Project description:Migration is essential for the reproduction and survival of many animals, yet little is understood about its underlying molecular mechanisms. We used the salmonid Oncorhynchus mykiss to gain mechanistic insight into smoltification, which is a morphological, physiological, and behavioral transition undertaken by some juveniles that culminates in a seaward migration. This species is experimentally tractable and, unlike common model species, displays intra- and inter-population variation in migration propensity. Migratory individuals can produce non-migratory progeny and vice versa, indicating a high degree of phenotypic plasticity. One potential way that phenotypic plasticity might be linked to variation in migration-related life history tactics is through epigenetic regulation of gene expression. To explore this, we quantitatively measured genome-scale DNA methylation in fin tissue using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing of F2 siblings produced from a cross between steelhead (migratory) and rainbow trout (non-migratory) lines. We identified 57 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between smolt and resident O. mykiss juveniles. DMRs were of high magnitude, ranging from 20-62% differential methylation between life history types, and over half of the gene-associated DMRs were in transcriptional regulatory regions. Many of the DMRs encode proteins with activity relevant to migration-related transitions (e.g. circadian rhythm pathway, nervous system development, protein kinase activity). This study provides the first evidence of a relationship between epigenetic variation and life history divergence associated with a migration-related transition in any species. Comparing global DNA methyldation profiles (via RRBS) of resident and smolt O. mykiss siblings using caudal fin tissue.
Project description:Migration is essential for the reproduction and survival of many animals, yet little is understood about its underlying molecular mechanisms. We used the salmonid Oncorhynchus mykiss to gain mechanistic insight into smoltification, which is a morphological, physiological, and behavioral transition undertaken by some juveniles that culminates in a seaward migration. This species is experimentally tractable and, unlike common model species, displays intra- and inter-population variation in migration propensity. Migratory individuals can produce non-migratory progeny and vice versa, indicating a high degree of phenotypic plasticity. One potential way that phenotypic plasticity might be linked to variation in migration-related life history tactics is through epigenetic regulation of gene expression. To explore this, we quantitatively measured genome-scale DNA methylation in fin tissue using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing of F2 siblings produced from a cross between steelhead (migratory) and rainbow trout (non-migratory) lines. We identified 57 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between smolt and resident O. mykiss juveniles. DMRs were of high magnitude, ranging from 20-62% differential methylation between life history types, and over half of the gene-associated DMRs were in transcriptional regulatory regions. Many of the DMRs encode proteins with activity relevant to migration-related transitions (e.g. circadian rhythm pathway, nervous system development, protein kinase activity). This study provides the first evidence of a relationship between epigenetic variation and life history divergence associated with a migration-related transition in any species.
Project description:Comparison of gene expression of exposed versus non-exposed Oncorhynchus mykiss hepatocytes to four model chemicals and a synthetic mixture. Hepatocytes were exposed for 24 hours to a single chemical and a synthetic mixture of 10 nM 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2), 0.75 nM 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-di-benzodioxin (TCDD), 100 μM paraquat and 0.75 μM 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (NQO). Four biological replicates for both exposed and non-exposed Oncorhynchus mykiss hepatocytes with corresponding dye flips.
Project description:These files represent single cell RNA-Seq data generated on a 10x Chromium genomics platform from Oncorhynchus mykiss B cells isolated from blood.