Contribution of epigenetic variation to adaptation in Arabidopsis.
- Schmid MW Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Heichinger C Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Coman Schmid D Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Guthörl D Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Gagliardini V Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Bruggmann R Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Bern, Hochschulstrasse 6, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
- Aluri S Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH and University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Aquino C Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH and University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Schmid B Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Basel, Tannenstrasse 1, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Turnbull LA Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Basel, Tannenstrasse 1, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Grossniklaus U Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland. grossnik@botinst.uzh.ch.
- 2018-10-27
Published in:
- Nature communications. - 2018
Adaptation, Physiological
Alleles
Arabidopsis
Base Sequence
Cytosine
DNA Methylation
Epigenesis, Genetic
Flowers
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Genes, Plant
Genetic Variation
Phenotype
Quantitative Trait, Heritable
Selection, Genetic
Sequence Analysis, DNA
English
In plants, transgenerational inheritance of some epialleles has been demonstrated but it remains controversial whether epigenetic variation is subject to selection and contributes to adaptation. Simulating selection in a rapidly changing environment, we compare phenotypic traits and epigenetic variation between Arabidopsis thaliana populations grown for five generations under selection and their genetically nearly identical ancestors. Selected populations of two distinct genotypes show significant differences in flowering time and plant architecture, which are maintained for at least 2-3 generations in the absence of selection. While we cannot detect consistent genetic changes, we observe a reduction of epigenetic diversity and changes in the methylation state of about 50,000 cytosines, some of which are associated with phenotypic changes. Thus, we propose that epigenetic variation is subject to selection and can contribute to rapid adaptive responses, although the extent to which epigenetics plays a role in adaptation is still unclear.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- gold
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1038/s41467-018-06932-5
- PMID 30361538
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/241755
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