments. Because of near genetic identity, asexually reproducing populations are particularly suitable for the investigation of the potential and molecular underpinning of the latter alternative in depth. Recent analyses on the whole-genome scale of differently adapted clonal animals and plants demonstrated that epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs are among the molecular pathways supporting phenotypic plasticity and that epigenetic variation is used to stably adapt to different environments. Case studies revealed habitat-specific epigenetic fingerprints that were maintained over subsequent years pointing at the existence of epigenetic ecotypes. Environmentally induced epimutations and corresponding gene expression changes provide an ideal means for fast and directional adaptation to changing or new conditions, because they can synchronously alter phenotypes in many population members. Because microorganisms inclusive of human pathogens also exploit epigenetically mediated phenotypic variation for environmental adaptation, this phenomenon is considered a universal biological principle. The production of different phenotypes from the same DNA sequence in response to environmental cues by epigenetic mechanisms also provides a mechanistic explanation for the "general-purpose genotype hypothesis" and the "genetic paradox of invasions".
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Affiliation(s)
- Günter Vogt
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 234, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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32
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Hu J, Barrett RDH. The role of plastic and evolved DNA methylation in parallel adaptation of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Mol Ecol 2022; 32:1581-1591. [PMID: 36560898 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Repeated phenotypic patterns among populations undergoing parallel evolution in similar environments provide support for the deterministic role of natural selection. Epigenetic modifications can mediate plastic and evolved phenotypic responses to environmental change and might make important contributions to parallel adaptation. While many studies have explored the genetic basis of repeated phenotypic divergence, the role of epigenetic processes during parallel adaptation remains unclear. The parallel evolution of freshwater ecotypes of threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus) following colonization of thousands of lakes and streams from the ocean is a classic example of parallel phenotypic and genotypic adaptation. To investigate epigenetic modifications during parallel adaptation of threespine stickleback, we reanalysed three independent data sets that investigated DNA methylation variation between marine and freshwater ecotypes. Although we found widespread methylation differentiation between ecotypes, there was no significant tendency for CpG sites associated with repeated methylation differentiation across studies to be parallel versus nonparallel. To next investigate the role of plastic versus evolved changes in methylation during freshwater adaptation, we explored if CpG sites exhibiting methylation plasticity during salinity change were more likely to also show evolutionary divergence in methylation between ecotypes. The directions of divergence between ecotypes were generally in the opposite direction to those observed for plasticity when ecotypes were challenged with non-native salinity conditions, suggesting that most plastic responses are likely to be maladaptive during colonization of new environments. Finally, we found a greater number of CpG sites showing evolved changes when ancestral marine ecotypes are acclimated to freshwater environments, whereas plastic changes predominate when derived freshwater ecotypes transition back to their ancestral marine environments. These findings provide evidence for an epigenetic contribution to parallel adaptation and demonstrate the contrasting roles of plastic and evolved methylation differences during adaptation to new environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juntao Hu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, Center of Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Rowan D H Barrett
- Redpath Museum and Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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33
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Bonar M, Anderson SJ, Anderson CR, Wittemyer G, Northrup JM, Shafer ABA. Genomic correlates for migratory direction in a free-ranging cervid. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221969. [PMID: 36475444 PMCID: PMC9727677 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal migrations are some of the most ubiquitous and one of the most threatened ecological processes globally. A wide range of migratory behaviours occur in nature, and this behaviour is not uniform among and within species, where even individuals in the same population can exhibit differences. While the environment largely drives migratory behaviour, it is necessary to understand the genetic mechanisms influencing migration to elucidate the potential of migratory species to cope with novel conditions and adapt to environmental change. In this study, we identified genes associated with a migratory trait by undertaking pooled genome-wide scans on a natural population of migrating mule deer. We identified genomic regions associated with variation in migratory direction, including FITM1, a gene linked to the formation of lipids, and DPPA3, a gene linked to epigenetic modifications of the maternal line. Such a genetic basis for a migratory trait contributes to the adaptive potential of the species and might affect the flexibility of individuals to change their behaviour in the face of changes in their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maegwin Bonar
- Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9L 0G2
| | - Spencer J. Anderson
- Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9L 0G2
| | - Charles R. Anderson
- Mammals Research Section, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - George Wittemyer
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Joseph M. Northrup
- Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9L 0G2,Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 3C7
| | - Aaron B. A. Shafer
- Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9L 0G2
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34
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Berbel-Filho WM, Pacheco G, Lira MG, Garcia de Leaniz C, Lima SMQ, Rodríguez-López CM, Zhou J, Consuegra S. Additive and non-additive epigenetic signatures of natural hybridisation between fish species with different mating systems. Epigenetics 2022; 17:2356-2365. [PMID: 36082413 PMCID: PMC9665120 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2022.2123014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybridization is a major source of evolutionary innovation. In plants, epigenetic mechanisms can help to stabilize hybrid genomes and contribute to reproductive isolation, but the relationship between genetic and epigenetic changes in animal hybrids is unclear. We analysed the relationship between genetic background and methylation patterns in natural hybrids of two genetically divergent fish species with different mating systems, Kryptolebias hermaphroditus (self-fertilizing) and K. ocellatus (outcrossing). Co-existing parental species displayed highly distinct genetic (SNPs) and methylation patterns (37,000 differentially methylated cytosines). Hybrids had predominantly intermediate methylation patterns (88.5% of the sites) suggesting additive effects, as expected from hybridization between genetically distant species. The large number of differentially methylated cytosines between hybrids and parental species (n = 5,800) suggests that hybridization may play a role in increasing genetic and epigenetic variation. Although most of the observed epigenetic variation was additive and had a strong genetic component, we also found a small percentage of non-additive, potentially stochastic, methylation differences that might act as an evolutionary bet-hedging strategy and increase fitness under environmental instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waldir M Berbel-Filho
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - George Pacheco
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, The Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1353 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mateus G Lira
- Laboratório de Ictiologia Sistemática e Evolutiva, Departamento de Botânica e Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Natal, Brazil
| | - Carlos Garcia de Leaniz
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Sergio M Q Lima
- Laboratório de Ictiologia Sistemática e Evolutiva, Departamento de Botânica e Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Natal, Brazil
| | - Carlos M Rodríguez-López
- Environmental Epigenetics and Genetics Group, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Jia Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Sofia Consuegra
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
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35
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Sobral M, Sampedro L. Phenotypic, epigenetic, and fitness diversity within plant genotypes. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 27:843-846. [PMID: 35840483 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plant plastic responses to environmental variation, at scales smaller than the individual plant size, promote phenotypic and epigenetic diversity among repeated structures within genotypes. Different epigenetic marks in the somatic line can translate to the germline and seeds, generating a fitness patchwork in the progeny with unexplored effects on plant evolutionary dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mar Sobral
- Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional, Área de Ecoloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Rúa Lope Gómez de Marzoa, s/n., 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain.
| | - Luis Sampedro
- Misión Biolóxica de Galicia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Carballeira, 8., 36143 Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain
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36
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Liu H, Able AJ, Able JA. Priming crops for the future: rewiring stress memory. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 27:699-716. [PMID: 34906381 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The agricultural sector must produce resilient and climate-smart crops to meet the increasing needs of global food production. Recent advancements in elucidating the mechanistic basis of plant stress memory have provided new opportunities for crop improvement. Stress memory-coordinated changes at the organismal, cellular, and various omics levels prepare plants to be more responsive to reoccurring stress within or across generation(s). The exposure to a primary stress, or stress priming, can also elicit a beneficial impact when encountering a secondary abiotic or biotic stress through the convergence of synergistic signalling pathways, referred to as cross-stress tolerance. 'Rewired plants' with stress memory provide a new means to stimulate adaptable stress responses, safeguard crop reproduction, and engineer climate-smart crops for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haipei Liu
- School of Agriculture, Food & Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Amanda J Able
- School of Agriculture, Food & Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Jason A Able
- School of Agriculture, Food & Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia.
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37
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Liu S, Tengstedt ANB, Jacobsen MW, Pujolar JM, Jónsson B, Lobón-Cervià J, Bernatchez L, Hansen MM. Genome-wide methylation in the panmictic European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Mol Ecol 2022; 31:4286-4306. [PMID: 35767387 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The role of methylation in adaptive, developmental and speciation processes has attracted considerable interest, but interpretation of results is complicated by diffuse boundaries between genetic and non-genetic variation. We studied whole genome genetic and methylation variation in the European eel, distributed from subarctic to subtropical environments, but with panmixia precluding genetically based local adaptation beyond single-generation responses. Overall methylation was 70.9%, with hypomethylation predominantly found in promoters and first exons. Redundancy analyses involving juvenile glass eels showed 0.06% and 0.03% of the variance at SNPs to be explained by localities and environmental variables, respectively, with GO terms of genes associated with outliers primarily involving neural system functioning. For CpGs 2.98% and 1.36% of variance was explained by localities and environmental variables. Differentially methylated regions particularly included genes involved in developmental processes, with hox clusters featuring prominently. Life stage (adult versus glass eels) was the most important source of inter-individual variation in methylation, likely reflecting both ageing and developmental processes. Demethylation of transposable elements relative to pure European eel was observed in European X American eel hybrids, possibly representing postzygotic barriers in this system characterized by prolonged speciation and ongoing gene flow. Whereas the genetic data are consistent with a role of single-generation selective responses, the methylation results underpin the importance of epigenetics in the life cycle of eels and suggests interactions between local environments, development and phenotypic variation mediated by methylation variation. Eels are remarkable by having retained eight hox clusters, and the results suggest important roles of methylation at hox genes for adaptive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenglin Liu
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Magnus W Jacobsen
- Section for Marine Living Resources, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Jose Martin Pujolar
- Centre for Gelatinous Plankton Ecology and Evolution, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Bjarni Jónsson
- North West Iceland Nature Center, Iceland.,The Icelandic Parliament, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | | | - Louis Bernatchez
- IBIS (Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes), Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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38
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Jeffery NW, Lehnert SJ, Kess T, Layton KKS, Wringe BF, Stanley RR. Application of Omics Tools in Designing and Monitoring Marine Protected Areas For a Sustainable Blue Economy. Front Genet 2022; 13:886494. [PMID: 35812740 PMCID: PMC9257101 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.886494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A key component of the global blue economy strategy is the sustainable extraction of marine resources and conservation of marine environments through networks of marine protected areas (MPAs). Connectivity and representativity are essential factors that underlie successful implementation of MPA networks, which can safeguard biological diversity and ecosystem function, and ultimately support the blue economy strategy by balancing ocean use with conservation. New “big data” omics approaches, including genomics and transcriptomics, are becoming essential tools for the development and maintenance of MPA networks. Current molecular omics techniques, including population-scale genome sequencing, have direct applications for assessing population connectivity and for evaluating how genetic variation is represented within and among MPAs. Effective baseline characterization and long-term, scalable, and comprehensive monitoring are essential for successful MPA management, and omics approaches hold great promise to characterize the full range of marine life, spanning the microbiome to megafauna across a range of environmental conditions (shallow sea to the deep ocean). Omics tools, such as eDNA metabarcoding can provide a cost-effective basis for biodiversity monitoring in large and remote conservation areas. Here we provide an overview of current omics applications for conservation planning and monitoring, with a focus on metabarcoding, metagenomics, and population genomics. Emerging approaches, including whole-genome sequencing, characterization of genomic architecture, epigenomics, and genomic vulnerability to climate change are also reviewed. We demonstrate that the operationalization of omics tools can enhance the design, monitoring, and management of MPAs and thus will play an important role in a modern and comprehensive blue economy strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas W. Jeffery
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
- *Correspondence: Nicholas W. Jeffery,
| | - Sarah J. Lehnert
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Tony Kess
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Kara K. S. Layton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Brendan F. Wringe
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - Ryan R.E. Stanley
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
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39
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Drought-exposure history increases complementarity between plant species in response to a subsequent drought. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3217. [PMID: 35680926 PMCID: PMC9184649 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30954-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing threats from extreme climatic events and biodiversity loss have raised concerns about their interactive consequences for ecosystem functioning. Evidence suggests biodiversity can buffer ecosystem functioning during such climatic events. However, whether exposure to extreme climatic events will strengthen the biodiversity-dependent buffering effects for future generations remains elusive. We assess such transgenerational effects by exposing experimental grassland communities to eight recurrent summer droughts versus ambient conditions in the field. Seed offspring of 12 species are then subjected to a subsequent drought event in the glasshouse, grown individually, in monocultures or in 2-species mixtures. Comparing productivity between mixtures and monocultures, drought-selected plants show greater between-species complementarity than ambient-selected plants when recovering from the subsequent drought, causing stronger biodiversity effects on productivity and better recovery of drought-selected mixtures after the drought. These findings suggest exposure to recurrent climatic events can improve ecosystem responses to future events through transgenerational reinforcement of species complementarity. Using experimental communities of grassland species, this study shows that drought-exposure history can accelerate recovery from subsequent drought through increased niche complementarity between species. This transgenerational effect may enhance the sustainability of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in a future with more frequent droughts.
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40
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Anastasiadi D, Piferrer F, Wellenreuther M, Benítez Burraco A. Fish as Model Systems to Study Epigenetic Drivers in Human Self-Domestication and Neurodevelopmental Cognitive Disorders. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13060987. [PMID: 35741749 PMCID: PMC9222608 DOI: 10.3390/genes13060987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Modern humans exhibit phenotypic traits and molecular events shared with other domesticates that are thought to be by-products of selection for reduced aggression. This is the human self-domestication hypothesis. As one of the first types of responses to a novel environment, epigenetic changes may have also facilitated early self-domestication in humans. Here, we argue that fish species, which have been recently domesticated, can provide model systems to study epigenetic drivers in human self-domestication. To test this, we used in silico approaches to compare genes with epigenetic changes in early domesticates of European sea bass with genes exhibiting methylation changes in anatomically modern humans (comparison 1), and neurodevelopmental cognitive disorders considered to exhibit abnormal self-domestication traits, i.e., schizophrenia, Williams syndrome, and autism spectrum disorders (comparison 2). Overlapping genes in comparison 1 were involved in processes like limb morphogenesis and phenotypes like abnormal jaw morphology and hypopigmentation. Overlapping genes in comparison 2 affected paralogue genes involved in processes such as neural crest differentiation and ectoderm differentiation. These findings pave the way for future studies using fish species as models to investigate epigenetic changes as drivers of human self-domestication and as triggers of cognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafni Anastasiadi
- Seafood Technologies, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, Nelson 7010, New Zealand;
- Correspondence:
| | - Francesc Piferrer
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Maren Wellenreuther
- Seafood Technologies, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, Nelson 7010, New Zealand;
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Antonio Benítez Burraco
- Department of Spanish, Linguistics, and Theory of Literature (Linguistics), Faculty of Philology, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain;
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41
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Vogt G. Paradigm shifts in animal epigenetics: Research on non-model species leads to new insights into dependencies, functions and inheritance of DNA methylation. Bioessays 2022; 44:e2200040. [PMID: 35618444 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Recent investigations with non-model species and whole-genome approaches have challenged several paradigms in animal epigenetics. They revealed that epigenetic variation in populations is not the mere consequence of genetic variation, but is a semi-independent or independent source of phenotypic variation, depending on mode of reproduction. DNA methylation is not positively correlated with genome size and phylogenetic position as earlier believed, but has evolved differently between and within higher taxa. Epigenetic marks are usually not completely erased in the zygote and germ cells as generalized from mouse, but often persist and can be transgenerationally inherited, making them evolutionarily relevant. Gene body methylation and promoter methylation are similar in vertebrates and invertebrates with well methylated genomes but transposon silencing through methylation is variable. The new data also suggest that animals use epigenetic mechanisms to cope with rapid environmental changes and to adapt to new environments. The main benefiters are asexual populations, invaders, sessile taxa and long-lived species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günter Vogt
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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42
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Feiner N, Radersma R, Vasquez L, Ringnér M, Nystedt B, Raine A, Tobi EW, Heijmans BT, Uller T. Environmentally induced DNA methylation is inherited across generations in an aquatic keystone species. iScience 2022; 25:104303. [PMID: 35573201 PMCID: PMC9097707 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transgenerational inheritance of environmentally induced epigenetic marks can have significant impacts on eco-evolutionary dynamics, but the phenomenon remains controversial in ecological model systems. We used whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of individual water fleas (Daphnia magna) to assess whether environmentally induced DNA methylation is transgenerationally inherited. Genetically identical females were exposed to one of three natural stressors, or a de-methylating drug, and their offspring were propagated clonally for four generations under control conditions. We identified between 70 and 225 differentially methylated CpG positions (DMPs) in F1 individuals whose mothers were exposed to a natural stressor. Roughly half of these environmentally induced DMPs persisted until generation F4. In contrast, treatment with the drug demonstrated that pervasive hypomethylation upon exposure is reset almost completely after one generation. These results suggest that environmentally induced DNA methylation is non-random and stably inherited across generations in Daphnia, making epigenetic inheritance a putative factor in the eco-evolutionary dynamics of freshwater communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Reinder Radersma
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Louella Vasquez
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Markus Ringnér
- Department of Biology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Björn Nystedt
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Amanda Raine
- Department of Medical Sciences, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elmar W. Tobi
- Periconceptional Epidemiology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Science, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bastiaan T. Heijmans
- Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tobias Uller
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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43
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Martynov A, Lundin K, Korshunova T. Ontogeny, Phylotypic Periods, Paedomorphosis, and Ontogenetic Systematics. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.806414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The key terms linking ontogeny and evolution are briefly reviewed. It is shown that their application and usage in the modern biology are often inconsistent and incorrectly understood even within the “evo-devo” field. For instance, the core modern reformulation that ontogeny not merely recapitulates, but produces phylogeny implies that ontogeny and phylogeny are closely interconnected. However, the vast modern phylogenetic and taxonomic fields largely omit ontogeny as a central concept. Instead, the common “clade-” and “tree-thinking” prevail, despite on the all achievements of the evo-devo. This is because the main conceptual basis of the modern biology is fundamentally ontogeny-free. In another words, in the Haeckel’s pair of “ontogeny and phylogeny,” ontogeny is still just a subsidiary for the evolutionary process (and hence, phylogeny), instead as in reality, its main driving force. The phylotypic periods is another important term of the evo-devo and represent a modern reformulation of Haeckel’s recapitulations and biogenetic law. However, surprisingly, this one of the most important biological evidence, based on the natural ontogenetic grounds, in the phylogenetic field that can be alleged as a “non-evolutionary concept.” All these observations clearly imply that a major revision of the main terms which are associated with the “ontogeny and phylogeny/evolution” field is urgently necessarily. Thus, “ontogenetic” is not just an endless addition to the term “systematics,” but instead a crucial term, without it neither systematics, nor biology have sense. To consistently employ the modern ontogenetic and epigenetic achievements, the concept of ontogenetic systematics is hereby refined. Ontogenetic systematics is not merely a “research program” but a key biological discipline which consistently links the enormous biological diversity with underlying fundamental process of ontogeny at both molecular and morphological levels. The paedomorphosis is another widespread ontogenetic-and-evolutionary process that is significantly underestimated or misinterpreted by the current phylogenetics and taxonomy. The term paedomorphosis is refined, as initially proposed to link ontogeny with evolution, whereas “neoteny” and “progenesis” are originally specific, narrow terms without evolutionary context, and should not be used as synonyms of paedomorphosis. Examples of application of the principles of ontogenetic systematics represented by such disparate animal groups as nudibranch molluscs and ophiuroid echinoderms clearly demonstrate that perseverance of the phylotypic periods is based not only on the classic examples in vertebrates, but it is a universal phenomenon in all organisms, including disparate animal phyla.
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Gao Y, Chen Y, Li S, Huang X, Hu J, Bock DG, MacIsaac HJ, Zhan A. Complementary genomic and epigenomic adaptation to environmental heterogeneity. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:3598-3612. [PMID: 35560847 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
While adaptation is commonly thought to result from selection on DNA sequence-based variation, recent studies have highlighted an analogous epigenetic component as well. However, the relative roles of these mechanisms in facilitating population persistence under environmental heterogeneity remain unclear. To address the underlying genetic and epigenetic mechanisms and their relationship during environmental adaptation, we screened the genomes and epigenomes of nine global populations of a predominately sessile marine invasive tunicate, Botryllus schlosseri, using reduced-representation methods. We detected clear population differentiation at the genetic and epigenetic levels. Patterns of genetic and epigenetic structure were significantly influenced by local environmental variables. Among these variables, minimum annual sea surface temperature was identified as the top explanatory variable for both genetic and epigenetic variation. However, patterns of population structure driven by genetic and epigenetic variation were somewhat distinct, suggesting possible autonomy of epigenetic variation. We found both shared and specific genes and biological pathways among genetic and epigenetic loci associated with environmental factors, consistent with complementary and independent contributions of genetic and epigenetic variation to environmental adaptation in this system. Collectively, these mechanisms may facilitate population persistence under environmental change and sustain successful invasions across novel environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangchun Gao
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, 510260, China
| | - Yiyong Chen
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shiguo Li
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xuena Huang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Juntao Hu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, Center of Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Dan G Bock
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, 63130, USA
| | - Hugh J MacIsaac
- School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Yunnan, 650091, China.,Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Aibin Zhan
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Venney CJ, Wellband KW, Normandeau E, Houle C, Garant D, Audet C, Bernatchez L. Thermal regime during parental sexual maturation, but not during offspring rearing, modulates DNA methylation in brook charr ( Salvelinus fontinalis). Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220670. [PMID: 35506232 PMCID: PMC9065957 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic inheritance can result in plastic responses to changing environments being faithfully transmitted to offspring. However, it remains unclear how epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation can contribute to multigenerational acclimation and adaptation to environmental stressors. Brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis), an economically important salmonid, is highly sensitive to thermal stress and is of conservation concern in the context of climate change. We studied the effects of temperature during parental sexual maturation and offspring rearing on whole-genome DNA methylation in brook charr juveniles (fry). Parents were split between warm and cold temperatures during sexual maturation, mated in controlled breeding designs, then offspring from each family were split between warm (8°C) and cold (5°C) rearing environments. Using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, we found 188 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) due to parental maturation temperature after controlling for family structure. By contrast, offspring rearing temperature had a negligible effect on offspring methylation. Stable intergenerational inheritance of DNA methylation and minimal plasticity in progeny could result in the transmission of acclimatory epigenetic states to offspring, priming them for a warming environment. Our findings have implications pertaining to the role of intergenerational epigenetic inheritance in response to ongoing climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare J. Venney
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada G1 V 0A6
| | - Kyle W. Wellband
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada G1 V 0A6
| | - Eric Normandeau
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada G1 V 0A6
| | - Carolyne Houle
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada J1 K 2R1
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada J1 K 2R1
| | - Céline Audet
- Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski (ISMER), Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR), Rimouski, QC, Canada G5 L 2Z9
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada G1 V 0A6
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Leitwein M, Wellband K, Cayuela H, Le Luyer J, Mohns K, Withler R, Bernatchez L. Strong parallel differential gene expression induced by hatchery rearing weakly associated with methylation signals in adult Coho Salmon (O. kisutch). Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:6547269. [PMID: 35276004 PMCID: PMC8995047 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human activities and resource exploitation led to a massive decline of wild salmonid populations, consequently, numerous conservation programs have been developed to supplement wild populations. However, many studies documented reduced fitness of hatchery-born relative to wild fish. Here, by using both RNA sequencing and Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing of hatchery and wild-born adult Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) originating from two previously studied river systems, we show that early-life hatchery-rearing environment-induced significant and parallel gene expression differentiation is maintained until Coho come back to their natal river for reproduction. A total of 3,643 genes differentially expressed and 859 coexpressed genes were downregulated in parallel in hatchery-born fish from both rivers relative to their wild congeners. Among those genes, 26 displayed a significant relationship between gene expression and the median gene body methylation and 669 single CpGs displayed a significant correlation between methylation level and the associated gene expression. The link between methylation and gene expression was weak suggesting that DNA methylation is not the only player in mediating hatchery-related expression differences. Yet, significant gene expression differentiation was observed despite 18 months spent in a common environment (i.e., the sea). Finally, the differentiation is observed in parallel in two different river systems, highlighting the fact that early-life environment may account for at least some of the reduced fitness of the hatchery salmon in the wild. These results illustrate the relevance and importance of considering both epigenome and transcriptome to evaluate the costs and benefits of large-scale supplementation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maeva Leitwein
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada, G1V 0A6.,Centre pour la Biodiversité Marine, l'exploitation et la Conservation, Université de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ifremer, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Palavas-les-Flots, France
| | - Kyle Wellband
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada, G1V 0A6.,Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Science Enterprise Centre, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V7V 1N6
| | - Hugo Cayuela
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada, G1V 0A6.,Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.,Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-769622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jérémy Le Luyer
- Ifremer, UMR 241 Ecosystèmes Insulaires Océaniens, Centre Ifremer du Pacifique, BP 49, 98719 Tahiti, Polynésie française
| | - Kayla Mohns
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, V9T 6N7
| | - Ruth Withler
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, V9T 6N7
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada, G1V 0A6
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Fanter C, Madelaire C, Genereux DP, van Breukelen F, Levesque D, Hindle A. Epigenomics as a paradigm to understand the nuances of phenotypes. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:274619. [PMID: 35258621 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Quantifying the relative importance of genomic and epigenomic modulators of phenotype is a focal challenge in comparative physiology, but progress is constrained by availability of data and analytic methods. Previous studies have linked physiological features to coding DNA sequence, regulatory DNA sequence, and epigenetic state, but few have disentangled their relative contributions or unambiguously distinguished causative effects ('drivers') from correlations. Progress has been limited by several factors, including the classical approach of treating continuous and fluid phenotypes as discrete and static across time and environment, and difficulty in considering the full diversity of mechanisms that can modulate phenotype, such as gene accessibility, transcription, mRNA processing and translation. We argue that attention to phenotype nuance, progressing to association with epigenetic marks and then causal analyses of the epigenetic mechanism, will enable clearer evaluation of the evolutionary path. This would underlie an essential paradigm shift, and power the search for links between genomic and epigenomic features and physiology. Here, we review the growing knowledge base of gene-regulatory mechanisms and describe their links to phenotype, proposing strategies to address widely recognized challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Fanter
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Carla Madelaire
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Diane P Genereux
- Vertebrate Genome Biology, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Frank van Breukelen
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Danielle Levesque
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Allyson Hindle
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
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Sammarco I, Münzbergová Z, Latzel V. DNA Methylation Can Mediate Local Adaptation and Response to Climate Change in the Clonal Plant Fragaria vesca: Evidence From a European-Scale Reciprocal Transplant Experiment. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:827166. [PMID: 35295625 PMCID: PMC8919072 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.827166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing climate crisis represents a growing threat for plants and other organisms. However, how and if plants will be able to adapt to future environmental conditions is still debated. One of the most powerful mechanisms allowing plants to tackle the changing climate is phenotypic plasticity, which can be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. Environmentally induced epigenetic variation mediating phenotypic plasticity might be heritable across (a)sexual generations, thus potentially enabling rapid adaptation to climate change. Here, we assessed whether epigenetic mechanisms, DNA methylation in particular, enable for local adaptation and response to increased and/or decreased temperature of natural populations of a clonal plant, Fragaria vesca (wild strawberry). We collected ramets from three populations along a temperature gradient in each of three countries covering the southern (Italy), central (Czechia), and northern (Norway) edges of the native European range of F. vesca. After clonal propagation and alteration of DNA methylation status of half of the plants via 5-azacytidine, we reciprocally transplanted clones to their home locality and to the other two climatically distinct localities within the country of their origin. At the end of the growing season, we recorded survival and aboveground biomass as fitness estimates. We found evidence for local adaptation in intermediate and cold populations in Italy and maladaptation of plants of the warmest populations in all countries. Plants treated with 5-azacytidine showed either better or worse performance in their local conditions than untreated plants. Application of 5-azacytidine also affected plant response to changed climatic conditions when transplanted to the colder or warmer locality than was their origin, and the response was, however, country-specific. We conclude that the increasing temperature will probably be the limiting factor determining F. vesca survival and distribution. DNA methylation may contribute to local adaptation and response to climatic change in natural ecosystems; however, its role may depend on the specific environmental conditions. Since adaptation mediated by epigenetic variation may occur faster than via natural selection on genetic variants, epigenetic adaptation might to some degree help plants in keeping up with the ongoing environmental crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Sammarco
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czechia
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Zuzana Münzbergová
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czechia
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Vít Latzel
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czechia
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Arntzen JW. The Midwife Toad Challenge After (Half) a Century. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.819542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary biologist Paul Kammerer (1880–1926) purportedly demonstrated that environmentally induced character states are carried over to the next generation(s), therewith providing evidence for Lamarckian evolution. Kammerer’s work is generally seen as contentious but has also been valued as daring and insightful, and Kammerer has been heralded as an academic forebear of epigenetics. Most of the more pertinent of Kammerer’s experiments on amphibians and the sea squirt have either been invalidated by replications that failed, or have been dismissed as virtually impossible. An experiment on color pattern change in the fire salamander stands out because it has been confirmed, but only with data for within a generation, so that Kammerer’s claim concerning the inheritance of acquired character states still awaits confirmation. To facilitate and encourage replicate studies, I draw attention to species and populations that would be most practical and promising to work with, for those that are into the challenge.
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Vogt G. Studying phenotypic variation and DNA methylation across development, ecology and evolution in the clonal marbled crayfish: a paradigm for investigating epigenotype-phenotype relationships in macro-invertebrates. Naturwissenschaften 2022; 109:16. [PMID: 35099618 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01782-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Animals can produce different phenotypes from the same genome during development, environmental adaptation and evolution, which is mediated by epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation. The obligatory parthenogenetic marbled crayfish, Procambarus virginalis, whose genome and methylome are fully established, proved very suitable to study this issue in detail. Comparison between developmental stages and DNA methylation revealed low expression of Dnmt methylation and Tet demethylation enzymes from the spawned oocyte to the 256 cell embryo and considerably increased expression thereafter. The global 5-methylcytosine level was 2.78% at mid-embryonic development and decreased slightly to 2.41% in 2-year-old adults. Genetically identical clutch-mates raised in the same uniform laboratory setting showed broad variation in morphological, behavioural and life history traits and differences in DNA methylation. The invasion of diverse habitats in tropical to cold-temperate biomes in the last 20 years by the marbled crayfish was associated with the expression of significantly different phenotypic traits and DNA methylation patterns, despite extremely low genetic variation on the whole genome scale, suggesting the establishment of epigenetic ecotypes. The evolution of marbled crayfish from its parent species Procambarus fallax by autotriploidy a few decades ago was accompanied by a significant increase in body size, fertility and life span, a 20% reduction of global DNA methylation and alteration of methylation in hundreds of genes, suggesting that epigenetic mechanisms were involved in speciation and fitness enhancement. The combined analysis of phenotypic traits and DNA methylation across multiple biological contexts in the laboratory and field in marbled crayfish may serve as a blueprint for uncovering the role of epigenetic mechanisms in shaping of phenotypes in macro-invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günter Vogt
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 234, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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