Affiliation:
1. Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation , Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 51038 , China
2. College of Life Science and Fisheries , Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
Abstract
Abstract
DNA methylation plays a significant role in transducing external environmental signals to a cellular response in reptiles; however, whether the methylation patterns are conserved across species remains unclear. Here, we examined the genome-wide DNA methylation differentiation between male and female hatchling gonads of the temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) Mauremys mutica (M. mutica) using methylation-dependent restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (MethylRAD-seq) to test differentially methylated genes underlying sexual development. Several categories, including heat-shock genes (HSP90A, HSP30C), histone- (KDM8) and ubiquitin-related genes (TRIM39), kinases (WNK3), and gonad differentiation or gonadal-development-related genes (HSD17B8, HSD17B12), were identified as candidates for future study. Additionally, we identified several regulatory pathways potentially mediating TSD thermosensitivity such as the GnRH signaling pathway and calcium signaling pathway. These findings provide evidence that sexually dimorphic DNA methylation may be associated with sex determination or sex differentiation in TSD M. mutica.
Funder
Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Provincial
China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund
Guangdong Agricultural Research System
Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, CAFS
National Key Research and Development Program of China
Applied Basic Research Foundation of Yunnan Province
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Subject
Cell Biology,General Medicine,Reproductive Medicine