loading page

Genome-wide methylation in the panmictic European eel (Anguilla anguilla)
  • +5
  • Shenglin Liu,
  • Aja Tengstedt,
  • Magnus Jacobsen,
  • Jose Martin Pujolar,
  • Bjarni Jónsson,
  • javier Lobón-Cervià,
  • Louis Bernatchez,
  • Michael Hansen
Shenglin Liu
University of Aarhus

Corresponding Author:liu.shenglin@bios.au.dk

Author Profile
Aja Tengstedt
Aarhus University
Author Profile
Magnus Jacobsen
Technical University of Denmark
Author Profile
Jose Martin Pujolar
Technical University of Denmark
Author Profile
Bjarni Jónsson
Institute of Freshwater Fisheries
Author Profile
javier Lobón-Cervià
National Museum of Natural Sciences (CSIC)
Author Profile
Louis Bernatchez
Université Laval
Author Profile
Michael Hansen
Aarhus University
Author Profile

Abstract

The role of methylation in adaptive, developmental and speciation processes has attracted considerable interest, but interpretation of results is complicated by diffuse boundaries between genetic and non-genetic variation. We studied whole genome genetic and methylation variation in the European eel, distributed from subarctic to subtropical environments, but with panmixia precluding genetically based local adaptation beyond single-generation responses. Overall methylation was 70.9%, with hypomethylation predominantly found in promoters and first exons. Redundancy analyses involving juvenile glass eels showed 0.06% and 0.03% of the variance at SNPs to be explained by localities and environmental variables, respectively, with GO terms of genes associated with outliers primarily involving neural system functioning. For CpGs 2.98% and 1.36% of variance was explained by localities and environmental variables. Differentially methylated regions particularly included genes involved in developmental processes, with hox clusters featuring prominently. Life stage (adult versus glass eels) was the most important source of inter-individual variation in methylation, likely reflecting both ageing and developmental processes. Demethylation of transposable elements was observed in European X American eel hybrids, possibly representing postzygotic barriers in this system characterized by prolonged speciation and ongoing gene flow. Whereas the genetic data are consistent with a role of single-generation selective responses, the methylation results underpin the importance of epigenetics in the life cycle of eels and suggests interactions between local environments, development and phenotypic variation mediated by methylation variation. Eels are remarkable by having retained eight hox clusters, and the results suggest important roles of methylation at hox genes for adaptive processes.
09 Mar 2022Submitted to Molecular Ecology
10 Mar 2022Submission Checks Completed
10 Mar 2022Assigned to Editor
11 Mar 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 May 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 May 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
21 Jun 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Jun 20221st Revision Received
27 Jun 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
Aug 2022Published in Molecular Ecology volume 31 issue 16 on pages 4286-4306. 10.1111/mec.16586