1
|
López ME, Denoyes B, Bucher E. Epigenomic and transcriptomic persistence of heat stress memory in strawberry (Fragaria vesca). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:405. [PMID: 38750420 PMCID: PMC11096098 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05093-6] [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: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In plants, epigenetic stress memory has so far been found to be largely transient. Here, we wanted to assess the heritability of heat stress-induced epigenetic and transcriptomic changes following woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) reproduction. Strawberry is an ideal model to study epigenetic inheritance because it presents two modes of reproduction: sexual (self-pollinated plants) and asexual (clonally propagated plants named daughter plants). Taking advantage of this model, we investigated whether heat stress-induced DNA methylation changes can be transmitted via asexual reproduction. RESULTS Our genome-wide study provides evidence for stress memory acquisition and maintenance in F. vesca. We found that specific DNA methylation marks or epimutations are stably transmitted over at least three asexual generations. Some of the epimutations were associated with transcriptional changes after heat stress. CONCLUSION Our findings show that the strawberry methylome and transcriptome respond with a high level of flexibility to heat stress. Notably, independent plants acquired the same epimutations and those were inherited by their asexual progenies. Overall, the asexual progenies can retain some information in the genome of past stresses encountered by their progenitors. This molecular memory, also documented at the transcriptional level, might be involved in functional plasticity and stress adaptation. Finally, these findings may contribute to novel breeding approaches for climate-ready plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María-Estefanía López
- Crop Genome Dynamics Group, Agroscope, Nyon, 1260, Switzerland
- Department of Botany and Plant Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, 1205, Switzerland
| | - Béatrice Denoyes
- INRAE, Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, Univ. Bordeaux, Villenave d'Ornon, F-33140, France
| | - Etienne Bucher
- Crop Genome Dynamics Group, Agroscope, Nyon, 1260, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mishra S, Duarte GT, Horemans N, Ruytinx J, Gudkov D, Danchenko M. Complexity of responses to ionizing radiation in plants, and the impact on interacting biotic factors. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 924:171567. [PMID: 38460702 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171567] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
In nature, plants are simultaneously exposed to different abiotic (e.g., heat, drought, and salinity) and biotic (e.g., bacteria, fungi, and insects) stresses. Climate change and anthropogenic pressure are expected to intensify the frequency of stress factors. Although plants are well equipped with unique and common defense systems protecting against stressors, they may compromise their growth and development for survival in such challenging environments. Ionizing radiation is a peculiar stress factor capable of causing clustered damage. Radionuclides are both naturally present on the planet and produced by human activities. Natural and artificial radioactivity affects plants on molecular, biochemical, cellular, physiological, populational, and transgenerational levels. Moreover, the fitness of pests, pathogens, and symbionts is concomitantly challenged in radiologically contaminated areas. Plant responses to artificial acute ionizing radiation exposure and laboratory-simulated or field chronic exposure are often discordant. Acute or chronic ionizing radiation exposure may occasionally prime the defense system of plants to better tolerate the biotic stress or could often exhaust their metabolic reserves, making plants more susceptible to pests and pathogens. Currently, these alternatives are only marginally explored. Our review summarizes the available literature on the responses of host plants, biotic factors, and their interaction to ionizing radiation exposure. Such systematic analysis contributes to improved risk assessment in radiologically contaminated areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shubhi Mishra
- Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 950 07 Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Gustavo Turqueto Duarte
- Unit for Biosphere Impact Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Nele Horemans
- Unit for Biosphere Impact Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Joske Ruytinx
- Department of Bio-engineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dmitri Gudkov
- Institute of Hydrobiology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 04210 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Maksym Danchenko
- Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 950 07 Nitra, Slovakia.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chen B, Wang M, Guo Y, Zhang Z, Zhou W, Cao L, Zhang T, Ali S, Xie L, Li Y, Zinta G, Sun S, Zhang Q. Climate-related naturally occurring epimutation and their roles in plant adaptation in A. thaliana. Mol Ecol 2024:e17356. [PMID: 38634782 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17356] [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: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
DNA methylation has been proposed to be an important mechanism that allows plants to respond to their environments sometimes entirely uncoupled from genetic variation. To understand the genetic basis, biological functions and climatic relationships of DNA methylation at a population scale in Arabidopsis thaliana, we performed a genome-wide association analysis with high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and found that ~56% on average, especially in the CHH sequence context (71%), of the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) are not tagged by SNPs. Among them, a total of 3235 DMRs are significantly associated with gene expressions and potentially heritable. 655 of the 3235 DMRs are associated with climatic variables, and we experimentally verified one of them, HEI10 (HUMAN ENHANCER OF CELL INVASION NO.10). Such epigenetic loci could be subjected to natural selection thereby affecting plant adaptation, and would be expected to be an indicator of accessions at risk. We therefore incorporated these climate-related DMRs into a gradient forest model, and found that the natural A. thaliana accessions in Southern Europe that may be most at risk under future climate change. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating DNA methylation that is independent of genetic variations, and climatic data to predict plants' vulnerability to future climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bowei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- The Center for Basic Forestry Research, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Biology Resources and Environmental Sciences, Jishou University, Jishou, China
| | - Min Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- The Center for Basic Forestry Research, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Yile Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- The Center for Basic Forestry Research, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Zihui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- The Center for Basic Forestry Research, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- The Center for Basic Forestry Research, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Lesheng Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- The Center for Basic Forestry Research, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Tianxu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- The Center for Basic Forestry Research, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Shahid Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- The Center for Basic Forestry Research, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Linan Xie
- The Center for Basic Forestry Research, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Yuhua Li
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Gaurav Zinta
- Integrative Plant AdaptOmics Lab (iPAL), Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Shanwen Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- The Center for Basic Forestry Research, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Qingzhu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- The Center for Basic Forestry Research, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ren X, Zhao J, Hu J. Non-concordant epigenetic and transcriptional responses to acute thermal stress in western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). Mol Ecol 2024:e17332. [PMID: 38529738 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17332] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of extreme temperatures. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the ability to cope with acute thermal stress is key for predicting species' responses to extreme temperature events. While many studies have focused on the individual roles of gene expression, post-transcriptional processes and epigenetic modifications in response to acute thermal stress, the relative contribution of these molecular mechanisms remains unclear. The wide range of thermal limits of western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) provides an opportunity to explore this interplay. Here, we quantified changes in gene expression, alternative splicing, DNA methylation and microRNA (miRNA) expression in muscle tissue dissected from mosquitofish immediately after reaching high (CTmax) or low thermal limit (CTmin). Although the numbers of genes showing expression and splicing changes in response to acute temperature stress were small, we found a possibly larger and non-redundant role of splicing compared to gene expression, with more genes being differentially spliced (DSGs) than differentially expressed (DEGs), and little overlap between DSGs and DEGs. We also identified a small proportion of CpGs showing significant methylation change (i.e. differentially methylated cytosines, DMCs) in fish at thermal limits; however, there was no overlap between DEGs and genes annotated with DMCs in both CTmax and CTmin experiments. The weak interplay between epigenetic modifications and gene expression was further supported by our discoveries of no differentially expressed miRNAs. These findings provide novel insights into the relative role of different molecular mechanisms underlying immediate responses to extreme temperatures and demonstrate non-concordant responses of epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms to acute temperature stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xingyue Ren
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, Center for Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Junjie Zhao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, Center for Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Juntao Hu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, Center for Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gomez-Campo K, Sanchez R, Martínez-Rugerio I, Yang X, Maher T, Osborne CC, Enriquez S, Baums IB, Mackenzie SA, Iglesias-Prieto R. Phenotypic plasticity for improved light harvesting, in tandem with methylome repatterning in reef-building corals. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17246. [PMID: 38153177 PMCID: PMC10922902 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17246] [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] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Acclimatization through phenotypic plasticity represents a more rapid response to environmental change than adaptation and is vital to optimize organisms' performance in different conditions. Generally, animals are less phenotypically plastic than plants, but reef-building corals exhibit plant-like properties. They are light dependent with a sessile and modular construction that facilitates rapid morphological changes within their lifetime. We induced phenotypic changes by altering light exposure in a reciprocal transplant experiment and found that coral plasticity is a colony trait emerging from comprehensive morphological and physiological changes within the colony. Plasticity in skeletal features optimized coral light harvesting and utilization and paralleled significant methylome and transcriptome modifications. Network-associated responses resulted in the identification of hub genes and clusters associated to the change in phenotype: inter-partner recognition and phagocytosis, soft tissue growth and biomineralization. Furthermore, we identified hub genes putatively involved in animal photoreception-phototransduction. These findings fundamentally advance our understanding of how reef-building corals repattern the methylome and adjust a phenotype, revealing an important role of light sensing by the coral animal to optimize photosynthetic performance of the symbionts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Gomez-Campo
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Robersy Sanchez
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | | | - Xiaodong Yang
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Tom Maher
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - C. Cornelia Osborne
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Susana Enriquez
- Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales Puerto Morelos, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 77580, México
| | - Iliana B. Baums
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Sally A. Mackenzie
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Valverde J, Medrano M, Herrera CM, Alonso C. Comparative epigenetic and genetic spatial structure in Mediterranean mountain plants: a multispecies study. Heredity (Edinb) 2024; 132:106-116. [PMID: 38233486 PMCID: PMC10844209 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-024-00668-3] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Changes in epigenetic states can allow individuals to cope with environmental changes. If such changes are heritable, this may lead to epigenetic adaptation. Thus, it is likely that in sessile organisms such as plants, part of the spatial epigenetic variation found across individuals will reflect the environmental heterogeneity within populations. The departure of the spatial epigenetic structure from the baseline genetic variation can help in understanding the value of epigenetic regulation in species with different breadth of optimal environmental requirements. Here, we hypothesise that in plants with narrow environmental requirements, epigenetic variability should be less structured in space given the lower variability in suitable environmental conditions. We performed a multispecies study that considered seven pairs of congeneric plant species, each encompassing a narrow endemic with habitat specialisation and a widespread species. In three populations per species we used AFLP and methylation-sensitive AFLP markers to characterise the spatial genetic and epigenetic structures. Narrow endemics showed a significantly lower epigenetic than genetic differentiation between populations. Within populations, epigenetic variation was less spatially structured than genetic variation, mainly in narrow endemics. In these species, structural equation models revealed that such pattern was associated to a lack of correlation between epigenetic and genetic information. Altogether, these results show a greater decoupling of the spatial epigenetic variation from the baseline spatial genetic pattern in endemic species. These findings highlight the value of studying genetic and epigenetic spatial variation to better understand habitat specialisation in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Javier Valverde
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain.
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Mónica Medrano
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Carlos M Herrera
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Conchita Alonso
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bogan SN, Yi SV. Potential Role of DNA Methylation as a Driver of Plastic Responses to the Environment Across Cells, Organisms, and Populations. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae022. [PMID: 38324384 PMCID: PMC10899001 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae022] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
There is great interest in exploring epigenetic modifications as drivers of adaptive organismal responses to environmental change. Extending this hypothesis to populations, epigenetically driven plasticity could influence phenotypic changes across environments. The canonical model posits that epigenetic modifications alter gene regulation and subsequently impact phenotypes. We first discuss origins of epigenetic variation in nature, which may arise from genetic variation, spontaneous epimutations, epigenetic drift, or variation in epigenetic capacitors. We then review and synthesize literature addressing three facets of the aforementioned model: (i) causal effects of epigenetic modifications on phenotypic plasticity at the organismal level, (ii) divergence of epigenetic patterns in natural populations distributed across environmental gradients, and (iii) the relationship between environmentally induced epigenetic changes and gene expression at the molecular level. We focus on DNA methylation, the most extensively studied epigenetic modification. We find support for environmentally associated epigenetic structure in populations and selection on stable epigenetic variants, and that inhibition of epigenetic enzymes frequently bears causal effects on plasticity. However, there are pervasive confounding issues in the literature. Effects of chromatin-modifying enzymes on phenotype may be independent of epigenetic marks, alternatively resulting from functions and protein interactions extrinsic of epigenetics. Associations between environmentally induced changes in DNA methylation and expression are strong in plants and mammals but notably absent in invertebrates and nonmammalian vertebrates. Given these challenges, we describe emerging approaches to better investigate how epigenetic modifications affect gene regulation, phenotypic plasticity, and divergence among populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel N Bogan
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Soojin V Yi
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Do J. The Role of Epigenetics and Contributing Impact of Stress, Multigenerational, and Developmental Factors in Opiate Addiction. Cureus 2024; 16:e53788. [PMID: 38465047 PMCID: PMC10923639 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug addiction is characterized by maladaptive neural plasticity, particularly in vulnerable individuals exposed to drugs of abuse. Epigenetic factors include environmental influences, events during development, and stress adaptations, which seem to play an important role in the neuropathogenesis of drug addiction. This critical review hypothesizes that epigenetic modulation increases an individual's susceptibility to opiate addiction in three key areas of epigenetic study: developmental, stress-related, and transgenerational effects. The widespread use of opioids for clinical and recreational purposes raises significant societal and scientific concerns. Despite the increasing prevalence of opioid abuse, there is limited comprehensive knowledge about the impact of epigenetic factors on opiate addiction manifestation. This review hypothesizes that epigenetic modulation increases susceptibility to opiate addiction, exploring three key areas of epigenetic study: developmental, stress-related, and transgenerational effects. Current literature reveals a correlation between epigenetic influences and vulnerability to drug addiction, specifically in the context of opioid use. Epigenetics, the modulation of genetic expression beyond genotypic predisposition, plays a crucial role in an individual's susceptibility to drug addiction. Studies suggest that epigenetic mechanisms, once considered static in the adult brain, continue to influence synaptic plasticity and long-term memory, particularly in the endogenous opioid system. This review examines the effects of opioids and stress on epigenetic modifications, providing evidence of increased vulnerability to opiate addiction. Animal studies demonstrate how developmental adversities and adolescent exposure to substances can induce persistent epigenetic changes, predisposing individuals to opiate addiction in adulthood. Moreover, the review explores the transgenerational effects of opioid exposure during adolescence, suggesting that functional epigenetic neuroadaptations within the nucleus accumbens can persist for multiple generations. The examination of DNA methylation patterns in opioid addicts reveals potential markers for identifying susceptibility to opiate vulnerability. A critical analysis of research reports supports the hypothesis that developmental, transgenerational, and stress-related epigenetic mechanisms have a profound role in increasing the risk of opioid addiction susceptibility. Each study confirmed that developmental, stress-related, or transgenerational epigenetic regulations have a correlation to increased opiate sensitization and vulnerability. Unfortunately, every study reviewed was unable to elucidate an epigenetic mechanism to explain a specific neuropathogenesis of opiate drug addiction vulnerability, emphasizing our lack of knowledge in the complex pathology of epigenetics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason Do
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Neylan IP, Swezey DS, Boles SE, Gross JA, Sih A, Stachowicz JJ. Within- and transgenerational stress legacy effects of ocean acidification on red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) growth and survival. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17048. [PMID: 37988193 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17048] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms by which individual organisms respond and populations adapt to global climate change is a critical challenge. The role of plasticity and acclimation, within and across generations, may be essential given the pace of change. We investigated plasticity across generations and life stages in response to ocean acidification (OA), which poses a growing threat to both wild populations and the sustainable aquaculture of shellfish. Most studies of OA on shellfish focus on acute effects, and less is known regarding the longer term carryover effects that may manifest within or across generations. We assessed these longer term effects in red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) using a multi-generational split-brood experiment. We spawned adults raised in ambient conditions to create offspring that we then exposed to high pCO2 (1180 μatm; simulating OA) or low pCO2 (450 μatm; control or ambient conditions) during the first 3 months of life. We then allowed these animals to reach maturity in ambient common garden conditions for 4 years before returning the adults into high or low pCO2 treatments for 11 months and measuring growth and reproductive potential. Early-life exposure to OA in the F1 generation decreased adult growth rate even after 5 years especially when abalone were re-exposed to OA as adults. Adult but not early-life exposure to OA negatively impacted fecundity. We then exposed the F2 offspring to high or low pCO2 treatments for the first 3 months of life in a fully factorial, split-brood design. We found negative transgenerational effects of parental OA exposure on survival and growth of F2 offspring, in addition to significant direct effects of OA on F2 survival. These results show that the negative impacts of OA can last within and across generations, but that buffering against OA conditions at critical life-history windows can mitigate these effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle P Neylan
- Department of Evolution & Ecology, UC Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Center for Population Biology, UC Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, UC Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Daniel S Swezey
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, UC Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria, Santa Rosa, California, USA
| | - Sara E Boles
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, UC Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Animal Sciences, UC Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Jackson A Gross
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, UC Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Animal Sciences, UC Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Andrew Sih
- Department of Environmental Science & Policy, UC Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - John J Stachowicz
- Department of Evolution & Ecology, UC Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Center for Population Biology, UC Davis, Davis, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Tennenbaum SR, Bortner R, Lynch C, Santymire R, Crosier A, Santiestevan J, Marinari P, Pukazhenthi BS, Comizzoli P, Hawkins MTR, Maldonado JE, Koepfli K, vonHoldt BM, DeCandia AL. Epigenetic changes to gene pathways linked to male fertility in ex situ black-footed ferrets. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13634. [PMID: 38283602 PMCID: PMC10818088 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13634] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental variation can influence the reproductive success of species managed under human care and in the wild, yet the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain largely mysterious. Molecular mechanisms such as epigenetic modifiers are important in mediating the timing and progression of reproduction in humans and model organisms, but few studies have linked epigenetic variation to reproductive fitness in wildlife. Here, we investigated epigenetic variation in black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes), an endangered North American mammal reliant on ex situ management for survival and persistence in the wild. Despite similar levels of genetic diversity in human-managed and wild-born populations, individuals in ex situ facilities exhibit reproductive problems, such as poor sperm quality. Differences across these settings suggest that an environmentally driven decline in reproductive capacity may be occurring in this species. We examined the role of DNA methylation, one well-studied epigenetic modifier, in this emergent condition. We leveraged blood, testes, and semen samples from male black-footed ferrets bred in ex situ facilities and found tissue-type specificity in DNA methylation across the genome, although 1360 Gene Ontology terms associated with male average litter size shared functions across tissues. We then constructed gene networks of differentially methylated genomic sites associated with three different reproductive phenotypes to explore the putative biological impact of variation in DNA methylation. Sperm gene networks associated with average litter size and sperm count were functionally enriched for candidate genes involved in reproduction, development, and its regulation through transcriptional repression. We propose that DNA methylation plays an important role in regulating these reproductive phenotypes, thereby impacting the fertility of male ex situ individuals. Our results provide information into how DNA methylation may function in the alteration of reproductive pathways and phenotypes in artificial environments. These findings provide early insights to conservation hurdles faced in the protection of this rare species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Robyn Bortner
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Black‐Footed Ferret Conservation CenterCarrColoradoUSA
| | | | - Rachel Santymire
- Biology DepartmentGeorgia State UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- Center for Species SurvivalSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | - Adrienne Crosier
- Center for Animal Care SciencesSmithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | - Jenny Santiestevan
- Center for Species SurvivalSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | - Paul Marinari
- Center for Animal Care SciencesSmithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | - Budhan S. Pukazhenthi
- Center for Species SurvivalSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | - Pierre Comizzoli
- Center for Species SurvivalSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | - Melissa T. R. Hawkins
- Division of Mammals, Department of Vertebrate ZoologyNational Museum of Natural HistoryWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Jesús E. Maldonado
- Center for Conservation GenomicsSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Klaus‐Peter Koepfli
- Center for Species SurvivalSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
- Smithsonian‐Mason School of ConservationGeorge Mason UniversityFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | | | - Alexandra L. DeCandia
- Center for Conservation GenomicsSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteWashingtonDCUSA
- BiologyGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDCUSA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Rahman MS, Billah MM, Rangel V, Cantu E. Elevated temperature triggers increase in global DNA methylation, 5-methylcytosine expression levels, apoptosis and NOx levels in the gonads of Atlantic sea urchin. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 269:110899. [PMID: 37673203 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2023.110899] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Global warming is one of the greatest threats to living organisms. Among them, marine invertebrates are severely impacted on reproductive fitness by rising seawater surface temperatures due to climate change (e.g., massive heat waves). In this study, we used highly sensitive radioimmunoassay, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in situ TUNEL assay, luminescence assay, and colorimetric assay techniques to investigate the impacts of high temperatures on global DNA methylation, cellular apoptosis, and nitrative stress in gonads of Atlantic sea urchin (Arbacia punctulata, a commercially important species). Young adult sea urchins were exposed to 24, 28, and 32 °C for one week in a controlled laboratory setting. High temperatures (28 and 32 °C) markedly increased global DNA methylation (around 1.1-1.5-fold in testes and ~ 1.7-fold in ovaries) and 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) levels in gonads (around 2.7- to ~5.1-fold in ovaries and ~ 3.5- to ~6.2-fold in testes) compared with controls (24 °C). The number of apoptotic nuclei in gonads was much higher in high-temperature groups. The caspase activity also increased significantly (P < 0.05) in gonads in high-temperature groups. Nitrate/nitrites (NOx, a biomarker of reactive nitrogen species) levels were increased around 2.6- to ~5.2-fold in testes and ~ 1.9- to ~3.8-fold in ovaries in high-temperature groups. Collectively, these outcomes indicate that high temperatures drastically induce global DNA methylation, 5-mC expression levels, cellular apoptosis, and NOx levels in the gonads of Atlantic sea urchin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md Saydur Rahman
- School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, USA; School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, USA.
| | - Mohammad Maruf Billah
- School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, USA
| | - Victor Rangel
- School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, USA
| | - Esmirna Cantu
- School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Gryzinska M, Kot B, Dudzinska E, Biernasiuk A, Jakubczak A, Malm A, Andraszek K. Changes in the Level of DNA Methylation in Candida albicans under the Influence of Physical and Chemical Factors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15873. [PMID: 37958861 PMCID: PMC10647513 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115873] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The effects of physical factors such as radiation (electromagnetic, microwave, infrared, laser, UVC, and X-ray) and high temperature, as well as chemical factors (controlled atmosphere) on the level of global DNA cytosine methylation in C. albicans ATCC 10231 cells were investigated. Prolonged exposure to each type of radiation significantly increased the DNA methylation level. In addition, the global methylation level in C. albicans cells increased with the incubation temperature. An increase in the percentage of methylated DNA was also noted in C. albicans cells cultured in an atmosphere with reduced O2. In contrast, in an atmosphere containing more than 3% CO2 and in anaerobic conditions, the DNA methylation level decreased relative to the control. This study showed that prolonged exposure to various types of radiation and high temperature as well as reduced O2 in the atmosphere caused a significant increase in the global DNA methylation level. This is most likely a response protecting DNA against damage, which at the same time can lead to epigenetic disorders, and in consequence can adversely affect the functioning of the organism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Gryzinska
- Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Barbara Kot
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Siedlce, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland
| | - Ewa Dudzinska
- Department of Dietetics and Nutrition Education, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Anna Biernasiuk
- Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (A.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Andrzej Jakubczak
- Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Anna Malm
- Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (A.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Katarzyna Andraszek
- Institute of Animal Science and Fisheries, University of Siedlce, 08–110 Siedlce, Poland;
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Reifová R, Ament-Velásquez SL, Bourgeois Y, Coughlan J, Kulmuni J, Lipinska AP, Okude G, Stevison L, Yoshida K, Kitano J. Mechanisms of Intrinsic Postzygotic Isolation: From Traditional Genic and Chromosomal Views to Genomic and Epigenetic Perspectives. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2023; 15:a041607. [PMID: 37696577 PMCID: PMC10547394 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsic postzygotic isolation typically appears as reduced viability or fertility of interspecific hybrids caused by genetic incompatibilities between diverged parental genomes. Dobzhansky-Muller interactions among individual genes, and chromosomal rearrangements causing problems with chromosome synapsis and recombination in meiosis, have both long been considered as major mechanisms behind intrinsic postzygotic isolation. Recent research has, however, suggested that the genetic basis of intrinsic postzygotic isolation can be more complex and involves, for example, overall divergence of the DNA sequence or epigenetic changes. Here, we review the mechanisms of intrinsic postzygotic isolation from genic, chromosomal, genomic, and epigenetic perspectives across diverse taxa. We provide empirical evidence for these mechanisms, discuss their importance in the speciation process, and highlight questions that remain unanswered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Radka Reifová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Yann Bourgeois
- DIADE, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Jenn Coughlan
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Jonna Kulmuni
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Department of Evolutionary and Population Biology, University of Amsterdam, 1012 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Agnieszka P Lipinska
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
- CNRS, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Sorbonne Université, Station Biologique de Roscoff, 29680 Roscoff, France
| | - Genta Okude
- Department of Genomics and Evolutionary Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Laurie Stevison
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA
| | - Kohta Yoshida
- Department of Genomics and Evolutionary Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Jun Kitano
- Department of Genomics and Evolutionary Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Laine VN, Sepers B, Lindner M, Gawehns F, Ruuskanen S, van Oers K. An ecologist's guide for studying DNA methylation variation in wild vertebrates. Mol Ecol Resour 2023; 23:1488-1508. [PMID: 35466564 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The field of molecular biology is advancing fast with new powerful technologies, sequencing methods and analysis software being developed constantly. Commonly used tools originally developed for research on humans and model species are now regularly used in ecological and evolutionary research. There is also a growing interest in the causes and consequences of epigenetic variation in natural populations. Studying ecological epigenetics is currently challenging, especially for vertebrate systems, because of the required technical expertise, complications with analyses and interpretation, and limitations in acquiring sufficiently high sample sizes. Importantly, neglecting the limitations of the experimental setup, technology and analyses may affect the reliability and reproducibility, and the extent to which unbiased conclusions can be drawn from these studies. Here, we provide a practical guide for researchers aiming to study DNA methylation variation in wild vertebrates. We review the technical aspects of epigenetic research, concentrating on DNA methylation using bisulfite sequencing, discuss the limitations and possible pitfalls, and how to overcome them through rigid and reproducible data analysis. This review provides a solid foundation for the proper design of epigenetic studies, a clear roadmap on the best practices for correct data analysis and a realistic view on the limitations for studying ecological epigenetics in vertebrates. This review will help researchers studying the ecological and evolutionary implications of epigenetic variation in wild populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veronika N Laine
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Bernice Sepers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Melanie Lindner
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Fleur Gawehns
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Suvi Ruuskanen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Su Y, Liu L, Deng Q, Lü Z, Wang Z, He Z, Wang T. Epigenetic architecture of Pseudotaxus chienii: Revealing the synergistic effects of climate and soil variables. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10511. [PMID: 37701023 PMCID: PMC10493196 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10511] [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: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Whether conifers can withstand environmental changes especially temperature fluctuations has been controversial. Epigenetic analysis may provide new perspectives for solving the issue. Pseudotaxus chienii is an endangered gymnosperm species endemic to China. In this study, we have examined the genetic and epigenetic variations in its natural populations aiming to disentangle the synergistic effects of climate and soil on its population (epi)genetic differentiation by using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation-sensitive AFLP (MSAP) techniques. We identified 23 AFLP and 26, 7, and 5 MSAP outliers in P. chienii. Twenty-one of the putative adaptive AFLP loci were found associated with climate and/or soil variables including precipitation, temperature, K, Fe, Zn, and Cu, whereas 21, 7, and 4 MSAP outliers were significantly related to precipitation of wettest month (Bio13), precipitation driest of month (Bio14), percent tree cover (PTC), and soil Fe, Mn, and Cu compositions. Total precipitation and precipitation in the driest seasons were the most influential factors for genetic and epigenetic variation, respectively. In addition, a high full-methylation level and a strong correlation between genetic and epigenetic variation were detected in P. chienii. Climate is found of greater importance than soil in shaping adaptive (epi)genetic differentiation, and the synergistic effects of climate and climate-soil variables were also observed. The identified climate and soil variables should be considered when applying ex situ conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingjuan Su
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Research Institute of Sun Yat‐sen University in ShenzhenShenzhenChina
| | - Li Liu
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Qi Deng
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- School of MedicineGuangxi University of Science and TechnologyLiuzhouChina
| | - Zhuyan Lü
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhen Wang
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ziqing He
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ting Wang
- Research Institute of Sun Yat‐sen University in ShenzhenShenzhenChina
- College of Life SciencesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Li Y, Xia M, Zhao X, Hou H. Water temperature and chlorophyll a density drive the genetic and epigenetic variation of Vallisneria natans across a subtropical freshwater lake. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10434. [PMID: 37589037 PMCID: PMC10425707 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10434] [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: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant genetic diversity differs in habitat's oscillations, especially species distributed under heterogeneous environmental conditions. Freshwater ecosystems are vulnerable to biotic and abiotic impacts, which affect the genetic and epigenetic variations in aquatic plants. The extent of environmental heterogeneous attributes can be examined based on genetic and epigenetic variations. Such variations under environmental gradient can provide evidence for understanding the correlations between rapid environmental changes and species evolution. In this study, we performed amplified fragment polymorphism length and methylated-sensitive amplified polymorphism analysis to depict the genetic and epigenetic variations of Vallisneria natans in a subtropical lake. Results showed that this species maintained a relatively high genetic diversity (mean H E = 0.320, I = 0.474, PPL = 85.93%) and epigenetic variation (mean eH E = 0.282, eI = 0.428, ePPL = 83.91%). Water body temperature and chlorophyll a density were positively correlated to the genetic and epigenetic variations. The clonal generates of V. natans depicted a relative high methylation level and shew ancestral scenario between the genet and the second clonal generation. These findings revealed that species diversity is unevenly distributed under environmental heterogeneity, even at a fine geographic scale. Environmental characteristics in relation to temperature and chlorophyll a should be considered in the analysis of the genetic and epigenetic variations. Additionally, epigenetic variations between genets and ramets should be considered with caution when applied to analysis of other aquatic species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yixian Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Manli Xia
- The State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xuyao Zhao
- The State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Hongwei Hou
- The State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
van Oers K, van den Heuvel K, Sepers B. The Epigenetics of Animal Personality. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 150:105194. [PMID: 37094740 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105194] [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: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Animal personality, consistent individual differences in behaviour, is an important concept for understanding how individuals vary in how they cope with environmental challenges. In order to understand the evolutionary significance of animal personality, it is crucial to understand the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation are hypothesised to play a major role in explaining variation in phenotypic changes in response to environmental alterations. Several characteristics of DNA methylation also align well with the concept of animal personality. In this review paper, we summarise the current literature on the role that molecular epigenetic mechanisms may have in explaining personality variation. We elaborate on the potential for epigenetic mechanisms to explain behavioural variation, behavioural development and temporal consistency in behaviour. We then suggest future routes for this emerging field and point to potential pitfalls that may be encountered. We conclude that a more inclusive approach is needed for studying the epigenetics of animal personality and that epigenetic mechanisms cannot be studied without considering the genetic background.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands; Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Krista van den Heuvel
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands; Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bernice Sepers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands; Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Wageningen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Wang X, Cong R, Li A, Wang W, Zhang G, Li L. Experimental DNA Demethylation Reduces Expression Plasticity and Thermal Tolerance in Pacific Oysters. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023:10.1007/s10126-023-10208-5. [PMID: 37079122 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-023-10208-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Increasing seawater temperatures pose a great threat to marine organisms, especially those settled in fluctuating intertidal areas. DNA methylation, which can be induced by environmental variation, can influence gene expression and mediate phenotypic plasticity. However, the regulatory mechanisms of DNA methylation in gene expression-mediated adaptation to environmental stress have rarely been elucidated. In this study, DNA demethylation experiments were conducted on a typical intertidal species, the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), to determine the direct role of DNA methylation in regulating gene expression and adaptability under thermal stress. The global methylation level and the expression level of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3a) showed an accordant variation trend under high temperatures, supporting that the genomic methylation status was catalyzed by DNMTs. DNA methylation inhibitor 5-Azacytidine (5-Aza) effectively inhibited DNA methylation level and decreased methylation plasticity at the 6th hour in thermal conditions. In total, 88 genes were identified as candidate DNA methylation-regulated thermal response genes; they exhibited reduced expression plasticity in response to heat stress, possibly caused by the decreased methylation plasticity. Post-heat shock, the thermal tolerance indicated by the survival curve was reduced when oysters were pretreated with 5-Aza, meaning that DNA demethylation negatively affected thermal adaptation in oysters. This study provides direct evidence for the crucial role of DNA methylation in mediating stress adaptation in marine invertebrates and contributes to the theoretical foundations underlying marine resource conservation and aquaculture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinxing Wang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science,, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071, Shandong, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Ecological Mariculture, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Oyster Seed Industry, 266000, Qingdao, China
| | - Rihao Cong
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science,, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071, Shandong, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Ecological Mariculture, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Oyster Seed Industry, 266000, Qingdao, China
| | - Ao Li
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science,, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071, Shandong, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Ecological Mariculture, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Oyster Seed Industry, 266000, Qingdao, China
| | - Wei Wang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science,, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071, Shandong, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Ecological Mariculture, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Oyster Seed Industry, 266000, Qingdao, China
| | - Guofan Zhang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science,, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071, Shandong, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Ecological Mariculture, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Oyster Seed Industry, 266000, Qingdao, China
| | - Li Li
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science,, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071, Shandong, Qingdao, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China.
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Ecological Mariculture, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Oyster Seed Industry, 266000, Qingdao, China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Zhang Y, He XJ, Barron AB, Li Z, Jin MJ, Wang ZL, Huang Q, Zhang LZ, Wu XB, Yan WY, Zeng ZJ. The diverging epigenomic landscapes of honeybee queens and workers revealed by multiomic sequencing. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 155:103929. [PMID: 36906046 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.103929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The role of the epigenome in phenotypic plasticity is unclear presently. Here we used a multiomics approach to explore the nature of the epigenome in developing honey bee (Apis mellifera) workers and queens. Our data clearly showed distinct queen and worker epigenomic landscapes during the developmental process. Differences in gene expression between workers and queens become more extensive and more layered during the process of development. Genes known to be important for caste differentiation were more likely to be regulated by multiple epigenomic systems than other differentially expressed genes. We confirmed the importance of two candidate genes for caste differentiation by using RNAi to manipulate the expression of two genes that differed in expression between workers and queens were regulated by multiple epigenomic systems. For both genes the RNAi manipulation resulted in a decrease in weight and fewer ovarioles of newly emerged queens compared to controls. Our data show that the distinct epigenomic landscapes of worker and queen bees differentiate during the course of larval development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China; Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Xu Jiang He
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China; Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Andrew B Barron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Zhen Li
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China; Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Meng Jie Jin
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China; Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Zi Long Wang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China; Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Qiang Huang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China; Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Li Zhen Zhang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China; Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Xiao Bo Wu
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China; Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Wei Yu Yan
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China; Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Zhi Jiang Zeng
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China; Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Epigenetic Changes Occurring in Plant Inbreeding. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065407. [PMID: 36982483 PMCID: PMC10048984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Inbreeding is the crossing of closely related individuals in nature or a plantation or self-pollinating plants, which produces plants with high homozygosity. This process can reduce genetic diversity in the offspring and decrease heterozygosity, whereas inbred depression (ID) can often reduce viability. Inbred depression is common in plants and animals and has played a significant role in evolution. In the review, we aim to show that inbreeding can, through the action of epigenetic mechanisms, affect gene expression, resulting in changes in the metabolism and phenotype of organisms. This is particularly important in plant breeding because epigenetic profiles can be linked to the deterioration or improvement of agriculturally important characteristics.
Collapse
|
24
|
Bock DG, Liu J, Novikova P, Rieseberg LH. Long-read sequencing in ecology and evolution: Understanding how complex genetic and epigenetic variants shape biodiversity. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:1229-1235. [PMID: 36855925 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dan G Bock
- Department of Botany, Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jianquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, Institute of Innovation Ecology, School of Life Science and the Supercomputing Center, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Polina Novikova
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Loren H Rieseberg
- Department of Botany, Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Gallusci P, Agius DR, Moschou PN, Dobránszki J, Kaiserli E, Martinelli F. Deep inside the epigenetic memories of stressed plants. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 28:142-153. [PMID: 36404175 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence sheds light on the peculiar type of plant intelligence. Plants have developed complex molecular networks that allow them to remember, choose, and make decisions depending on the stress stimulus, although they lack a nervous system. Being sessile, plants can exploit these networks to optimize their resources cost-effectively and maximize their fitness in response to multiple environmental stresses. Even more interesting is the capability to transmit this experience to the next generation(s) through epigenetic modifications that add to the classical genetic inheritance. In this opinion article, we present concepts and perspectives regarding the capabilities of plants to sense, perceive, remember, re-elaborate, respond, and to some extent transmit to their progeny information to adapt more efficiently to climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Gallusci
- Ecophysiologie et Génomique Fonctionnelle de la Vigne (EGFV), University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRAE, ISVV, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Dolores R Agius
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta; Ġ.F. Abela Junior College, Ġuzè Debono Square, Msida, Malta
| | - Panagiotis N Moschou
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Judit Dobránszki
- Centre for Agricultural Genomics and Biotechnology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Eirini Kaiserli
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Zhao Y, Hu J, Wu J, Li Z. ChIP-seq profiling of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 in an invasive insect, Bactrocera dorsalis. Front Genet 2023; 14:1108104. [PMID: 36911387 PMCID: PMC9996634 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1108104] [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: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: While it has been suggested that histone modifications can facilitate animal responses to rapidly changing environments, few studies have profiled whole-genome histone modification patterns in invasive species, leaving the regulatory landscape of histone modifications in invasive species unclear. Methods: Here, we screen genome-wide patterns of two important histone modifications, trimethylated Histone H3 Lysine 4 (H3K4me3) and trimethylated Histone H3 Lysine 27 (H3K27me3), in adult thorax muscles of a notorious invasive pest, the Oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq). Results: We identified promoters featured by the occupancy of H3K4me3, H3K27me3 or bivalent histone modifications that were respectively annotated with unique genes key to muscle development and structure maintenance. In addition, we found H3K27me3 occupied the entire body of genes, where the average enrichment was almost constant. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that H3K4me3 is associated with active gene transcription, and H3K27me3 is mostly associated with transcriptional repression. Importantly, we identified genes and putative motifs modified by distinct histone modification patterns that may possibly regulate flight activity. Discussion: These findings provide the first evidence of histone modification signature in B. dorsalis, and will be useful for future studies of epigenetic signature in other invasive insect species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 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, China
| | - Jiajiao Wu
- Technology Center of Guangzhou Customs, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhihong Li
- Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Shi M, Wang C, Wang P, Zhang M, Liao W. Methylation in DNA, histone, and RNA during flowering under stress condition: A review. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 324:111431. [PMID: 36028071 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Flowering is the most critical transition period in the whole lifecycle of plants, and it is a highly sensitive period to stress. New combinations of temperature, drought stress, carbon dioxide and other abiotic/biotic conditions resulting from contemporary climate change affect the flowering process. Plants have evolved several strategies to deal with environmental stresses, including epigenetic modifications. Numerous studies show that environmental stresses trigger methylation/demethylation during flowering to preserve/accelerate plant lifecycle. What's more, histone and DNA methylation can be induced to respond to stresses, resulting in changes of flowering gene expression and enhancing stress tolerance in plants. Furthermore, RNA methylation may influence stress-regulated flowering by regulating mRNA stability and antioxidant mechanism. Our review presents the involvement of methylation in stress-repressed and stress-induced flowering. The crosstalk between methylation and small RNAs, phytohormones and exogenous substances (such as salicylic acid, nitric oxide) during flowering under different stresses were discussed. The latest regulatory evidence of RNA methylation in stress-regulated flowering was collected for the first time. Meanwhile, the limited evidences of methylation in biotic stress-induced flowering were summarized. Thus, the review provides insights into understanding of methylation mechanism in stress-regulated flowering and makes use for the development of regulating plant flowering at epigenetic level in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meimei Shi
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Chunlei Wang
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Peng Wang
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Meiling Zhang
- College of Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Weibiao Liao
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Kosová V, Latzel V, Hadincová V, Münzbergová Z. Effect of DNA methylation, modified by 5-azaC, on ecophysiological responses of a clonal plant to changing climate. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17262. [PMID: 36241768 PMCID: PMC9568541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22125-z] [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: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is expected to be an important mechanism behind phenotypic plasticity. Whether epigenetic regulation affects species ecophysiological adaptations to changing climate remains largely unexplored. We compared ecophysiological traits between individuals treated with 5-azaC, assumed to lead to DNA demethylation, with control individuals of a clonal grass originating from and grown under different climates, simulating different directions and magnitudes of climate change. We linked the ecophysiological data to proxies of fitness. Main effects of plant origin and cultivating conditions predicted variation in plant traits, but 5-azaC did not. Effects of 5-azaC interacted with conditions of cultivation and plant origin. The direction of the 5-azaC effects suggests that DNA methylation does not reflect species long-term adaptations to climate of origin and species likely epigenetically adjusted to the conditions experienced during experiment set-up. Ecophysiology translated to proxies of fitness, but the intensity and direction of the relationships were context dependent and affected by 5-azaC. The study suggests that effects of DNA methylation depend on conditions of plant origin and current climate. Direction of 5-azaC effects suggests limited role of epigenetic modifications in long-term adaptation of plants. It rather facilitates fast adaptations to temporal fluctuations of the environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Kosová
- grid.4491.80000 0004 1937 116XDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vít Latzel
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Věroslava Hadincová
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Münzbergová
- grid.4491.80000 0004 1937 116XDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic ,grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Matlosz S, Sigurgeirsson B, Franzdóttir SR, Pálsson A, Jónsson ZO. DNA methylation differences during development distinguish sympatric morphs of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus). Mol Ecol 2022; 31:4739-4761. [PMID: 35848921 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Changes in DNA methylation in specific coding or non-coding regions can influence development and potentially divergence in traits within species and groups. While the impact of epigenetic variation on developmental pathways associated with evolutionary divergence is the focus of intense investigation, few studies have looked at recently diverged systems. Phenotypic diversity between closely related populations of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), which diverged within the last 10 000 years, offers an interesting ecological model to address such effects. Using bisulfite sequencing, we studied general DNA methylation patterns during development in the four sympatric morphs of Arctic charr from Lake Thingvallavatn. The data revealed strong differences between developmental timepoints and between morphs (mainly along the benthic - limnetic axis), both at single CpG sites and in 1,000bp-regions. Genes located close to differentially methylated CpG sites were involved in nucleosome assembly, regulation of osteoclast differentiation, and cell-matrix adhesion. Differentially methylated regions were enriched in tRNA and rRNA sequences, and half of them were located close to transcription start sites. The expression of 14 genes showing methylation differences over time or between morphs was further investigated by qPCR and nine of these were found to be differentially expressed between morphs. Four genes (ARHGEF37-like, H3-like, MPP3 and MEGF9) showed a correlation between methylation and expression. Lastly, histone gene clusters displayed interesting methylation differences between timepoints and morphs, as well as intragenic methylation variation. The results presented here provide a motivation for further studies on the contribution of epigenetic traits, such as DNA methylation, to phenotypic diversity and developmental mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastien Matlosz
- Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | | | | | - Arnar Pálsson
- Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Zophonías O Jónsson
- Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
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.
Collapse
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
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Lehmair TA, Poschlod P, Reisch C. The impact of environment on genetic and epigenetic variation in Trifolium pratense populations from two contrasting semi-natural grasslands. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:211406. [PMID: 35620000 PMCID: PMC9114947 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Central European grasslands, such as calcareous grasslands and oat-grass meadows, are characterized by diverse environmental conditions and management regimes. Therefore, we aimed to determine potential differences in genetic and epigenetic variation patterns between the contrasting habitats and to identify the drivers of genetic and epigenetic variation. We investigated the genetic and epigenetic variation of the ecologically variable plant species Trifolium pratense L. applying amplified fragment length polymorphism and methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism analyses. We observed low levels of genetic and epigenetic differentiation among populations and between habitat types. Genetic and epigenetic variations were not interdependent. Thus, genetic variation was significantly isolated by habitat dissimilarity, whereas epigenetic variation was affected by environment. More specifically, we observed a significant correlation of epigenetic diversity with soil moisture and soil pH (the latter potentially resulting in phosphorus limitation). Genetic variation was, therefore, affected more strongly by habitat-specific environmental conditions induced by land use-related disturbance and gene flow patterns, while epigenetic variation was driven by challenging environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Anna Lehmair
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, University of Regensburg, Institute of Plant Sciences, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Peter Poschlod
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, University of Regensburg, Institute of Plant Sciences, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Reisch
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, University of Regensburg, Institute of Plant Sciences, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Genetic and Epigenetic Signatures Associated with the Divergence of Aquilegia Species. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13050793. [PMID: 35627179 PMCID: PMC9141525 DOI: 10.3390/genes13050793] [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: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Widely grown in the Northern Hemisphere, the genus Aquilegia (columbine) is a model system in adaptive radiation research. While morphological variations between species have been associated with environmental factors, such as pollinators, how genetic and epigenetic factors are involved in the rapid divergence in this genus remains under investigated. In this study, we surveyed the genomes and DNA methylomes of ten Aquilegia species, representative of the Asian, European and North American lineages. Our analyses of the phylogeny and population structure revealed high genetic and DNA methylomic divergence across these three lineages. By multi-level genome-wide scanning, we identified candidate genes exhibiting lineage-specific genetic or epigenetic variation patterns that were signatures of inter-specific divergence. We demonstrated that these species-specific genetic variations and epigenetic variabilities are partially independent and are both functionally related to various biological processes vital to adaptation, including stress tolerance, cell reproduction and DNA repair. Our study provides an exploratory overview of how genetic and epigenetic signatures are associated with the diversification of the Aquilegia species.
Collapse
|
35
|
Lamka GF, Harder AM, Sundaram M, Schwartz TS, Christie MR, DeWoody JA, Willoughby JR. Epigenetics in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.871791] [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
Epigenetic variation is often characterized by modifications to DNA that do not alter the underlying nucleotide sequence, but can influence behavior, morphology, and physiological phenotypes by affecting gene expression and protein synthesis. In this review, we consider how the emerging field of ecological epigenetics (eco-epi) aims to use epigenetic variation to explain ecologically relevant phenotypic variation and predict evolutionary trajectories that are important in conservation. Here, we focus on how epigenetic data have contributed to our understanding of wild populations, including plants, animals, and fungi. First, we identified published eco-epi literature and found that there was limited taxonomic and ecosystem coverage and that, by necessity of available technology, these studies have most often focused on the summarized epigenome rather than locus- or nucleotide-level epigenome characteristics. We also found that while many studies focused on adaptation and heritability of the epigenome, the field has thematically expanded into topics such as disease ecology and epigenome-based ageing of individuals. In the second part of our synthesis, we discuss key insights that have emerged from the epigenetic field broadly and use these to preview the path toward integration of epigenetics into ecology. Specifically, we suggest moving focus to nucleotide-level differences in the epigenome rather than whole-epigenome data and that we incorporate several facets of epigenome characterization (e.g., methylation, chromatin structure). Finally, we also suggest that incorporation of behavior and stress data will be critical to the process of fully integrating eco-epi data into ecology, conservation, and evolutionary biology.
Collapse
|
36
|
Aigner GP, Pittl V, Fiechtner B, Egger B, Šrut M, Höckner M. Common mechanisms cannot explain time- and dose-dependent DNA methylation changes in earthworms exposed to cadmium. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 812:151468. [PMID: 34742794 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
DNA hypermethylation caused by environmental pollutants like cadmium (Cd) has already been demonstrated in many invertebrates, including earthworms. However, the exact epigenetic mechanisms that drive this hypermethylation are largely unknown and even basic DNA methylation and demethylation processes are hardly characterized. Therefore, we used an important bioindicator, the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris, as a model organism to determine time- and dose-dependent effects of Cd on global and gene-specific DNA methylation and its underlying mechanisms. We revealed Cd-induced adenine and cytosine hypermethylation using specific antibodies in dot blots and found that the methylation level of adenine compared to cytosine changed even to a bigger extent. However, the levels of hydroxymethylated cytosine did not differ between treatment groups. General methylation and demethylation components like methyltransferases (DNMT1 and 3), and ten-eleven translocation (TET) genes were confirmed in L. terrestris by quantitative RealTime PCR. However, neither gene expression, nor DNMT and TET enzyme activity showed significant differences in the Cd exposure groups. Using bisulfite conversion and sequencing, gene body methylation (gbm) of metallothionein 2 (MT2), one of the most important detoxification proteins, was characterized. Cd-dependent changes in MT2 gbm could, however, not be correlated to MT2 gene activity evaluated by quantitative RealTime PCR. Future directions as well as missing links are discussed in the present study hinting towards the importance of studying epigenetic marks and mechanistic insights in a broad variety of species to deepen our knowledge on the effects of changing environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard P Aigner
- University of Innsbruck, Institute of Zoology, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Verena Pittl
- University of Innsbruck, Institute of Zoology, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Birgit Fiechtner
- University of Innsbruck, Institute of Zoology, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bernhard Egger
- University of Innsbruck, Institute of Zoology, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Maja Šrut
- University of Innsbruck, Institute of Zoology, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Martina Höckner
- University of Innsbruck, Institute of Zoology, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Kumar V, Sharma A, Tripathi V. Physiological effects of food availability times in higher vertebrates. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:274142. [PMID: 35089336 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.239004] [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: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Food availability is a crucial ecological determinant of population size and community structure, and controls various life-history traits in most, if not all, species. Food availability is not constant; there are daily and seasonal differences in food abundance. When coupled to appetite (urge to eat), this is expressed as the eating schedule of a species. Food availability times affect daily and seasonal physiology and behaviour of organisms both directly (by affecting metabolic homeostasis) and indirectly (by altering synchronization of endogenous rhythms). Restricted food availability times may, for example, constrain reproductive output by limiting the number or quality of offspring or the number of reproductive attempts, as has been observed for nesting frequency in birds. Consuming food at the wrong time of day reduces the reproductive ability of a seasonal breeder, and can result in quality-quantity trade-offs of offspring. The food availability pattern serves as a conditioning environment, and can shape the activity of the genome by influencing chromatin activation/silencing; however, the functional linkage of food availability times with epigenetic control of physiology is only beginning to emerge. This Review gives insights into how food availability times, affected by changes in eating schedules and/or by alterations in feeding environment or lifestyle, could have hitherto unknown consequences on the physiology and reproductive fitness of seasonally breeding vertebrates and those that reproduce year round.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vinod Kumar
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Aakansha Sharma
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Vatsala Tripathi
- Department of Zoology, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110003, India
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Cavedon M, vonHoldt B, Hebblewhite M, Hegel T, Heppenheimer E, Hervieux D, Mariani S, Schwantje H, Steenweg R, Theoret J, Watters M, Musiani M. Genomic legacy of migration in endangered caribou. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1009974. [PMID: 35143486 PMCID: PMC8830729 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Wide-ranging animals, including migratory species, are significantly threatened by the effects of habitat fragmentation and habitat loss. In the case of terrestrial mammals, this results in nearly a quarter of species being at risk of extinction. Caribou are one such example of a wide-ranging, migratory, terrestrial, and endangered mammal. In populations of caribou, the proportion of individuals considered as "migrants" can vary dramatically. There is therefore a possibility that, under the condition that migratory behavior is genetically determined, those individuals or populations that are migratory will be further impacted by humans, and this impact could result in the permanent loss of the migratory trait in some populations. However, genetic determination of migration has not previously been studied in an endangered terrestrial mammal. We examined migratory behavior of 139 GPS-collared endangered caribou in western North America and carried out genomic scans for the same individuals. Here we determine a genetic subdivision of caribou into a Northern and a Southern genetic cluster. We also detect >50 SNPs associated with migratory behavior, which are in genes with hypothesized roles in determining migration in other organisms. Furthermore, we determine that propensity to migrate depends upon the proportion of ancestry in individual caribou, and thus on the evolutionary history of its migratory and sedentary subspecies. If, as we report, migratory behavior is influenced by genes, caribou could be further impacted by the loss of the migratory trait in some isolated populations already at low numbers. Our results indicating an ancestral genetic component also suggest that the migratory trait and their associated genetic mutations could not be easily re-established when lost in a population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cavedon
- Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Bridgett vonHoldt
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Troy Hegel
- Yukon Department of Environment, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Heppenheimer
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Dave Hervieux
- Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Branch, Alberta Environment and Parks, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
| | - Stefano Mariani
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Schwantje
- Wildlife and Habitat Branch, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Government of British Columbia, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Robin Steenweg
- Pacific Region, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jessica Theoret
- Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Megan Watters
- Land and Resource Specialist, Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Marco Musiani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Veterinary Medicine (Joint Appointment), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Frank Lyko
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Aluru N, Fields DM, Shema S, Skiftesvik AB, Browman HI. Gene expression and epigenetic responses of the marine Cladoceran, Evadne nordmanni, and the copepod, Acartia clausi, to elevated CO 2. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:16776-16785. [PMID: 34938472 PMCID: PMC8668794 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Characterizing the capacity of marine organisms to adapt to climate change related drivers (e.g., pCO2 and temperature), and the possible rate of this adaptation, is required to assess their resilience (or lack thereof) to these drivers. Several studies have hypothesized that epigenetic markers such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and noncoding RNAs, act as drivers of adaptation in marine organisms, especially corals. However, this hypothesis has not been tested in zooplankton, a keystone organism in marine food webs. The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that acute ocean acidification (OA) exposure alters DNA methylation in two zooplanktonic species-copepods (Acartia clausii) and cladocerans (Evadne nordmanii). We exposed these two species to near-future OA conditions (400 and 900 ppm pCO2) for 24 h and assessed transcriptional and DNA methylation patterns using RNA sequencing and Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS). OA exposure caused differential expression of genes associated with energy metabolism, cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix functions, hypoxia and one-carbon metabolism. Similarly, OA exposure also caused altered DNA methylation patterns in both species but the effect of these changes on gene expression and physiological effects remains to be determined. The results from this study form the basis for studies investigating the potential role of epigenetic mechanisms in OA induced phenotypic plasticity and/or adaptive responses in zooplanktonic organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neelakanteswar Aluru
- Biology DepartmentWoods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionWoods HoleMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Steven Shema
- Institute of Marine ResearchAustevoll Research Station, Ecosystem Acoustics GroupStorebøNorway
| | - Anne Berit Skiftesvik
- Institute of Marine ResearchAustevoll Research Station, Ecosystem Acoustics GroupStorebøNorway
| | - Howard I. Browman
- Institute of Marine ResearchAustevoll Research Station, Ecosystem Acoustics GroupStorebøNorway
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Abstract
Although research performed in cities will not uncover new evolutionary mechanisms, it could provide unprecedented opportunities to examine the interplay of evolutionary forces in new ways and new avenues to address classic questions. However, while the variation within and among cities affords many opportunities to advance evolutionary biology research, careful alignment between how cities are used and the research questions being asked is necessary to maximize the insights that can be gained. In this review, we develop a framework to help guide alignment between urban evolution research approaches and questions. Using this framework, we highlight what has been accomplished to date in the field of urban evolution and identify several up-and-coming research directions for further expansion. We conclude that urban environments can be used as evolutionary test beds to tackle both new and long-standing questions in evolutionary biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Diamond
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA;,
| | - Ryan A. Martin
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA;,
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Layton KKS, Bradbury IR. Harnessing the power of multi-omics data for predicting climate change response. J Anim Ecol 2021; 91:1064-1072. [PMID: 34679193 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Predicting how species will respond to future climate change is of central importance in the midst of the global biodiversity crisis, and recent work has demonstrated the utility of population genomics for improving these predictions. Here, we suggest a broadening of the approach to include other types of genomic variants that play an important role in adaptation, like structural (e.g. copy number variants) and epigenetic variants (e.g. DNA methylation). These data could provide additional power for forecasting response, especially in weakly structured or panmictic species. Incorporating structural and epigenetic variation into estimates of climate change vulnerability, or maladaptation, may not only improve prediction power but also provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underpinning species' response to climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kara K S Layton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Ian R Bradbury
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Leitwein M, Laporte M, Le Luyer J, Mohns K, Normandeau E, Withler R, Bernatchez L. Epigenomic modifications induced by hatchery rearing persist in germ line cells of adult salmon after their oceanic migration. Evol Appl 2021; 14:2402-2413. [PMID: 34745334 PMCID: PMC8549618 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human activities induce direct or indirect selection pressure on natural population and may ultimately affect population's integrity. While numerous conservation programs aimed to minimize human-induced genomic variation, human-induced environmental variation may generate epigenomic variation potentially affecting fitness through phenotypic modifications. Major questions remain pertaining to how much epigenomic variation arises from environmental heterogeneity, whether this variation can persist throughout life, and whether it can be transmitted across generations. We performed whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) on the sperm of genetically indistinguishable hatchery and wild-born migrating adults of Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) from two geographically distant rivers at different epigenome scales. Our results showed that coupling WGBS with fine-scale analyses (local and chromosomal) allows the detection of parallel early-life hatchery-induced epimarks that differentiate wild from hatchery-reared salmon. Four chromosomes and 183 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) displayed a significant signal of methylation differentiation between hatchery and wild-born Coho salmon. Moreover, those early-life epimarks persisted in germ line cells despite about 1.5 year spent in the ocean following release from hatchery, opening the possibility for transgenerational inheritance. Our results strengthen the hypothesis that epigenomic modifications environmentally induced during early-life development persist in germ cells of adults until reproduction, which could potentially impact their fitness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maeva Leitwein
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS)Université LavalQuébecQCCanada
| | - Martin Laporte
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS)Université LavalQuébecQCCanada
| | - Jeremy Le Luyer
- IfremerIRDInstitut Louis‐MalardéUniv Polynésie Française, EIOTahitiFrance
| | - Kayla Mohns
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans CanadaPacific Biological StationNanaimoBCCanada
| | - Eric Normandeau
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS)Université LavalQuébecQCCanada
| | - Ruth Withler
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans CanadaPacific Biological StationNanaimoBCCanada
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS)Université LavalQuébecQCCanada
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Qiu T, Liu Z, Yang Y, Liu B. Epigenetic variation associated with responses to different habitats in the context of genetic divergence in Phragmites australis. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:11874-11889. [PMID: 34522347 PMCID: PMC8427615 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying heritable phenotypic divergence associated with adaptation in response to environmental stresses may involve both genetic and epigenetic variations. Several prior studies have revealed even higher levels of epigenetic variation than genetic variation. However, few population-level studies have explored the effects of epigenetic variation on species with high levels of genetic diversity distributed across different habitats. Using AFLP and methylation-sensitive AFLP markers, we tested the hypothesis that epigenetic variation may contribute to differences in plants occupying different habitats when genetic variation alone cannot fully explain adaptation. As a cosmopolitan invasive species, Phragmites australis (common reed) together with high genetic diversity and remarkable adaptability has been suggested as a model for responses to global change and indicators of environmental fluctuations. We found high levels of genetic and epigenetic diversity and significant genetic/epigenetic structure within each of 12 studied populations sampled from four natural habitats of P. australis. Possible adaptive epigenetic variation was suggested by significant correlations between DNA methylation-based epigenetic differentiation and adaptive genetic divergence in populations across the habitats. Meanwhile, various AMOVAs indicated that some epigenetic differences may respond to various local habitats. A partial Mantel test was used to tease out the correlations between genetic/epigenetic variation and habitat after controlling for the correlation between genetic and epigenetic variations. We found that epigenetic diversity was affected mostly by soil nutrient availability, suggesting that at least some epigenetic differentiation occurred independently of genetic variation. We also found stronger correlations between epigenetic variation and phenotypic traits than between genetic variation and such traits. Overall, our findings indicate that genetically based differentiation correlates with heterogeneous habitats, while epigenetic variation plays an important role in ecological differentiation in natural populations of P. australis. In addition, our results suggest that when assessing global change responses of plant species, intraspecific variation needs to be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tian Qiu
- School of Life SciencesChangchun Normal UniversityChangchunChina
- Institute of Grassland ScienceKey Laboratory of Vegetation EcologyMinistry of EducationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
- Key Laboratory of Molecular EpigeneticsMinistry of EducationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Zhiyuan Liu
- College of Computer Science and TechnologyChangchun UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Yunfei Yang
- Institute of Grassland ScienceKey Laboratory of Vegetation EcologyMinistry of EducationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Bao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular EpigeneticsMinistry of EducationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Lindner M, Gawehns F, Te Molder S, Visser ME, van Oers K, Laine VN. Performance of methods to detect genetic variants from bisulphite sequencing data in a non-model species. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:834-846. [PMID: 34435438 PMCID: PMC9290141 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The profiling of epigenetic marks like DNA methylation has become a central aspect of studies in evolution and ecology. Bisulphite sequencing is commonly used for assessing genome‐wide DNA methylation at single nucleotide resolution but these data can also provide information on genetic variants like single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, bisulphite conversion causes unmethylated cytosines to appear as thymines, complicating the alignment and subsequent SNP calling. Several tools have been developed to overcome this challenge, but there is no independent evaluation of such tools for non‐model species, which often lack genomic references. Here, we used whole‐genome bisulphite sequencing (WGBS) data from four female great tits (Parus major) to evaluate the performance of seven tools for SNP calling from bisulphite sequencing data. We used SNPs from whole‐genome resequencing data of the same samples as baseline SNPs to assess common performance metrics like sensitivity, precision, and the number of true positive, false positive, and false negative SNPs for the full range of variant and genotype quality values. We found clear differences between the tools in either optimizing precision (bis‐snp), sensitivity (biscuit), or a compromise between both (all other tools). Overall, the choice of SNP caller strongly depends on which performance parameter should be maximized and whether ascertainment bias should be minimized to optimize downstream analysis, highlighting the need for studies that assess such differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Lindner
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Fleur Gawehns
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastiaan Te Molder
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel E Visser
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Veronika N Laine
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Phenotypic plasticity in plant defense across life stages: Inducibility, transgenerational induction, and transgenerational priming in wild radish. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2005865118. [PMID: 34389664 PMCID: PMC8379918 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2005865118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As they develop, many plants deploy shifts in antiherbivore defense allocation due to changing costs and benefits of their defensive traits. Plant defenses are known to be primed or directly induced by herbivore damage within generations and across generations by long-lasting epigenetic mechanisms. However, little is known about the differences between life stages of epigenetically inducible defensive traits across generations. To help fill this knowledge gap, we conducted a multigenerational experiment to determine whether defense induction in wild radish plants was reflected in chromatin modifications (DNA methylation); we then examined differences between seedlings and reproductive plants in current and transgenerational plasticity in chemical (glucosinolates) and physical (trichomes) defenses in this species. Herbivory triggered genome methylation both in targeted plants and their offspring. Within one generation, both defenses were highly inducible at the seedling stage, but only chemical defenses were inducible in reproductive plants. Across generations, herbivory experienced by mother plants caused strong direct induction of physical defenses in their progeny, with effects lasting from seedling to reproductive stages. For chemical defenses, however, this transgenerational induction was evident only in adults. Transgenerational priming was observed in physical and chemical defenses, particularly in adult plants. Our results show that transgenerational plasticity in plant defenses in response to herbivore offense differs for physical and chemical defense and changes across plant life stages.
Collapse
|
48
|
Mäkinen H, van Oers K, Eeva T, Ruuskanen S. The effect of experimental lead pollution on DNA methylation in a wild bird population. Epigenetics 2021; 17:625-641. [PMID: 34369261 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2021.1943863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic pollution is known to negatively influence an organism's physiology, behaviour, and fitness. Epigenetic regulation, such as DNA methylation, has been hypothesized as a potential mechanism to mediate such effects, yet studies in wild species are lacking. We first investigated the effects of early-life exposure to the heavy metal lead (Pb) on DNA methylation levels in a wild population of great tits (Parus major), by experimentally exposing nestlings to Pb at environmentally relevant levels. Secondly, we compared nestling DNA methylation from a population exposed to long-term heavy metal pollution (close to a copper smelter), where birds suffer from pollution-related decrease in food quality, and a control population. For both comparisons, the analysis of about one million CpGs covering most of the annotated genes revealed that pollution-related changes in DNA methylation were not genome wide, but enriched for genes underlying developmental processes. However, the results were not consistent when using binomial or beta binomial regression highlighting the difficulty of modelling variance in CpGs. Our study indicates that post-natal anthropogenic heavy metal exposure can affect methylation levels of development related genes in a wild bird population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannu Mäkinen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Turku, Finland
| | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tapio Eeva
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Turku, Finland
| | - Suvi Ruuskanen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Gupta RC, Randell KA, Dowd MD. Addressing Parental Adverse Childhood Experiences in the Pediatric Setting. Adv Pediatr 2021; 68:71-88. [PMID: 34243860 PMCID: PMC8412208 DOI: 10.1016/j.yapd.2021.05.003] [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] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Parents’ own adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact their children’s physical and emotional health. Causal mechanisms are not fully understood but are likely multifactorial, affecting parent resiliency and attachment behaviors, with possible intergenerational transmission. Although universal screening for parental ACEs is controversial, they may be identified during pediatric care. Providers can address parental ACEs by consistently using trauma-informed, healing-centered approaches that acknowledge the impact of trauma and the presence of resilience, promote positive parenting skills, and provide compassionate support universally. When necessary, more targeted interventions may include referral to community social support services and parenting programming. Incorporating a two-generation approach in pediatrics may enhance and support child health and well-being more robustly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rupal C Gupta
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64109, USA; University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA; University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA.
| | - Kimberly A Randell
- University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA; University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA; Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Mercy Kansas City, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64109, USA
| | - M Denise Dowd
- University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA; University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA; Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Mercy Kansas City, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Laine VN, Verschuuren M, van Oers K, Espín S, Sánchez-Virosta P, Eeva T, Ruuskanen S. Does Arsenic Contamination Affect DNA Methylation Patterns in a Wild Bird Population? An Experimental Approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:8947-8954. [PMID: 34110128 DOI: 10.1101/2020.12.08.415745] [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: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Pollutants, such as toxic metals, negatively influence organismal health and performance, even leading to population collapses. Studies in model organisms have shown that epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation, can be modulated by various environmental factors, including pollutants, influencing gene expression, and various organismal traits. Yet experimental data on the effects of pollution on DNA methylation from wild animal populations are largely lacking. We here experimentally investigated for the first time the effects of early-life exposure to environmentally relevant levels of a key pollutant, arsenic (As), on genome-wide DNA methylation in a wild bird population. We experimentally exposed nestlings of great tits (Parus major) to arsenic during their postnatal developmental period (3 to 14 days post-hatching) and compared their erythrocyte DNA methylation levels to those of respective controls. In contrast to predictions, we found no overall hypomethylation in the arsenic group. We found evidence for loci to be differentially methylated between the treatment groups, but for five CpG sites only. Three of the sites were located in gene bodies of zinc finger and BTB domain containing 47 (ZBTB47), HIVEP zinc finger 3 (HIVEP3), and insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1). Further studies are needed to evaluate whether epigenetic dysregulation is a commonly observed phenomenon in polluted populations and what are the consequences for organism functioning and for population dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veronika N Laine
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Mark Verschuuren
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Silvia Espín
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Socio-Sanitary Sciences, University of Murcia, Murcia 30003, Spain
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku 20500, Finland
| | - Pablo Sánchez-Virosta
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Socio-Sanitary Sciences, University of Murcia, Murcia 30003, Spain
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku 20500, Finland
| | - Tapio Eeva
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku 20500, Finland
| | - Suvi Ruuskanen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku 20500, Finland
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland
| |
Collapse
|