title: Environmental heat stress induces epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of robustness in parthenogenetic Artemia model.
abstract: The notion that phenotypic traits emerging from environmental experiences are heritable remains under debate. However, the recent report of nonmendelian transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, i.e., the inheritance of traits not determined by the DNA sequence, might make such a phenomenon plausible. In our study, by carrying out common garden experiments, we could provide clear evidences that, on exposure to nonlethal heat shocks, a parental population of parthenogenetic (all female) Artemia (originating from one single female) experiences an increase in levels of Hsp70 production, tolerance toward lethal heat stress, and resistance against pathogenic Vibrio campbellii. Interestingly, these acquired phenotypic traits were transmitted to three successive generations, none of which were exposed to the parental stressor. This transgenerational inheritance of the acquired traits was associated with altered levels of global DNA methylation and acetylated histones H3 and H4 in the heat-shocked group compared to the control group, where both the parental and successive generations were reared at standard temperature. These results indicated that epigenetic mechanisms, such as global DNA methylation and histones H3 and H4 acetylation, have particular dynamics that are crucial in the heritability of the acquired adaptive phenotypic traits across generations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aquaculture, Artemia Reference Center, and.
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norouzitallab
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aquaculture, Artemia Reference Center, and.
authors.forename: Kartik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baruah
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium;
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vandegehuchte
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aquaculture, Artemia Reference Center, and.
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Stappen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; and.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vanden Bussche
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vanhaecke
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aquaculture, Artemia Reference Center, and.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sorgeloos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aquaculture, Artemia Reference Center, and peter.bossier@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bossier
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000220:Adaptation, Biological / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006657:Histones / Q000502:physiology*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D040582:Inheritance Patterns; D007814:Larva; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010312:Parthenogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D054712:Salinity; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014733:Vibrio / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006657:Histones
keywords: DNA methylation; heat shock protein 70; heritability; histone modification; stress resistance