Intraspecific epigenomics divergence in brown bears (Ursus arctos): insights from genome-wide DNA methylation patterns
Epigenetic mechanisms such as methylation can influence gene expression and play a crucial role in the adaptation to local environmental conditions, thereby introducing non-genetic variability within species. Here, using a Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing approach (RRBS), we compared the...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1504225/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832589839478816768 |
|---|---|
| author | Paolo Colangelo Paolo Colangelo Ian Marc Bonapace Laura Gramolini Emanuela Solano Emanuela Solano Elisa Desiato Paolo Franchini Leonardo Gentile Roberto Guadagnini Oddmund Kleven Jonas Kindberg Jonas Kindberg Alexander Kopatz Paolo Ciucci |
| author_facet | Paolo Colangelo Paolo Colangelo Ian Marc Bonapace Laura Gramolini Emanuela Solano Emanuela Solano Elisa Desiato Paolo Franchini Leonardo Gentile Roberto Guadagnini Oddmund Kleven Jonas Kindberg Jonas Kindberg Alexander Kopatz Paolo Ciucci |
| author_sort | Paolo Colangelo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Epigenetic mechanisms such as methylation can influence gene expression and play a crucial role in the adaptation to local environmental conditions, thereby introducing non-genetic variability within species. Here, using a Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing approach (RRBS), we compared the methylation patterns in blood and muscle across three European brown bear populations. Our results clearly demonstrated that, beyond tissue-driven divergences, the methylation patterns of the three populations are significantly distinct. Differentially methylated sites, possibly associated with genomic features involved in development and anatomical differentiation, are widespread across the bear genome. This finding supports previous studies suggesting a role for the alteration of developmental pathways in shaping phenotypic novelties with potential adaptative significance. Our results underscore the importance and the effectiveness of including epigenetic approaches in studying wild non-model organisms. Investigating the epigenome can be especially relevant for endangered populations that have experienced a significant erosion of genomic diversity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5978ca6c64224580a90370aa212fe955 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-5978ca6c64224580a90370aa212fe9552025-01-24T07:13:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2025-01-011210.3389/fevo.2024.15042251504225Intraspecific epigenomics divergence in brown bears (Ursus arctos): insights from genome-wide DNA methylation patternsPaolo Colangelo0Paolo Colangelo1Ian Marc Bonapace2Laura Gramolini3Emanuela Solano4Emanuela Solano5Elisa Desiato6Paolo Franchini7Leonardo Gentile8Roberto Guadagnini9Oddmund Kleven10Jonas Kindberg11Jonas Kindberg12Alexander Kopatz13Paolo Ciucci14Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council, Rome, ItalyNational Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) -National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Busto Arsizio, ItalyResearch Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council, Rome, ItalyResearch Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council, Rome, ItalyNational Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) -National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Busto Arsizio, ItalyDepartment of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, ItalyServizio Veterinario - Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo Lazio e Molise, Pescasseroli, ItalyGPG Wildlife Project, Mezzolombardo, Trento, ItalyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, NorwayNorwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, SwedenNorwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, ItalyEpigenetic mechanisms such as methylation can influence gene expression and play a crucial role in the adaptation to local environmental conditions, thereby introducing non-genetic variability within species. Here, using a Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing approach (RRBS), we compared the methylation patterns in blood and muscle across three European brown bear populations. Our results clearly demonstrated that, beyond tissue-driven divergences, the methylation patterns of the three populations are significantly distinct. Differentially methylated sites, possibly associated with genomic features involved in development and anatomical differentiation, are widespread across the bear genome. This finding supports previous studies suggesting a role for the alteration of developmental pathways in shaping phenotypic novelties with potential adaptative significance. Our results underscore the importance and the effectiveness of including epigenetic approaches in studying wild non-model organisms. Investigating the epigenome can be especially relevant for endangered populations that have experienced a significant erosion of genomic diversity.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1504225/fullRRBSmethylomenon-modelgene ontologyconservationpopulation |
| spellingShingle | Paolo Colangelo Paolo Colangelo Ian Marc Bonapace Laura Gramolini Emanuela Solano Emanuela Solano Elisa Desiato Paolo Franchini Leonardo Gentile Roberto Guadagnini Oddmund Kleven Jonas Kindberg Jonas Kindberg Alexander Kopatz Paolo Ciucci Intraspecific epigenomics divergence in brown bears (Ursus arctos): insights from genome-wide DNA methylation patterns Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution RRBS methylome non-model gene ontology conservation population |
| title | Intraspecific epigenomics divergence in brown bears (Ursus arctos): insights from genome-wide DNA methylation patterns |
| title_full | Intraspecific epigenomics divergence in brown bears (Ursus arctos): insights from genome-wide DNA methylation patterns |
| title_fullStr | Intraspecific epigenomics divergence in brown bears (Ursus arctos): insights from genome-wide DNA methylation patterns |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intraspecific epigenomics divergence in brown bears (Ursus arctos): insights from genome-wide DNA methylation patterns |
| title_short | Intraspecific epigenomics divergence in brown bears (Ursus arctos): insights from genome-wide DNA methylation patterns |
| title_sort | intraspecific epigenomics divergence in brown bears ursus arctos insights from genome wide dna methylation patterns |
| topic | RRBS methylome non-model gene ontology conservation population |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1504225/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT paolocolangelo intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT paolocolangelo intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT ianmarcbonapace intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT lauragramolini intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT emanuelasolano intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT emanuelasolano intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT elisadesiato intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT paolofranchini intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT leonardogentile intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT robertoguadagnini intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT oddmundkleven intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT jonaskindberg intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT jonaskindberg intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT alexanderkopatz intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns AT paolociucci intraspecificepigenomicsdivergenceinbrownbearsursusarctosinsightsfromgenomewidednamethylationpatterns |