Epigenetic Potential in Native and Introduced Populations of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus)
Autor: | Lynn B. Martin, Bilal Koussayer, Haley E. Hanson, Holly J. Kilvitis, Aaron W. Schrey, J. Dylan Maddox |
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Rok vydání: | 2020 |
Předmět: |
Epigenomics
0106 biological sciences 0301 basic medicine Population Gene Expression Plant Science Biology 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Epigenesis Genetic 03 medical and health sciences biology.animal Animals Epigenetics education Genetic diversity education.field_of_study Phenotypic plasticity Sparrow DNA binding site 030104 developmental biology CpG site Evolutionary biology Genetic structure Animal Science and Zoology Sparrows |
Zdroj: | Integrative and Comparative Biology. 60:1458-1468 |
ISSN: | 1557-7023 1540-7063 |
Popis: | Synopsis Epigenetic potential, defined as the capacity for epigenetically-mediated phenotypic plasticity, may play an important role during range expansions. During range expansions, populations may encounter relatively novel challenges while experiencing lower genetic diversity. Phenotypic plasticity via epigenetic potential might be selectively advantageous at the time of initial introduction or during spread into new areas, enabling introduced organisms to cope rapidly with novel challenges. Here, we asked whether one form of epigenetic potential (i.e., the abundance of CpG sites) in three microbial surveillance genes: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 1B (TLR1B), 2A (TLR2A), and 4 (TLR4) varied between native and introduced house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Using an opportunistic approach based on samples collected from sparrow populations around the world, we found that introduced birds had more CpG sites in TLR2A and TLR4, but not TLR1B, than native ones. Introduced birds also lost more CpG sites in TLR1B, gained more CpG sites in TLR2A, and lost fewer CpG sites in TLR4 compared to native birds. These results were not driven by differences in genetic diversity or population genetic structure, and many CpG sites fell within predicted transcription factor binding sites (TFBS), with losses and gains of CpG sites altering predicted TFBS. Although we lacked statistical power to conduct the most rigorous possible analyses, these results suggest that epigenetic potential may play a role in house sparrow range expansions, but additional work will be critical to elucidating how epigenetic potential affects gene expression and hence phenotypic plasticity at the individual, population, and species levels. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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