DNA methylation in fish of the cichlid family: A systematic review

Cichlidae is considered one of the most diverse families of freshwater fish in the world. The representatives of this group are known for their ecological and behavioral diversity. DNA methylation is an epigenetic process that involves the addition of methyl groups to DNA, affecting gene expression...

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Main Authors: Elias Welengane, Luan Felipe da Silva Frade, Luana Beatriz Sales Pinon, Carlos Eduardo Vasconcelos dos Santos, Adauto Lima Cardoso, Luís Adriano Santos do Nascimento, Renata Coelho Rodrigues Noronha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025010060
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author Elias Welengane
Luan Felipe da Silva Frade
Luana Beatriz Sales Pinon
Carlos Eduardo Vasconcelos dos Santos
Adauto Lima Cardoso
Luís Adriano Santos do Nascimento
Renata Coelho Rodrigues Noronha
author_facet Elias Welengane
Luan Felipe da Silva Frade
Luana Beatriz Sales Pinon
Carlos Eduardo Vasconcelos dos Santos
Adauto Lima Cardoso
Luís Adriano Santos do Nascimento
Renata Coelho Rodrigues Noronha
author_sort Elias Welengane
collection DOAJ
description Cichlidae is considered one of the most diverse families of freshwater fish in the world. The representatives of this group are known for their ecological and behavioral diversity. DNA methylation is an epigenetic process that involves the addition of methyl groups to DNA, affecting gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. This process has been widely studied in various organisms. The occurrence of abnormal DNA methylation events in Cichlidae may play an important role in these fish's adaptation to different environments. This article presents a review of DNA methylation in fish of this family. For this purpose, a systematic approach was used to search for relevant research in three academic databases: ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. Initially, 50 articles were selected based on inclusion criteria, of which 22 were included in this review. This process allowed the identification of the most relevant and high-quality studies on the topic. From the 22 selected articles, a keyword co-occurrence visualization map was created, making it possible to investigate the current state of knowledge about DNA methylation in Cichlidae. The review highlights that DNA methylation is crucial for these fish's adaptation to different environments, influencing gene expression and behavior. Environmental factors, such as temperature, pH, and oxygen, affect this epigenetic modification. Furthermore, DNA methylation can also be impacted by exposure to toxic substances, which may compromise the health and survival of Cichlidae. This review allows understanding the implications of these studies for the conservation and management of these species, as it provides insights into how fish adapt to environmental changes and the risks associated with pollution, as well as providing information for future research.
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spelling doaj-art-367d6b371b0a4039ba0e5cbd8a1d8fc92025-08-20T02:34:39ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-05-011110e4262610.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42626DNA methylation in fish of the cichlid family: A systematic reviewElias Welengane0Luan Felipe da Silva Frade1Luana Beatriz Sales Pinon2Carlos Eduardo Vasconcelos dos Santos3Adauto Lima Cardoso4Luís Adriano Santos do Nascimento5Renata Coelho Rodrigues Noronha6Laboratory of Genetics and Cell Biology, Center for Advanced Studies in Biodiversity, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil; Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Natural Resources, Zambezi University, Alfredo Lawlay Avenue, Beira, Sofala, MozambiqueLaboratory of Genetics and Cell Biology, Center for Advanced Studies in Biodiversity, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, BrazilLaboratory of Genetics and Cell Biology, Center for Advanced Studies in Biodiversity, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, BrazilLaboratory of Genetics and Cell Biology, Center for Advanced Studies in Biodiversity, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, BrazilLaboratory of Genetics and Cell Biology, Center for Advanced Studies in Biodiversity, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil; Integrative Genomics Laboratory, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, São Paulo, BrazilAmazon Oil Laboratory, Guamá Science and Technology Park, Belém, 66075-750, BrazilLaboratory of Genetics and Cell Biology, Center for Advanced Studies in Biodiversity, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil; Corresponding author.Cichlidae is considered one of the most diverse families of freshwater fish in the world. The representatives of this group are known for their ecological and behavioral diversity. DNA methylation is an epigenetic process that involves the addition of methyl groups to DNA, affecting gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. This process has been widely studied in various organisms. The occurrence of abnormal DNA methylation events in Cichlidae may play an important role in these fish's adaptation to different environments. This article presents a review of DNA methylation in fish of this family. For this purpose, a systematic approach was used to search for relevant research in three academic databases: ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. Initially, 50 articles were selected based on inclusion criteria, of which 22 were included in this review. This process allowed the identification of the most relevant and high-quality studies on the topic. From the 22 selected articles, a keyword co-occurrence visualization map was created, making it possible to investigate the current state of knowledge about DNA methylation in Cichlidae. The review highlights that DNA methylation is crucial for these fish's adaptation to different environments, influencing gene expression and behavior. Environmental factors, such as temperature, pH, and oxygen, affect this epigenetic modification. Furthermore, DNA methylation can also be impacted by exposure to toxic substances, which may compromise the health and survival of Cichlidae. This review allows understanding the implications of these studies for the conservation and management of these species, as it provides insights into how fish adapt to environmental changes and the risks associated with pollution, as well as providing information for future research.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025010060CichlidsEpigeneticsDNA methylationEnvironmentPhenotypic plasticity
spellingShingle Elias Welengane
Luan Felipe da Silva Frade
Luana Beatriz Sales Pinon
Carlos Eduardo Vasconcelos dos Santos
Adauto Lima Cardoso
Luís Adriano Santos do Nascimento
Renata Coelho Rodrigues Noronha
DNA methylation in fish of the cichlid family: A systematic review
Heliyon
Cichlids
Epigenetics
DNA methylation
Environment
Phenotypic plasticity
title DNA methylation in fish of the cichlid family: A systematic review
title_full DNA methylation in fish of the cichlid family: A systematic review
title_fullStr DNA methylation in fish of the cichlid family: A systematic review
title_full_unstemmed DNA methylation in fish of the cichlid family: A systematic review
title_short DNA methylation in fish of the cichlid family: A systematic review
title_sort dna methylation in fish of the cichlid family a systematic review
topic Cichlids
Epigenetics
DNA methylation
Environment
Phenotypic plasticity
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025010060
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