Epigenome-associated phenotypic acclimatization to ocean acidification in a reef-building coral
Files
Self archived version
published versionDate
2018Author(s)
Unique identifier
10.1126/sciadv.aar8028Metadata
Show full item recordMore information
Self-archived item
Citation
Liew, Yi Jin. Zoccola, Didier. Li, Yong. Tambutté, Eric. Venn, Alexander A.. Michell, Craig T.. Cui, Guoxin. Deutekom, Eva S.. Kaandorp, Jaap A.. Voolstra, Christian R.. Forêt, Sylvain. Allemand, Denis. Tambutté, Sylvie. Aranda, Manuel. (2018). Epigenome-associated phenotypic acclimatization to ocean acidification in a reef-building coral. Science advances, 4 (6) , 1-10. 10.1126/sciadv.aar8028.Rights
Abstract
There are increasing concerns that the current rate of climate changemight outpace the ability of reef-building corals to adapt to future conditions. Work on model systems has shown that environmentally induced alterations in DNA methylation can lead to phenotypic acclimatization.WhileDNAmethylation has been reported in corals and is thought to associate with phenotypic plasticity, potential mechanisms linked to changes in whole-genome methylation have yet to be elucidated.Weshow thatDNAmethylation significantly reduces spurious transcription in the coral Stylophora pistillata. Furthermore, we find that DNA methylation also reduces transcriptional noise by fine-tuning the expression of highly expressed genes. Analysis of DNA methylation patterns of corals subjected to long-term pH stress showed widespread changes in pathways regulating cell cycle and body size. Correspondingly, we found significant increases in cell and polyp sizes that resulted in more porous skeletons, supporting the hypothesis that linear extension rates are maintained under conditions of reduced calcification. These findings suggest an epigenetic component in phenotypic acclimatization that provides corals with an additional mechanism to cope with environmental change.