Intergenerational Patterns of DNA Methylation in Procambarus clarkii Following Exposure to Genotoxicants: A Conjugation in Past Simple or Past Continuous?

Abstract

Epigenome is susceptible to modulation by environmental pressures—namely, through alterations in global DNA methylation, impacting the organism condition and, ultimately, reverberating on the phenotype of the subsequent generations. Hence, an intergenerational study was conducted, aiming to clarify the influence of genotoxicants on global DNA methylation of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii. Two subsequent generations were exposed to the herbicide penoxsulam (Px; 23 µg·L−1) and to the genotoxicant model ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS; 5 mg·L−1). Px did not induce changes in DNA methylation of adult crayfish (F0). However, the hypomethylation occurring in unexposed F1 juveniles demonstrated that the history of exposure per se can modulate epigenome. In F1 descendants of the Px-exposed group, methylome (hypermethylated) was more affected in males than in females. EMS-induced hypomethylation in adult females (F0), also showed gender specificity. In addition, hypomethylation was also observed in the unexposed F1 crayfish, indicating an intergenerational epigenetic effect. The modulatory role of past exposure to penoxsulam or to EMS also showed a dependency on the crayfish developmental stage. Overall, this research revealed that indirect experiences (events occurring in a predecessor generation) can have an impact even greater than direct experiences (present events) on the epigenetic dynamics.

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“…Several other papers have been published dealing with the effects of pesticides on the methylation status of whole-animal genomes or specific genes. Marçal et al [ 21 ] found that the herbicide penoxsulam did not induce global DNA methylation changes in the F 0 generation of crayfish Procambarus clarkii but did find hypomethylation in unexposed F1 crayfish, indicating that events occurring in previous generations might have an impact on subsequent ones. Terrazas-Salgado et al [ 22 ] reviewed studies using zebrafish as an animal model to study the effect of xenobiotics, such as pesticides, drugs, or endocrine disruptors, on transgenerational epigenetic processes, particularly global or gene-specific DNA methylation, e.g., the methylation of FOXA2 (forkhead box protein A2) or rRNA genes.…”

Epigenetic Modulations for Prevention of Infectious Diseases in Shrimp Aquaculture

“…By building upon these intriguing findings, subsequent studies validated that exposure to other environmental stimuli, such as bioactive food components, could induce similar epigenomic modulation in artemia, resulting in the generation of robust phenotypes with resistance against V. campbellii over three successive generations [ 98 ]. Furthermore, alterations in water quality parameters, such as ammonia/nitrate levels, and exposure to environmental pollutants can instigate oxidative stress and potentially inflict damage to DNA in crustaceans, thereby potentially modulating epigenetic changes [ 188 , 189 , 190 ]. Additionally, air availability has been shown to influence DNA methylation patterns in kuruma shrimps, coinciding with changes in apoptosis and physiological responses [ 191 ].…”

Contribution of Amygdala Histone Acetylation in Early Life Stress-Induced Visceral Hypersensitivity and Emotional Comorbidity

“…ELS is a high-risk for the development of IBS. Literatures have reported an important epigenetic modulation in sustaining extrinsic phenotypes (Mitrousis et al, 2015;Louwies and Greenwood-Van Meerveld, 2020;Marcal et al, 2021). For example, histone acetylation modification can regulate gene expression and result in long-term abnormal behaviors (Graff and Tsai, 2013).…”