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Abstract：
Many ectotherms hibernate to increase their chances of survival during harsh winter conditions. The role of DNA methylation in regulating gene expression related to hibernation in ectotherms remains unclear. Here, we employed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) technology to construct a comprehensive genome-wide DNA methylation landscape of the hindlimb muscles in the Chinese alligator during hibernation and active periods. The results indicated that methylation modifications were most abundant at CG sites, identifying 9447 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and 2329 differentially methylated genes (DMGs). KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the DMGs revealed significant enrichment in major pathways such as the neurotrophin signaling pathway, the MAPK signaling pathway, the GnRH signaling pathway, the biosynthesis of amino acids, and the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, which are closely related to lipid metabolism, energy metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Among these, 412 differentially methylated genes were located in promoter regions, including genes related to energy metabolism such as ATP5F1C, ATP5MD, PDK3, ANGPTL1, and ANGPTL2, and genes related to ubiquitin-proteasome degradation such as FBXO28, FBXO43, KLHL40, and PSMD5. These findings suggest that methylation in promoter regions may play a significant role in regulating the adaptive hibernation mechanisms in the Chinese alligator. This study contributes to a further understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms behind the hibernation of the Chinese alligator.
摘要：
在严酷的冬季条件下，许多外温动物冬眠以增加其生存机会。DNA甲基化在调节与体外冬眠相关的基因表达中的作用尚不清楚。这里,我们采用全基因组亚硫酸氢盐测序（WGBS）技术，在冬眠和活动期间，构建了中华扬子鳄后肢肌肉的全基因组DNA甲基化综合景观。结果表明，CG位点的甲基化修饰最为丰富，鉴定9447个差异甲基化区域(DMRs)和2329个差异甲基化基因(DMGs)。DMGs的KEGG通路富集分析揭示了神经营养蛋白信号通路等主要通路的显著富集,MAPK信号通路，GnRH信号通路,氨基酸的生物合成，和肌动蛋白细胞骨架的调节，与脂质代谢密切相关，能量代谢，和氨基酸代谢。其中,412个差异甲基化基因位于启动子区，包括与能量代谢相关的基因，如ATP5F1C，ATP5MD,PDK3、ANGPTL1和ANGPTL2，以及与泛素-蛋白酶体降解相关的基因，如FBXO28、FBXO43、KLHL40和PSMD5。这些发现表明，启动子区域的甲基化可能在调节扬子鳄的适应性冬眠机制中起重要作用。这项研究有助于进一步了解扬子鳄冬眠背后的表观遗传机制。
