Genome‐wide differential DNA methylation in tropically adapted Creole cattle and their Iberian ancestors

• DOI: 10.1111/age.12731
• Publication Date: 2018-12-19T14:47:26Z
• Authors: N. Sevane; R. Martínez; M. W. Bruford
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 0301 basic medicine; Tropical Climate; Genome; Adaptation, Biological; Breeding; Colombia; DNA Methylation; 15. Life on land; 03 medical and health sciences; Spain; 13. Climate action; Animals; Cattle; CpG Islands

Summary Enhancing climate resilience and sustainable production for animals in harsh environments are important goals the livestock industry given predicted impacts of change. Rapid adaptation to extreme climatic conditions has already been imposed on species, including those exported after Columbus's arrival Americas. We compared methylomes two Creole cattle breeds living tropical with their putative Spanish ancestors understand epigenetic mechanisms underlying rapid a domestic species new more physiologically challenging environment. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing was used assess differences methylation samples revealed 334 differentially methylated regions using high stringency parameters ( P‐ value <0.01, ≥4 CpGs within distance 200 bp, mean difference >25%) annotated 263 unique features. Gene ontology analysis candidate genes involved processes, hyper‐ or hypomethylated above 80% displaying biological functions related immune response IRF 6 , PTGDR FAM 19A5, PGLYRP 1 ), nervous system GBX 2, NKX 2‐8, RPGR energy management BTD heat resistance CYB 561 ) skin coat attributes LGR ). Our results entail that major environmental changes have had an impact measurable today, which affects implicated pathways adaptation. Although further work is needed, this first characterization patterns driven by profound change provides valuable pointer identification biomarkers improved performance welfare under models.