Premium
Global cytosine methylation in Daphnia magna depends on genotype, environment, and their interaction
Author(s) -
Asselman Jana,
De Coninck Dieter I.M.,
Vandegehuchte Michiel B.,
Jansen Mieke,
Decaestecker Ellen,
De Meester Luc,
Vanden Bussche Julie,
Vanhaecke Lynn,
Janssen Colin R.,
De Schamphelaere Karel A.C.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.2887
Subject(s) - daphnia magna , genotype , daphnia , cytosine , biology , dna methylation , methylation , cladocera , zoology , environmental chemistry , genetics , toxicity , chemistry , gene , crustacean , gene expression , organic chemistry
The authors characterized global cytosine methylation levels in 2 different genotypes of the ecotoxicological model organism Daphnia magna after exposure to a wide array of biotic and abiotic environmental stressors. The present study aimed to improve the authors' understanding of the role of cytosine methylation in the organism's response to environmental conditions. The authors observed a significant genotype effect, an environment effect, and a genotype × environment effect. In particular, global cytosine methylation levels were significantly altered after exposure to Triops predation cues, Microcystis , and sodium chloride compared with control conditions. Significant differences between the 2 genotypes were observed when animals were exposed to Triops predation cues, Microcystis , Cryptomonas , and sodium chloride. Despite the low global methylation rate under control conditions (0.49–0.52%), global cytosine methylation levels upon exposure to Triops demonstrated a 5‐fold difference between the genotypes (0.21% vs 1.02%). No effects were found in response to arsenic, cadmium, fish, lead, pH of 5.5, pH of 8, temperature, hypoxia, and white fat cell disease. The authors' results point to the potential role of epigenetic effects under changing environmental conditions such as predation (i.e., Triops ), diet (i.e., Cryptomonas and Microcysti s), and salinity. The results of the present study indicate that, despite global cytosine methylation levels being low, epigenetic effects may be important in environmental studies on Daphnia . Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:1056–1061. © 2015 SETAC