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Alibardi L. Progressive modifications during evolution involving epigenetic changes have determined loss of regeneration mainly in terrestrial animals: a hypothesis. Dev Biol 2024:S0012-1606(24)00187-8. [PMID: 39029569 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.07.007] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
In order to address a biological explanation for the different regenerative abilities present among animals, a new evolutionary speculation is presented. It is hypothesized that epigenetic mechanisms have lowered or erased regeneration during the evolution of terrestrial invertebrates and vertebrates. The hypothesis indicates that a broad regeneration can only occur in marine or freshwater conditions, and that life on land does not allow for high regeneration. This is due to the physical, chemical and microbial conditions present in the terrestrial environment with respect to those of the aquatic environment. The present speculation provides examples of hypothetic evolutionary animal lineages that colonized the land, such as parasitic annelids, terrestrial mollusks, arthropods and amniotes. These are the animals where regeneration is limited or absent and their injuries are only repaired through limited healing or scarring. It is submitted that this loss derived from changes in the developmental gene pathways sustaining regeneration in the aquatic environment but that cannot be expressed on land. Once regeneration was erased in terrestrial species, re-adaptation to freshwater niches could not reactivate the previously altered gene pathways that determined regeneration. Therefore a broad regeneration was no longer possible or became limited and heteromorphic in the derived, extant animals. Only in few cases extensive healing abilities or regengrow, a healing process where regeneration overlaps with somatic growth, have evolved among arthropods and amniotes. The present paper is an extension of previous speculations trying to explain in biological terms the different regenerative abilities present among metazoans.
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2
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Kokkonen AL, Searle PC, Shiozawa DK, Evans RP. Using de novo transcriptomes to decipher the relationships in cutthroat trout subspecies ( Oncorhynchus clarkii). Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13735. [PMID: 39006004 PMCID: PMC11239772 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13735] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
For almost 200 years, the taxonomy of cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii), a salmonid native to Western North America, has been in flux as ichthyologists and fisheries biologists have tried to describe the diversity within these fishes. Starting in the 1950s, Robert Behnke reexamined the cutthroat trout and identified 14 subspecies based on morphological traits, Pleistocene events, and modern geographic ranges. His designations became instrumental in recognizing and preserving the remaining diversity of cutthroat trout. Over time, molecular techniques (i.e. karyotypes, allozymes, mitochondrial DNA, SNPs, and microsatellite arrays) have largely reinforced Behnke's phylogenies, but have also revealed that some relationships are consistently weakly supported. To further resolve these relationships, we generated de novo transcriptomes for nine cutthroat subspecies, as well as a Bear River Bonneville form and two Colorado River lineages (blue and green). We present phylogenies of these subspecies generated from multiple sets of orthologous genes extracted from our transcriptomes. We confirm many of the relationships identified in previous morphological and molecular studies, as well as discuss the importance of significant differences apparent in our phylogenies from these studies within a geological perspective. Specific findings include three distinct clades: (1) Bear River Bonneville form and Yellowstone cutthroat trout; (2) Bonneville cutthroat trout (n = 2); and (3) Greenback and Rio Grande cutthroat trout. We also identify potential gene transfer between Bonneville cutthroat trout and a population of Colorado River green lineage cutthroat trout. Using these findings, it appears that additional groups warrant species-level consideration if other recent species elevations are retained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L. Kokkonen
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular BiologyBrigham Young UniversityProvoUtahUSA
| | - Peter C. Searle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | | | - R. Paul Evans
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular BiologyBrigham Young UniversityProvoUtahUSA
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3
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Fishman B, Tauber E. Epigenetics and seasonal timing in animals: a concise review. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2024; 210:565-574. [PMID: 37695537 PMCID: PMC11226475 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-023-01673-3] [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: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Seasonal adaptation in animals is a complex process that involves genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. The present review explores recent studies on epigenetic mechanisms implicated in seasonal adaptation in animals. The review is divided into three main sections, each focusing on a different epigenetic mechanism: DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA. Additionally, the review delves into the current understanding of how these epigenetic factors contribute to the regulation of circadian and seasonal cycles. Understanding these molecular mechanisms provides the first step in deciphering the complex interplay between genetics, epigenetics, and the environment in driving seasonal adaptation in animals. By exploring these mechanisms, a better understanding of how animals adapt to changing environmental conditions can be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Fishman
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eran Tauber
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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4
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Lauer ME, Kodak H, Albayrak T, Lima MR, Ray D, Simpson-Wade E, Tevs DR, Sheldon EL, Martin LB, Schrey AW. Introduced house sparrows (Passer domesticus) have greater variation in DNA methylation than native house sparrows. J Hered 2024; 115:11-18. [PMID: 37910845 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esad067] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
As a highly successful introduced species, house sparrows (Passer domesticus) respond rapidly to their new habitats, generating phenotypic patterns across their introduced range that resemble variation in native regions. Epigenetic mechanisms likely facilitate the success of introduced house sparrows by aiding particular individuals to adjust their phenotypes plastically to novel conditions. Our objective here was to investigate patterns of DNA methylation among populations of house sparrows at a broad geographic scale that included different introduction histories: invading, established, and native. We defined the invading category as the locations with introductions less than 70 years ago and the established category as the locations with greater than 70 years since introduction. We screened DNA methylation among individuals (n = 45) by epiRADseq, expecting that variation in DNA methylation among individuals from invading populations would be higher when compared with individuals from established and native populations. Invading house sparrows had the highest variance in DNA methylation of all three groups, but established house sparrows also had higher variance than native ones. The highest number of differently methylated regions were detected between invading and native populations of house sparrow. Additionally, DNA methylation was negatively correlated to time-since introduction, which further suggests that DNA methylation had a role in the successful colonization's of house sparrows.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ellesse Lauer
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro and Savannah, GA 30458 and 31419, United States
| | - Haley Kodak
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro and Savannah, GA 30458 and 31419, United States
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Tamer Albayrak
- Department of Biology, Budur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Turkey
| | - Marcos R Lima
- Laboratório de Ecologia Evolutiva e Conservação, Departamento de Biologia Animal e Vegetal, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Daniella Ray
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro and Savannah, GA 30458 and 31419, United States
| | - Emma Simpson-Wade
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro and Savannah, GA 30458 and 31419, United States
- Biomedical Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - David R Tevs
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro and Savannah, GA 30458 and 31419, United States
| | - Elizabeth L Sheldon
- USF Global Health and Infectious Disease Research Center and USF Genomics Center, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, United States
| | - Lynn B Martin
- USF Global Health and Infectious Disease Research Center and USF Genomics Center, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, United States
| | - Aaron W Schrey
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro and Savannah, GA 30458 and 31419, United States
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Chen Y, Ni P, Fu R, Murphy KJ, Wyeth RC, Bishop CD, Huang X, Li S, Zhan A. (Epi)genomic adaptation driven by fine geographical scale environmental heterogeneity after recent biological invasions. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 34:e2772. [PMID: 36316814 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Elucidating processes and mechanisms involved in rapid local adaptation to varied environments is a poorly understood but crucial component in management of invasive species. Recent studies have proposed that genetic and epigenetic variation could both contribute to ecological adaptation, yet it remains unclear on the interplay between these two components underpinning rapid adaptation in wild animal populations. To assess their respective contributions to local adaptation, we explored epigenomic and genomic responses to environmental heterogeneity in eight recently colonized ascidian (Ciona intestinalis) populations at a relatively fine geographical scale. Based on MethylRADseq data, we detected strong patterns of local environment-driven DNA methylation divergence among populations, significant epigenetic isolation by environment (IBE), and a large number of local environment-associated epigenetic loci. Meanwhile, multiple genetic analyses based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showed genomic footprints of divergent selection. In addition, for five genetically similar populations, we detected significant methylation divergence and local environment-driven methylation patterns, indicating the strong effects of local environments on epigenetic variation. From a functional perspective, a majority of functional genes, Gene Ontology (GO) terms, and biological pathways were largely specific to one of these two types of variation, suggesting partial independence between epigenetic and genetic adaptation. The methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL) analysis showed that the genetic variation explained only 18.67% of methylation variation, further confirming the autonomous relationship between these two types of variation. Altogether, we highlight the complementary interplay of genetic and epigenetic variation involved in local adaptation, which may jointly promote populations' rapid adaptive capacity and successful invasions in different environments. The findings here provide valuable insights into interactions between invaders and local environments to allow invasive species to rapidly spread, thus contributing to better prediction of invasion success and development of management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyong Chen
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Ni
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ruiying Fu
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kieran J Murphy
- Department of Biology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Russell C Wyeth
- Department of Biology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Cory D Bishop
- Department of Biology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Xuena Huang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shiguo Li
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Aibin Zhan
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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6
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Rubi TL, do Prado JR, Knowles LL, Dantzer B. Patterns of Genetic And Epigenetic Diversity Across A Range Expansion in The White-Footed Mouse ( Peromyscus Leucopus). Integr Org Biol 2023; 5:obad038. [PMID: 37942286 PMCID: PMC10628966 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obad038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Populations at the leading front of a range expansion must rapidly adapt to novel conditions. Increased epigenetic diversity has been hypothesized to facilitate adaptation and population persistence via non-genetic phenotypic variation, especially if there is reduced genetic diversity when populations expand (i.e., epigenetic diversity compensates for low genetic diversity). In this study, we use the spatial distribution of genetic and epigenetic diversity to test this hypothesis in populations of the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) sampled across a purported recent range expansion gradient. We found mixed support for the epigenetic compensation hypothesis and a lack of support for expectations for expansion populations of mice at the range edge, which likely reflects a complex history of expansion in white-footed mice in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Specifically, epigenetic diversity was not increased in the population at the purported edge of the range expansion in comparison to the other expansion populations. However, input from an additional ancestral source populations may have increased genetic diversity at this range edge population, counteracting the expected genetic consequences of expansion, as well as reducing the benefit of increased epigenetic diversity at the range edge. Future work will expand the focal populations to include expansion areas with a single founding lineage to test for the robustness of a general trend that supports the hypothesized compensation of reduced genetic diversity by epigenetic variation observed in the expansion population that was founded from a single historical source.
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Affiliation(s)
- T L Rubi
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - J R do Prado
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Escola Superior de Agricultura ‘Luiz de Queiroz’, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - L L Knowles
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - B Dantzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Liu A, Zeng F, Wang L, Zhen H, Xia X, Pei H, Dong C, Zhang Y, Ding J. High temperature influences DNA methylation and transcriptional profiles in sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius). BMC Genomics 2023; 24:491. [PMID: 37641027 PMCID: PMC10464075 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09616-7] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA methylation plays an important role in life processes by affecting gene expression, but it is still unclear how DNA methylation is controlled and how it regulates gene transcription under high temperature stress conditions in Strongylocentrotus intermedius. The potential link between DNA methylation variation and gene expression changes in response to heat stress in S. intermedius was investigated by MethylRAD-seq and RNA-seq analysis. We screened DNA methylation driver genes in order to comprehensively elucidate the regulatory mechanism of its high temperature adaptation at the DNA/RNA level. RESULTS The results revealed that high temperature stress significantly affected not only the DNA methylation and transcriptome levels of S. intermedius (P < 0.05), but also growth. MethylRAD-seq analysis revealed 12,129 CG differential methylation sites and 966 CWG differential methylation sites, and identified a total of 189 differentially CG methylated genes and 148 differentially CWG methylated genes. Based on KEGG enrichment analysis, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are mostly enriched in energy and cell division, immune, and neurological damage pathways. Further RNA-seq analysis identified a total of 1968 DEGs, of which 813 genes were upregulated and 1155 genes were downregulated. Based on the joint MethylRAD-seq and RNA-seq analysis, metabolic processes such as glycosaminoglycan degradation, oxidative phosphorylation, apoptosis, glutathione metabolism, thermogenesis, and lysosomes are regulated by DNA methylation. CONCLUSIONS High temperature affected the DNA methylation and expression levels of genes such as MOAP-1, GGT1 and RDH8, which in turn affects the metabolism of HPSE, Cox, glutathione, and retinol, thereby suppressing the immune, energy metabolism, and antioxidant functions of the organism and finally manifesting as stunted growth. In summary, the observations in the present study improve our understanding of the molecular mechanism of the response to high temperature stress in sea urchin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anzheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Fanshuang Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Luo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
| | - Hao Zhen
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Xinglong Xia
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Honglin Pei
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Changkun Dong
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Yanmin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Jun Ding
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
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Venkatesh G, Tönges S, Hanna K, Ng YL, Whelan R, Andriantsoa R, Lingenberg A, Roy S, Nagarajan S, Fong S, Raddatz G, Böhl F, Lyko F. Context-dependent DNA methylation signatures in animal livestock. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2023; 9:dvad001. [PMID: 36936885 PMCID: PMC10019019 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvad001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification that is widely conserved across animal genomes. It is widely accepted that DNA methylation patterns can change in a context-dependent manner, including in response to changing environmental parameters. However, this phenomenon has not been analyzed in animal livestock yet, where it holds major potential for biomarker development. Building on the previous identification of population-specific DNA methylation in clonal marbled crayfish, we have now generated numerous base-resolution methylomes to analyze location-specific DNA methylation patterns. We also describe the time-dependent conversion of epigenetic signatures upon transfer from one environment to another. We further demonstrate production system-specific methylation signatures in shrimp, river-specific signatures in salmon and farm-specific signatures in chicken. Together, our findings provide a detailed resource for epigenetic variation in animal livestock and suggest the possibility for origin tracing of animal products by epigenetic fingerprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetha Venkatesh
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Sina Tönges
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Katharina Hanna
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Yi Long Ng
- School of Applied Science, Republic Polytechnic, 9 Woodlands Avenue 9, Singapore 738964, Singapore
| | - Rose Whelan
- Research, Development & Innovation, Evonik Operations GmbH, Rodenbacher Chaussee 4, Hanau-Wolfgang 63457, Germany
| | - Ranja Andriantsoa
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Annika Lingenberg
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Suki Roy
- Research, Development & Innovation, Evonik Operations GmbH, Rodenbacher Chaussee 4, Hanau-Wolfgang 63457, Germany
| | - Sanjanaa Nagarajan
- Research, Development & Innovation, Evonik Operations GmbH, Rodenbacher Chaussee 4, Hanau-Wolfgang 63457, Germany
| | - Steven Fong
- School of Applied Science, Republic Polytechnic, 9 Woodlands Avenue 9, Singapore 738964, Singapore
| | - Günter Raddatz
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Florian Böhl
- Research, Development & Innovation, Evonik Operations GmbH, Rodenbacher Chaussee 4, Hanau-Wolfgang 63457, Germany
| | - Frank Lyko
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
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Whelan R, Tönges S, Böhl F, Lyko F. Epigenetic biomarkers for animal welfare monitoring. Front Vet Sci 2023; 9:1107843. [PMID: 36713882 PMCID: PMC9874107 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1107843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers for holistic animal welfare monitoring represent a considerable unmet need in veterinary medicine. Epigenetic modifications, like DNA methylation, provide important information about cellular states and environments, which makes them highly attractive for biomarker development. Up until now, much of the corresponding research has been focused on human cancers. However, the increasing availability of animal genomes and epigenomes has greatly improved our capacity for epigenetic biomarker development. In this review, we provide an overview about animal DNA methylation patterns and the technologies that enable the analysis of these patterns. We also describe the key frameworks for compound DNA methylation biomarkers, DNA methylation clocks and environment-specific DNA methylation signatures, that allow complex, context-dependent readouts about animal health and disease. Finally, we provide practical examples for how these biomarkers could be applied for health and environmental exposure monitoring, two key aspects of animal welfare assessments. Taken together, our article provides an overview about the molecular and biological foundations for the development of epigenetic biomarkers in veterinary science and their application potential in animal welfare monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Whelan
- Creavis, Evonik Operations GmbH, Hanau, Germany
| | - Sina Tönges
- Innovation Management, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Frank Lyko
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany,*Correspondence: Frank Lyko ✉
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10
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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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11
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Zhang H, Yohannes E, Rothhaupt KO. The Potential Impacts of Invasive Quagga and Zebra Mussels on Macroinvertebrate Communities: An Artificial Stone Substrate Based Field Experiment Using Stable Isotopes. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.887191] [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
Over the past decades, the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussel (D. rostriformis bugensis) invaded multiple freshwater systems and posed major threats to the overall ecosystem. In Lake Constance where zebra mussels invaded in the 1960s, the quagga mussel invasion progressed at a very high rate since 2016, providing an opportunity to study the ecological impact of both species at an early stage. We conducted a field experiment in the littoral region of the lake and monitored differences in macroinvertebrate community colonization. We used standardized stone substrates, which were blank, glued with empty shells of mussels, with living adult quagga mussels, and with living adult zebra mussels. Empty shells and the shells of both living adult quagga and zebra mussels created more colonization areas for newly settled macroinvertebrates. The abundance of newly settled quagga mussels was higher than zebra mussels, indicating the outcompeting behavior of quagga mussels. We used stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) of both dreissenids and their potential competitors, which include two snail species (New Zealand mud snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum and faucet snail Bithynia tentaculate) and additional invasive gammarid species (killer shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus), in order to investigate their feeding ecology and to evaluate their potential impacts on macroinvertebrate community. The δ13C and δ15N of neither the newly settled quagga mussels nor the well-established zebra mussels differed significantly among various treatments. Newly settled quagga mussels had higher δ13C values than newly settled zebra mussels and showed similar differences in all four stone setups. During the experimental period (with quagga and zebra mussels still coexisting in some regions), these two dreissenids exhibited clear dietary (isotopic) niche segregation. The rapid expansion of invasive quagga mussels coupled with the higher mortality rate of zebra mussels might have caused a dominance shift from zebra to quagga mussels. The study offers the first overview of the progressive invasion of quagga mussel and the reaction of zebra mussels and other newly settled macroinvertebrates, and compliments the hypothesis of facilitative associations between invasive dreissenids. Results provide an experimental benchmark by which future changes in trophic ecology and invasion dynamics can be measured across the ecosystem.
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12
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Tönges S, Venkatesh G, Andriantsoa R, Hanna K, Gatzmann F, Raddatz G, Carneiro VC, Lyko F. Location-Dependent DNA Methylation Signatures in a Clonal Invasive Crayfish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:794506. [PMID: 34957121 PMCID: PMC8695926 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.794506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification that has been repeatedly implied in organismal adaptation. However, many previous studies that have linked DNA methylation patterns to environmental parameters have been limited by confounding factors, such as cell-type heterogeneity and genetic variation. In this study, we analyzed DNA methylation variation in marbled crayfish, a clonal and invasive freshwater crayfish that is characterized by a largely tissue-invariant methylome and negligible genetic variation. Using a capture-based subgenome bisulfite sequencing approach that covers a small, variably methylated portion of the marbled crayfish genome, we identified specific and highly localized DNA methylation signatures for specimens from geographically and ecologically distinct wild populations. These results were replicated both biologically and technically by re-sampling at different time points and by using independent methodology. Finally, we show specific methylation signatures for laboratory animals and for laboratory animals that were reared at a lower temperature. Our results thus demonstrate the existence of context-dependent DNA methylation signatures in a clonal animal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Frank Lyko
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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13
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McEntire KD, Gage M, Gawne R, Hadfield MG, Hulshof C, Johnson MA, Levesque DL, Segura J, Pinter-Wollman N. Understanding Drivers of Variation and Predicting Variability Across Levels of Biological Organization. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:2119-2131. [PMID: 34259842 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Differences within a biological system are ubiquitous, creating variation in nature. Variation underlies all evolutionary processes and allows persistence and resilience in changing environments; thus, uncovering the drivers of variation is critical. The growing recognition that variation is central to biology presents a timely opportunity for determining unifying principles that drive variation across biological levels of organization. Currently, most studies that consider variation are focused at a single biological level and not integrated into a broader perspective. Here we explain what variation is and how it can be measured. We then discuss the importance of variation in natural systems, and briefly describe the biological research that has focused on variation. We outline some of the barriers and solutions to studying variation and its drivers in biological systems. Finally, we detail the challenges and opportunities that may arise when studying the drivers of variation due to the multi-level nature of biological systems. Examining the drivers of variation will lead to a reintegration of biology. It will further forge interdisciplinary collaborations and open opportunities for training diverse quantitative biologists. We anticipate that these insights will inspire new questions and new analytic tools to study the fundamental questions of what drives variation in biological systems and how variation has shaped life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Danielle L Levesque
- University of Maine College of Natural Sciences Forestry and Agriculture, School of Biology and Ecology
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14
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Berdan EL, Blanckaert A, Slotte T, Suh A, Westram AM, Fragata I. Unboxing mutations: Connecting mutation types with evolutionary consequences. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:2710-2723. [PMID: 33955064 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
A key step in understanding the genetic basis of different evolutionary outcomes (e.g., adaptation) is to determine the roles played by different mutation types (e.g., SNPs, translocations and inversions). To do this we must simultaneously consider different mutation types in an evolutionary framework. Here, we propose a research framework that directly utilizes the most important characteristics of mutations, their population genetic effects, to determine their relative evolutionary significance in a given scenario. We review known population genetic effects of different mutation types and show how these may be connected to different evolutionary outcomes. We provide examples of how to implement this framework and pinpoint areas where more data, theory and synthesis are needed. Linking experimental and theoretical approaches to examine different mutation types simultaneously is a critical step towards understanding their evolutionary significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Berdan
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Tanja Slotte
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexander Suh
- School of Biological Sciences - Organisms and the Environment, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.,Department of Organismal Biology - Systematic Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anja M Westram
- IST Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria.,Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway
| | - Inês Fragata
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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15
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Mable BK. Genomic regulation of plant mating systems: flexibility and adaptative potential. A commentary on: 'A new genetic locus for self-compatibility in the outcrossing grass species perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)'. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2021; 127:iv-vi. [PMID: 33754631 PMCID: PMC8103798 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcab024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
This article comments on: Lucy M. Slatter, Susanne Barth, Chloe Manzanares, Janaki Velmurugan, Iain Place and Daniel Thorogood A new genetic locus for self-compatibility in the outcrossing grass species perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), Annals of Botany, Volume 127, Issue 6, 7 May 2021, Pages 715–722, https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcaa140
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara K Mable
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
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16
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Vogt G. Epigenetic variation in animal populations: Sources, extent, phenotypic implications, and ecological and evolutionary relevance. J Biosci 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-021-00138-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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17
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Maiakovska O, Andriantsoa R, Tönges S, Legrand C, Gutekunst J, Hanna K, Pârvulescu L, Novitsky R, Weiperth A, Sciberras A, Deidun A, Ercoli F, Kouba A, Lyko F. Genome analysis of the monoclonal marbled crayfish reveals genetic separation over a short evolutionary timescale. Commun Biol 2021; 4:74. [PMID: 33462402 PMCID: PMC7814009 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01588-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis) represents a very recently evolved parthenogenetic freshwater crayfish species that has invaded diverse habitats in Europe and in Madagascar. However, population genetic analyses have been hindered by the homogeneous genetic structure of the population and the lack of suitable tools for data analysis. We have used whole-genome sequencing to characterize reference specimens from various known wild populations. In parallel, we established a whole-genome sequencing data analysis pipeline for the population genetic analysis of nearly monoclonal genomes. Our results provide evidence for systematic genetic differences between geographically separated populations and illustrate the emerging differentiation of the marbled crayfish genome. We also used mark-recapture population size estimation in combination with genetic data to model the growth pattern of marbled crayfish populations. Our findings uncover evolutionary dynamics in the marbled crayfish genome over a very short evolutionary timescale and identify the rapid growth of marbled crayfish populations as an important factor for ecological monitoring. Olena Maiakovska et al. provide whole-genome sequencing of the parthenogenetic and invasive marbled crayfish and develop a computational framework for data analysis of monoclonal genomes. These data and methodology allow the authors to demonstrate genetic separation between two populations and provide the first size estimate for a marbled crayfish colony, which they used to model population growth patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olena Maiakovska
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ranja Andriantsoa
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sina Tönges
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carine Legrand
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julian Gutekunst
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katharina Hanna
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lucian Pârvulescu
- Department of Biology-Chemistry, West University of Timisoara, 16A Pestalozzi St., 300115, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Roman Novitsky
- Department of Water Bioresources and Aquaculture, Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University, 25 Serhii Efremov St., Dnipro, 49600, Ukraine
| | - András Weiperth
- Department of Aquaculture, Institute for Natural Resources Conservation, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Szent István University, Páter Károly utca 1, 2100, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Arnold Sciberras
- Physical Oceanography Research Group, Department of Geosciences, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta
| | - Alan Deidun
- Physical Oceanography Research Group, Department of Geosciences, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta
| | - Fabio Ercoli
- Chair of Hydrobiology and Fisheries, Institute of Agricultural and Environment Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5D, 51006, Tartu, Estonia.,Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Antonin Kouba
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, CENAKVA, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, 38925, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Frank Lyko
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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18
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Skinner MK, Nilsson EE. Role of environmentally induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance in evolutionary biology: Unified Evolution Theory. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2021; 7:dvab012. [PMID: 34729214 PMCID: PMC8557805 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvab012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The current evolutionary biology theory primarily involves genetic alterations and random DNA sequence mutations to generate the phenotypic variation required for Darwinian natural selection to act. This neo-Darwinian evolution is termed the Modern Evolution Synthesis and has been the primary paradigm for nearly 100 years. Although environmental factors have a role in neo-Darwinian natural selection, Modern Evolution Synthesis does not consider environment to impact the basic molecular processes involved in evolution. An Extended Evolutionary Synthesis has recently developed that extends the modern synthesis to consider non-genetic processes. Over the past few decades, environmental epigenetics research has been demonstrated to regulate genetic processes and directly generate phenotypic variation independent of genetic sequence alterations. Therefore, the environment can on a molecular level through non-genetic (i.e. epigenetic) mechanisms directly influence phenotypic variation, genetic variation, inheritance and adaptation. This direct action of the environment to alter phenotype that is heritable is a neo-Lamarckian concept that can facilitate neo-Darwinian (i.e. Modern Synthesis) evolution. The integration of genetics, epigenetics, Darwinian theory, Lamarckian concepts, environment, and epigenetic inheritance provides a paradigm shift in evolution theory. The role of environmental-induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance in evolution is presented to describe a more unified theory of evolutionary biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Skinner
- **Correspondence address. Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA. Tel: +1 509-335-1524; E-mail:
| | - Eric E Nilsson
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
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19
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Conte M, Fontana E, Nebbioso A, Altucci L. Marine-Derived Secondary Metabolites as Promising Epigenetic Bio-Compounds for Anticancer Therapy. Mar Drugs 2020; 19:md19010015. [PMID: 33396307 PMCID: PMC7824531 DOI: 10.3390/md19010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sessile organisms such as seaweeds, corals, and sponges continuously adapt to both abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. This extremely complex and dynamic process often results in different forms of competition to ensure the maintenance of an ecological niche suitable for survival. A high percentage of marine species have evolved to synthesize biologically active molecules, termed secondary metabolites, as a defense mechanism against the external environment. These natural products and their derivatives may play modulatory roles in the epigenome and in disease-associated epigenetic machinery. Epigenetic modifications also represent a form of adaptation to the environment and confer a competitive advantage to marine species by mediating the production of complex chemical molecules with potential clinical implications. Bioactive compounds are able to interfere with epigenetic targets by regulating key transcriptional factors involved in the hallmarks of cancer through orchestrated molecular mechanisms, which also establish signaling interactions of the tumor microenvironment crucial to cancer phenotypes. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of secondary metabolites derived from marine organisms and their synthetic derivatives as epigenetic modulators, highlighting advantages and limitations, as well as potential strategies to improve cancer treatment.
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20
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Burnett KG, Durica DS, Mykles DL, Stillman JH. Building Bridges from Genome to Phenome: Molecules, Methods and Models—An Introduction to the Symposium. Integr Comp Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Synopsis
How stable genotypes interact with their environment to generate phenotypic variation that can be acted upon by evolutionary and ecological forces is a central focus of research across many scientific disciplines represented within SICB. The Building Bridges Symposium brought together scientists using a variety of organisms, methods, and levels of biological organization to study the emergent properties of genomes. Workshops associated with the Symposium aimed to identify the leading edges and major barriers to research in this field, and to recommend future directions that might accelerate the pace of progress. The papers included in this Symposium volume draw attention to the strength of using comparative approaches in non-model organisms to study the many aspects of genotype–environment interaction that drive phenotype variation. These contributions and the concluding white paper also illustrate the need for novel conceptual frameworks that can bridge and accommodate data and conclusions from the broad range of study systems employed by comparative and integrative biologists to address genome-to-phenome questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen G Burnett
- Grice Marine Laboratory, College of Charleston, 205 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
| | - David S Durica
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Donald L Mykles
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, 1878 Campus, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Jonathon H Stillman
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94123, USA
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