Epigenome-associated phenotypic acclimatization to ocean acidification in a reef-building coral

Liew, Yi Jin; Zoccola, Didier; Li, Yong; Tambutté, Éric; Venn, Alexander A.; Michell, Craig; Cui, Guoxin; Deutekom, Eva S.; Kaandorp, Jaap A.; Voolstra, Christian R.; Fôret, Sylvain; Allemand, Denis; Tambutté, Sylvie; Aranda, Manuel

doi:10.1126/sciadv.aar8028

Cited by 143 publications

(160 citation statements)

References 57 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

142

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The same patterns were also observed using male methylation and gene expression data (Figure ). Taken together, these data suggest that DNA methylation in aphids may be involved in establishing and stabilising high gene expression, as has been suggested in corals (Liew et al, ) and holometabolous insects (Libbrecht et al, ; Patalano et al, ; Wang et al, ; Xiang et al, ).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 68%

Sex‐specific changes in the aphid DNA methylation landscape

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aphids present an ideal system to study epigenetics as they can produce diverse, but genetically identical, morphs in response to environmental stimuli. Here, using whole genome bisulphite sequencing and transcriptome sequencing of the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), we present the first detailed analysis of cytosine methylation in an aphid and investigate differences in the methylation and transcriptional landscapes of male and asexual female morphs. We found that methylation primarily occurs in a CG dinucleotide (CpG) context and that exons are highly enriched for methylated CpGs, particularly at the 3′ end of genes. Methylation is positively associated with gene expression, and methylated genes are more stably expressed than unmethylated genes. Male and asexual female morphs have distinct methylation profiles. Strikingly, these profiles are divergent between the sex chromosome and the autosomes; autosomal genes are hypomethylated in males compared to asexual females, whereas genes belonging to the sex chromosome, which is haploid in males, are hypermethylated. Overall, we found correlated changes in methylation and gene expression between males and asexual females, and this correlation was particularly strong for genes located on the sex chromosome. Our results suggest that differential methylation of sex‐biased genes plays a role in aphid sexual differentiation.

show abstract

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 68%

Sex‐specific changes in the aphid DNA methylation landscape

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Differential expression of transcripts can be a consequence of changes in DNA methylation distribution in response to stressors (Dixon et al, 2015). Hence, changes in DNA methylation sites have been linked to transcriptional plasticity, which may facilitate response mechanisms to a previously encountered stressor (Dimond & Roberts, 2016;Liew et al, 2018;Putnam, Davidson, & Gates, 2016). Although complex gene regulation through histone modifications is conserved in cnidarians (Schwaiger et al, 2014), knowledge regarding the role of histones in coral acclimatization and adaptation is lacking.…”

Section: Learning From Experience: Life History and Pre-exposure Tomentioning

confidence: 99%

The past, present, and future of coral heat stress studies

Cziesielski

Schmidt‐Roach

Aranda

2019

Ecology and Evolution

Self Cite

107

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The global loss and degradation of coral reefs, as a result of intensified frequency and severity of bleaching events, is a major concern. Evidence of heat stress affecting corals through loss of symbionts and consequent coral bleaching was first reported in the 1930s. However, it was not until the 1998 major global bleaching event that the urgency for heat stress studies became internationally recognized. Current efforts focus not only on examining the consequences of heat stress on corals but also on finding strategies to potentially improve thermal tolerance and aid coral reefs survival in future climate scenarios. Although initial studies were limited in comparison with modern technological tools, they provided the foundation for many of today's research methods and hypotheses. Technological advancements are providing new research prospects at a rapid pace. Understanding how coral heat stress studies have evolved is important for the critical assessment of their progress. This review summarizes the development of the field to date and assesses avenues for future research.

show abstract

“…Hypermethylation of those genes essential for biological function is thought to imply that they are “protected” from plasticity in transcriptional opportunities. Such plasticity would be inherently lethal in housekeeping genes (Roberts & Gavery, ), and thereby gene body methylation (GBM) in corals is correlated with stable and active transcription (Dixon, Liao, Bay, & Matz, ; Liew, Zoccola, et al, ). Methylated genes in the anemone Aiptasia show a significant reduction of spurious transcription and transcriptional noise (Li et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What drives phenotypic divergence among coral clonemates of Acropora palmata?

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Evolutionary rescue of populations depends on their ability to produce phenotypic variation that is heritable and adaptive. DNA mutations are the best understood mechanisms to create phenotypic variation, but other, less well‐studied mechanisms exist. Marine benthic foundation species provide opportunities to study these mechanisms because many are dominated by isogenic stands produced through asexual reproduction. For example, Caribbean acroporid corals are long lived and reproduce asexually via breakage of branches. Fragmentation is often the dominant mode of local population maintenance. Thus, large genets with many ramets (colonies) are common. Here, we observed phenotypic variation in stress responses within genets following the coral bleaching events in 2014 and 2015 caused by high water temperatures. This was not due to genetic variation in their symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium “fitti”) because each genet of this coral species typically harbours a single strain of S. “fitti”. Characterization of the microbiome via 16S tag sequencing correlated the abundance of only two microbiome members (Tepidiphilus, Endozoicomonas) with a bleaching response. Epigenetic changes were significantly correlated with the host's genetic background, the location of the sampled polyps within the colonies (e.g., branch vs. base of colony), and differences in the colonies’ condition during the bleaching event. We conclude that long‐term microenvironmental differences led to changes in the way the ramets methylated their genomes, contributing to the differential bleaching response. However, most of the variation in differential bleaching response among clonemates of Acropora palmata remains unexplained. This research provides novel data and hypotheses to help understand intragenet variability in stress phenotypes of sessile marine species.

show abstract

Epigenome-associated phenotypic acclimatization to ocean acidification in a reef-building coral

Abstract: Changes in gene body methylation predict phenotypic acclimatization of the coral Stylophora pistillata to ocean acidification.

Cited by 143 publications

References 57 publications

Sex‐specific changes in the aphid DNA methylation landscape

Sex‐specific changes in the aphid DNA methylation landscape

The past, present, and future of coral heat stress studies

What drives phenotypic divergence among coral clonemates of Acropora palmata?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About