Alexandra Weyrich, Marie Jeschek, Katharina T. Schrapers, Dorina Lenz, Tzu Hung Chung, Kathrin Ruebensam, Sermin Yasar, Markus Schneemann, Sylvia Ortmann, Katarina Jewgenow, Jörns Fickel
- Epigenetic modifications, of which DNA methylation is the most stable, are a mechanism conveying environmental information to subsequent generations via parental germ lines. The paternal contribution to adaptive processes in the offspring might be crucial, but has been widely neglected in comparison to the maternal one. To address the paternal impact on the offspring’s adaptability to changes in diet composition, we investigated if low protein diet (LPD) in F0 males caused epigenetic alterations in their subsequently sired sons. We therefore fed F0 male Wild guinea pigs with a diet lowered in protein content (LPD) and investigated DNA methylation in sons sired before and after their father’s LPD treatment in both, liver and testis tissues. Our results point to a ‘heritable epigenetic response’ of the sons to the fathers’ dietary change. Because we detected methylation changes also in the testis tissue, they are likely to be transmitted to the F2 generation. Gene-network analyses of differentially methylated genes in liver identifiedEpigenetic modifications, of which DNA methylation is the most stable, are a mechanism conveying environmental information to subsequent generations via parental germ lines. The paternal contribution to adaptive processes in the offspring might be crucial, but has been widely neglected in comparison to the maternal one. To address the paternal impact on the offspring’s adaptability to changes in diet composition, we investigated if low protein diet (LPD) in F0 males caused epigenetic alterations in their subsequently sired sons. We therefore fed F0 male Wild guinea pigs with a diet lowered in protein content (LPD) and investigated DNA methylation in sons sired before and after their father’s LPD treatment in both, liver and testis tissues. Our results point to a ‘heritable epigenetic response’ of the sons to the fathers’ dietary change. Because we detected methylation changes also in the testis tissue, they are likely to be transmitted to the F2 generation. Gene-network analyses of differentially methylated genes in liver identified main metabolic pathways indicating a metabolic reprogramming (‘metabolic shift’). Epigenetic mechanisms, allowing an immediate and inherited adaptation may thus be important for the survival of species in the context of a persistently changing environment, such as climate change.…
MetadatenAuthor details: | Alexandra WeyrichORCiD, Marie Jeschek, Katharina T. Schrapers, Dorina Lenz, Tzu Hung Chung, Kathrin Ruebensam, Sermin Yasar, Markus Schneemann, Sylvia Ortmann, Katarina Jewgenow, Jörns FickelORCiDGND |
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DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1093/eep/dvy011 |
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ISSN: | 2058-5888 |
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Pubmed ID: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29992049 |
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Title of parent work (English): | Environmental Epigenetics |
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Publisher: | Oxford Univ. Press |
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Place of publishing: | Oxford |
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Publication type: | Article |
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Language: | English |
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Date of first publication: | 2018/06/29 |
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Publication year: | 2018 |
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Release date: | 2021/12/15 |
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Tag: | DNA methylation; adaptation; exposure; inheritance; plasticity; wild mammal species |
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Volume: | 4 |
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Issue: | 2 |
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Number of pages: | 12 |
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Funding institution: | Leibniz Competition Fund [SAW-2011-IZW-2, SAW-2018-IZW-3-EpiRank] |
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Organizational units: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Biochemie und Biologie |
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DDC classification: | 5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 57 Biowissenschaften; Biologie / 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie |
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| 6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit |
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Peer review: | Referiert |
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Publishing method: | Open Access / Gold Open-Access |
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| DOAJ gelistet |
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License (German): | CC-BY-NC - Namensnennung, nicht kommerziell 4.0 International |
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External remark: | Zweitveröffentlichung in der Schriftenreihe Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe ; 1065 |
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