scholarly journals Epigenetic control of phenotypic plasticity in a filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilkka Kronholm ◽  
Hanna Johannesson ◽  
Tarmo Ketola
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Filamentous Fungus ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Controlled Environments ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Developmental Conditions ◽  
Plastic Responses

AbstractPhenotypic plasticity is the ability of a genotype to produce different phenotypes under different environmental or developmental conditions. Phenotypic plasticity is an ubiquitous feature of living organisms, and is typically based on variable patterns of gene expression. However, the mechanisms by which gene expression is influenced and regulated during plastic responses are poorly understood in most organisms. While modifications to DNA and histone proteins have been implicated as likely candidates for generating and regulating phenotypic plasticity, specific details of each modification and its mode of operation have remained largely unknown. In this study, we investigated how epigenetic mechanisms affect phenotypic plasticity in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. By measuring reaction norms of strains that are deficient in one of several key physiological processes we show that epigenetic mechanisms play a role in homeostasis and phenotypic plasticity of the fungus across a range of controlled environments. Effects on plasticity are specific to an environment and mechanism, indicating that epigenetic regulation is context dependent and is not governed by general plasticity genes. In our experiments with Neurospora, histone methylation and the RNA interference pathway had the greatest influence on phenotypic plasticity, while lack of DNA methylation had the least.

scholarly journals Epigenetic Control of Phenotypic Plasticity in the Filamentous Fungus Neurospora crassa

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 4009-4022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilkka Kronholm ◽  
Hanna Johannesson ◽  
Tarmo Ketola
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Filamentous Fungus ◽  
Reaction Norm ◽  
Histone Deacetylation ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Plastic Response ◽  
H3k27 Methylation ◽  
Plastic Responses

Abstract Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of a genotype to produce different phenotypes under different environmental or developmental conditions. Phenotypic plasticity is a ubiquitous feature of living organisms, and is typically based on variable patterns of gene expression. However, the mechanisms by which gene expression is influenced and regulated during plastic responses are poorly understood in most organisms. While modifications to DNA and histone proteins have been implicated as likely candidates for generating and regulating phenotypic plasticity, specific details of each modification and its mode of operation have remained largely unknown. In this study, we investigated how epigenetic mechanisms affect phenotypic plasticity in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. By measuring reaction norms of strains that are deficient in one of several key physiological processes, we show that epigenetic mechanisms play a role in homeostasis and phenotypic plasticity of the fungus across a range of controlled environments. In general, effects on plasticity are specific to an environment and mechanism, indicating that epigenetic regulation is context dependent and is not governed by general plasticity genes. Specifically, we found that, in Neurospora, histone methylation at H3K36 affected plastic response to high temperatures, H3K4 methylation affected plastic response to pH, but H3K27 methylation had no effect. Similarly, DNA methylation had only a small effect in response to sucrose. Histone deacetylation mainly decreased reaction norm elevation, as did genes involved in histone demethylation and acetylation. In contrast, the RNA interference pathway was involved in plastic responses to multiple environments.

scholarly journals Phenotypic plasticity as a mechanism of cave colonization and adaptation

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Bilandžija ◽  
Breanna Hollifield ◽  
Mireille Steck ◽  
Guanliang Meng ◽  
Mandy Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Single Generation ◽  
Astyanax Mexicanus ◽  
Cave Adaptation ◽  
Dark Conditions ◽  
Plastic Responses

A widely accepted model for the evolution of cave animals posits colonization by surface ancestors followed by the acquisition of adaptations over many generations. However, the speed of cave adaptation in some species suggests mechanisms operating over shorter timescales. To address these mechanisms, we used Astyanax mexicanus, a teleost with ancestral surface morphs (surface fish, SF) and derived cave morphs (cavefish, CF). We exposed SF to completely dark conditions and identified numerous altered traits at both the gene expression and phenotypic levels. Remarkably, most of these alterations mimicked CF phenotypes. Our results indicate that many cave-related traits can appear within a single generation by phenotypic plasticity. In the next generation, plasticity can be further refined. The initial plastic responses are random in adaptive outcome but may determine the subsequent course of evolution. Our study suggests that phenotypic plasticity contributes to the rapid evolution of cave-related traits in A. mexicanus.

scholarly journals Phenotypic plasticity as a mechanism of cave colonization and adaptation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Bilandžija ◽  
Breanna Hollifield ◽  
Mireille Steck ◽  
Guanliang Meng ◽  
Mandy Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Single Generation ◽  
Astyanax Mexicanus ◽  
Cave Adaptation ◽  
Dark Conditions ◽  
Plastic Responses

ABSTRACTA widely accepted model for the evolution of cave animals posits colonization by surface ancestors followed by the acquisition of adaptations over many generations. However, the speed of cave adaptation in some species suggests mechanisms operating over shorter timescales. To address these mechanisms, we used Astyanax mexicanus, a teleost with ancestral surface morphs (surface fish, SF) and derived cave morphs (cavefish, CF). We exposed SF to completely dark conditions and identified numerous altered traits at both the gene expression and phenotypic levels. Remarkably, most of these alterations mimicked CF phenotypes. Our results indicate that cave-related traits can appear within a single generation by phenotypic plasticity. In the next generation, plasticity can be further refined. The initial plastic responses are random in adaptive outcome but may determine the subsequent course of evolution. Our study suggests that phenotypic plasticity contributes to the rapid evolution of cave-related traits in A. mexicanus.

Epigenetic Mechanisms of Maternal Dietary Protein and Amino Acids Affecting Growth and Development of Offspring

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 727-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Wu ◽  
Zhibin Cheng ◽  
Yueyu Bai ◽  
Xi Ma
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Biological Macromolecules ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Maternal Circulation ◽  
Energy Processing ◽  
Living Organisms

Nutrients can regulate metabolic activities of living organisms through epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and RNA regulation. Since the nutrients required for early embryos and postpartum lactation are derived in whole or in part from maternal and lactating nutrition, the maternal nutritional level affects the growth and development of fetus and creates a profound relationship between disease development and early environmental exposure in the offspring’s later life. Protein is one of the most important biological macromolecules, involved in almost every process of life, such as information transmission, energy processing and material metabolism. Maternal protein intake levels may affect the integrity of the fetal genome and alter DNA methylation and gene expression. Most amino acids are supplied to the fetus from the maternal circulation through active transport of placenta. Some amino acids, such as methionine, as dietary methyl donor, play an important role in DNA methylation and body’s one-carbon metabolism. The purpose of this review is to describe effects of maternal dietary protein and amino acid intake on fetal and neonatal growth and development through epigenetic mechanisms, with examples in humans and animals.

Phenotypic plasticity

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen D. Williams ◽  
Marla B. Sokolowski
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Behavioral Plasticity ◽  
Behavioral Flexibility ◽  
Insect Behavior ◽  
Behavioral Variability ◽  
Gene By Environment Interactions ◽  
Affect Gene Expression

Why is there so much variation in insect behavior? This chapter will address the sources of behavioral variability, with a particular focus on phenotypic plasticity. Variation in social, nutritional, and seasonal environmental contexts during development and adulthood can give rise to phenotypic plasticity. To delve into mechanism underlying behavioral flexibility in insects, examples of polyphenisms, a type of phenotypic plasticity, will be discussed. Selected examples reveal that environmental change can affect gene expression, which in turn can affect behavioral plasticity. These changes in gene expression together with gene-by-environment interactions are discussed to illuminate our understanding of insect behavioral plasticity.

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