Gene body methylation evolves during the sustained loss of parental care in the burying beetle

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Aug. 4, 2024

Abstract Epigenetic modifications, such as 5-methylcytosine (5mC), can sometimes be transmitted between generations, provoking speculation that epigenetic changes could play a role in adaptation and evolution. Here, we use experimental evolution to investigate how 5mC levels evolve populations of biparental insect ( Nicrophorus vespilloides ) derived from wild source population maintained independently under different regimes parental care the lab. We show transcribed regions genes (gene bodies) diverge have been exposed for 30 generations. These do not reflect gene expression. However, accumulation within is associated with reduced variability expression populations. Our results suggest evolved change contribute phenotypic by influencing invertebrates.

Language: Английский

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Epigenetics Research in Evolutionary Biology: Perspectives on Timescales and Mechanisms

Molecular Biology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 41(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Epigenetics research in evolutionary biology encompasses a variety of areas, from regulation gene expression to inheritance environmentally mediated phenotypes. Such divergent foci can occasionally render the umbrella term "epigenetics" ambiguous. Here I discuss several areas contemporary epigenetics context biology, aiming provide balanced views across timescales and molecular mechanisms. The importance development is now being assessed many nonmodel species. These studies not only confirm epigenetic marks developmental processes, but also highlight significant diversity regulatory mechanisms taxa. Further, these comparative epigenomic have begun show promise toward enhancing our understanding how programs evolve. A key property that they be inherited along mitotic cell lineages, differences occur during early lasting consequences on organismal Thus, may play roles short-term (within an organism's lifetime or next generation) adaptation phenotypic plasticity. However, extent which observed variation occurs independently genetic influences remains uncertain, due widespread impact genetics limited availability comprehensive (epi)genomic resources most While sequences some species, there little evidence such "transgenerational inheritance" general phenomenon. Rather, are highly variable between

Language: Английский

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Gene expression and DNA methylation changes in response to hypoxia in toxicant-adapted Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus)

Biology Open, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

ABSTRACT Coastal fish populations are threatened by multiple anthropogenic impacts, including the accumulation of industrial contaminants and increasing frequency hypoxia. Some Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus), like those in New Bedford Harbor (NBH), Massachusetts, USA, have evolved a resistance to dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that may influence their ability cope with secondary stressors. To address this question, we compared hepatic gene expression DNA methylation patterns response mild or severe hypoxia from NBH Scorton Creek (SC), reference population relatively pristine environment. We hypothesized would show altered responses due trade-offs linked toxicant resistance. Our results revealed substantial differences between populations. SC demonstrated dose-dependent changes hypoxia, while exhibited muted transcriptional Interestingly, showed significant did not exhibit notable epigenetic alterations. These findings suggest toxicant-adapted face molecular environmental stress, potentially impacting survive coastal habitats. Further research is needed elucidate functional implications these modifications role adaptive stress responses.

Language: Английский

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Intraspecific epigenomics divergence in brown bears (Ursus arctos): insights from genome-wide DNA methylation patterns

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Jan. 24, 2025

Epigenetic mechanisms such as methylation can influence gene expression and play a crucial role in the adaptation to local environmental conditions, thereby introducing non-genetic variability within species. Here, using Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing approach (RRBS), we compared patterns blood muscle across three European brown bear populations. Our results clearly demonstrated that, beyond tissue-driven divergences, of populations are significantly distinct. Differentially methylated sites, possibly associated with genomic features involved development anatomical differentiation, widespread genome. This finding supports previous studies suggesting for alteration developmental pathways shaping phenotypic novelties potential adaptative significance. underscore importance effectiveness including epigenetic approaches studying wild non-model organisms. Investigating epigenome be especially relevant endangered that have experienced significant erosion diversity.

Language: Английский

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Epigenomic Changes in Ostrinia Moths Under Elevated Pupal and Adult Temperature

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 12, 2025

ABSTRACT Epigenetic changes in the methylation of DNA may occur response to environmental stressors, including warming climates. also play an important role regulating gene expression during both male and female reproduction many insect species. However, it is currently unknown how shifts when individuals are reproducing under warmer temperatures. We exposed European corn borer moths ( Ostrinia nubilalis ) heat pupal adult life stages then investigated across genome using enzymatic methyl‐seq (EM‐seq). compared patterns reproductive males females (28°C) those that experienced ambient temperature (23°C). found exposure led a small but significant increase percentage methylated CpG sites throughout sexes. rates were higher differential following localised unique regions each sex. In males, shifted within genes belonging pathways Hippo signalling, ubiquitin‐mediated proteolysis, damage repair spermatogenesis. females, occurred related histone modification oogenesis. Our results suggest respond moderate Lepidoptera provide insight into epigenetic responses heatwaves, suggesting novel be involved responding stress metamorphosis reproduction.

Language: Английский

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Integrating plasticity into conservation practice: Harnessing genetic estimates of epigenetic potential to study phenotypic plasticity in wild populations

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 22, 2025

Abstract The delineation of conservation units is essential for policy makers to target distinct groups organisms bespoke management. Genomic data have revolutionised the by enabling detection adaptive genetic variation and population structure. However, date, genomic not been harnessed their potential identify (and thus preserve) in phenotypic plasticity—a major mechanism tolerate exploit environmental change. An organism's capacity express plasticity via epigenetic modifications its genome termed ‘ ’. Here, we outline how specific elements could be used estimate perhaps wild animals plasticity. We highlight case studies suggesting that selectively advantageous environments demanding high then avenues future research validate leverage as a tool study populations. Policy implications : development practical tools necessary foster more integrative field science—one acknowledges evolutionary significance genotype, epigenotype, environment interactions.

Language: Английский

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Genomic and Epigenomic Influences on Resilience across Scales: Lessons from the Responses of Fish to Environmental Stressors

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 64(3), P. 853 - 866

Published: April 15, 2024

Understanding the factors that influence resilience of biological systems to environmental change is a pressing concern in face increasing human impacts on ecosystems and organisms inhabit them. However, most considerations have focused at community ecosystem levels, whereas here we discuss how including consideration processes occurring lower levels organization may provide insights into higher levels. Specifically, explore genomic epigenomic cascade up We ask concepts "resistance," or capacity system minimize response disturbance, "recovery," ability return its original state following disturbance avoid tipping points resulting regime shifts, map these organization. Overall, suggest substantial changes be required support using selected examples responses fish climate-change-related stressors such as high temperature hypoxia genome, epigenome, organism.

Language: Английский

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Patterns of methylation and transcriptional plasticity during thermal acclimation in a reef‐building coral

Evolutionary Applications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Phenotypic plasticity can buffer organisms against short‐term environmental fluctuations. For example, previous exposure to increased temperatures increase thermal tolerance in many species. Prior studies have found that acclimation higher temperature influence the magnitude of transcriptional response subsequent acute stress (hereafter, “transcriptional modulation”). However, mechanisms mediating this gene expression and, ultimately, phenotypic remain largely unknown. Epigenetic modifications are good candidates for modulating response, as they broadly correlate with expression. Here, we investigate changes DNA methylation a possible mechanism controlling shifts and reef‐building coral Acropora nana . We find is altered corals acclimated different temperatures, genes exhibiting dampened heat pre‐conditioned temperatures. At same time, observe during both (11 days) (24 h). observed results gene‐level elicits an distinct sets. Further, acclimation‐induced differential also occur separate sets genes. Counter our initial hypothesis no overall correlation between change plasticity. do small but statistically significant overlap (14 genes), which could be further inquiry. Overall, suggest modulation occurs independently from induced by acclimation.

Language: Английский

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Seasonally variable thermal performance curves prevent adverse effects of heatwaves

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 11, 2024

Abstract 1. Differential vulnerability to heatwaves may affect community dynamics in a changing climate. In temperate regions, this depends on the interactions between seasonal temperature fluctuations and capacity rapidly shift thermal performance curves. 2. Here we investigate how these of two ecologically important copepod congeners, Acartia tonsa A. hudsonica , different durations. Using combination field observations simulated laboratory heatwave experiments, uncover strong variation curves but not . This translated species‐specific patterns heatwaves, with increased 3. By reducing parental stress during curve shifts likely reduced indirect, transgenerational effects events offspring 4. Our results illustrate levels will population persistence climate

Language: Английский

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DNA methylation modulates transcriptional noise in response to elevated pCO₂in the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica)

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 8, 2024

Ocean acidification significantly affects marine calcifiers like oysters, warranting the study of molecular mechanisms DNA methylation that contribute to adaptive plasticity in response environmental change. However, a consensus has not been reached on extent which modules gene expression, and turn plasticity, invertebrates. In this study, we investigated impact pCO 2 expression eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica . After 30-day exposure control (572 ppm) or elevated (2,827 ppm), whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) RNA-Seq data were generated from adult female gonad tissue male sperm samples. Although differentially methylated loci (DML) identified females (89) males (2,916), there no expressed genes, only one transcript females. body impacted other forms activity sperm, such as maximum number transcripts per changes predominant expressed. Elevated increased variability (transcriptional noise) but decreased noise females, suggesting sex-specific role regulation. Functional annotation genes with transcript-level containing DML revealed several enriched biological processes potentially involved response, including apoptotic pathways signal transduction, well reproductive functions. Taken together, these results suggest may regulate maintain homeostasis conditions could play key resilience

Language: Английский

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