DNA methylation patterns of behavior-related gene promoter regions dissect the gray wolf from domestic dog breeds.
A growing body of evidence highlights the relationship between epigenetics, especially DNA methylation, and population divergence as well as speciation. However, little is known about how general the phenomenon of epigenetics-wise separation of different populations is, or whether population assignment is, possible based on solely epigenetic marks. In the present study, we compared DNA methylation profiles between four different canine populations: three domestic dog breeds and their ancestor the gray wolf. Altogether, 79 CpG sites constituting the 65 so-called CpG units located in the promoter regions of genes affecting behavioral and temperamental traits (COMT, HTR1A, MAOA, OXTR, SLC6A4, TPH1, WFS1)-regions putatively targeted during domestication and breed selection. Methylation status of buccal cells was assessed using EpiTYPER technology. Significant inter-population methylation differences were found in 52.3% of all CpG units investigated. DNA methylation profile-based hierarchical cluster analysis indicated an unambiguous segregation of wolf from domestic dog. In addition, one of the three dog breeds (Golden Retriever) investigated also formed a separate, autonomous group. The findings support that population segregation is interrelated with shifts in DNA methylation patterns, at least in putative selection target regions, and also imply that epigenetic profiles could provide a sufficient basis for population assignment of individuals.
Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó utca 37-47, Budapest, 1094, Hungary. banlaki.zsofia@med.semmelweis-univ.hu.
Zsofia
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3815-422X
Z
Banlaki
Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.|Wolf Science Center, Dörfles 48, 2115, Ernstbrunn, Austria.|Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
Giulia
G
Cimarelli
Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.|Wolf Science Center, Dörfles 48, 2115, Ernstbrunn, Austria.
Zsofia
Z
Viranyi
MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.|Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
Eniko
E
Kubinyi
Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó utca 37-47, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.
Maria
M
Sasvari-Szekely
Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó utca 37-47, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.
Zsolt
Z
Ronai
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D004285:Dogs / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D019596:Wolves / Q000235:genetics*
Behavior; Canine; DNA methylation; Domestication; Population assignment; Promoter