Relationships between phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic variation in two Caribbean Acropora corals
Relationships between phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic variation in two Caribbean Acropora corals
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DOI：
10.1111/mec.17072
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发表时间：
2023-07
影响因子：
4.9
通讯作者：
Serena Hackerott;Francesca Virdis;Peter J Flood;Daniel Garcia Souto;Wendy Paez;J. Eirín-López
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Serena Hackerott;Francesca Virdis;Peter J Flood;Daniel Garcia Souto;Wendy Paez;J. Eirín-López
同一基因型表现出的一系列表型的可塑性使生物体能够对环境变化做出反应，并可能调节新环境中的适应性。在一个群体中表现型可塑性的能力不同，表现为基因型与环境的相互作用（GxE），因此可能具有生态和进化的意义。表观遗传基因调控改变基因功能，以响应环境线索，而不改变潜在的遗传序列，并可能介导表型变异。DNA甲基化是目前描述最多的表观遗传机制，与无脊椎动物的转录稳态有关。然而，在一些分类群中，包括造礁珊瑚，缺乏将DNA甲基化变异与表型变异定量联系起来的证据。在这项研究中，空间和季节性的环境变化博内尔岛，加勒比荷兰被用来评估生理和DNA甲基化谱之间的关系，在遗传克隆不同基因型的鹿角鹿角珊瑚和A。掌状珊瑚与基因型的影响相比，这两个物种的生理受环境变化的影响很大。GxE对表型的影响仅在A.颈角DNA甲基化在这两个物种之间的基因型和季节和表观遗传变异显着相关的珊瑚生理指标。此外，塑料的生理变化在整个季节与DNA甲基化谱在这两个物种的变化显着正相关。这些结果突出了环境条件和遗传限制对两种重要的加勒比珊瑚物种生理的动态影响。此外，这项研究提供了定量支持的作用，表观遗传DNA甲基化介导的表型可塑性在无脊椎动物。
The plastic ability for a range of phenotypes to be exhibited by the same genotype allows organisms to respond to environmental variation and may modulate fitness in novel environments. Differing capacities for phenotypic plasticity within a population, apparent as genotype by environment interactions (GxE), can therefore have both ecological and evolutionary implications. Epigenetic gene regulation alters gene function in response to environmental cues without changes to the underlying genetic sequence and likely mediates phenotypic variation. DNA methylation is currently the most well described epigenetic mechanism and is related to transcriptional homeostasis in invertebrates. However, evidence quantitatively linking variation in DNA methylation with that of phenotype is lacking in some taxa, including reef‐building corals. In this study, spatial and seasonal environmental variation in Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands was utilized to assess relationships between physiology and DNA methylation profiles within genetic clones across different genotypes of Acropora cervicornis and A. palmata corals. The physiology of both species was highly influenced by environmental variation compared to the effect of genotype. GxE effects on phenotype were only apparent in A. cervicornis. DNA methylation in both species differed between genotypes and seasons and epigenetic variation was significantly related to coral physiological metrics. Furthermore, plastic shifts in physiology across seasons were significantly positively correlated with shifts in DNA methylation profiles in both species. These results highlight the dynamic influence of environmental conditions and genetic constraints on the physiology of two important Caribbean coral species. Additionally, this study provides quantitative support for the role of epigenetic DNA methylation in mediating phenotypic plasticity in invertebrates.