Gene Body Methylation Confers Transcription Robustness in Mangroves During Long-Term Stress Adaptation.

ABSTRACT: Whether induced epigenetic changes contribute to long-term adaptation remains controversial. Recent studies indicate that environmentally cued changes in gene body methylation (gbM) can facilitate acclimatization. However, such changes are often associated with genetic variation and their contribution to long-term stress adaptation remains unclear. Using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, we examined evolutionary gains and losses of gbM in mangroves that adapted to extreme intertidal environments. We treated mangrove seedlings with salt stress, and investigated expression changes in relation with stress-induced or evolutionarily-acquired gbM changes. Evolution and function of gbM was compared with that of genetic variation. Mangroves gained much more gbM than their terrestrial relatives, m

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8493031 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature