title: Mapping determinants of gene expression plasticity by genetical genomics in C. elegans.
abstract: Recent genetical genomics studies have provided intimate views on gene regulatory networks. Gene expression variations between genetically different individuals have been mapped to the causal regulatory regions, termed expression quantitative trait loci. Whether the environment-induced plastic response of gene expression also shows heritable difference has not yet been studied. Here we show that differential expression induced by temperatures of 16 degrees C and 24 degrees C has a strong genetic component in Caenorhabditis elegans recombinant inbred strains derived from a cross between strains CB4856 (Hawaii) and N2 (Bristol). No less than 59% of 308 trans-acting genes showed a significant eQTL-by-environment interaction, here termed plasticity quantitative trait loci. In contrast, only 8% of an estimated 188 cis-acting genes showed such interaction. This indicates that heritable differences in plastic responses of gene expression are largely regulated in trans. This regulation is spread over many different regulators. However, for one group of trans-genes we found prominent evidence for a common master regulator: a transband of 66 coregulated genes appeared at 24 degrees C. Our results suggest widespread genetic variation of differential expression responses to environmental impacts and demonstrate the potential of genetical genomics for mapping the molecular determinants of phenotypic plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Groningen Bioinformatics Centre, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Haren, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Olga Alda
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Evert W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Gutteling
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tijsterman
authors.forename: Jingyuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Joost A G
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Riksen
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hazendonk
authors.forename: Pjotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.forename: Ronald H A
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Plasterk
authors.forename: Ritsert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Breitling
authors.forename: Jan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kammenga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics*; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005838:Genotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger