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Methylome profiling in response to stress: mycotoxin (sporidesmin) exposure in sheep

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posted on 2024-08-08, 02:41 authored by Alex CaultonAlex Caulton, Kathryn McRaeKathryn McRae, Ken DoddsKen Dodds, Rudiger BrauningRudiger Brauning, Natalie Pickering, Tricia JohnsonTricia Johnson

Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, alter gene expression without changing the DNA sequence, allowing for immediate and reversible modulation of physiological responses to abiotic/biotic stress. Facial eczema (FE) is a metabolic disease, which causes liver damage in affected animals. It occurs as a result of ingestion of the mycotoxin sporidesmin, which is found in the spores of the pasture-dwelling fungus Pseudopithomyces chartarum. This pilot study investigated DNA methylation changes that occurred as a result of sporidesmin exposure and identified a number of differentially methylation genomic regions in animals with liver stress. Of note, the HBA gene showed differential methylation in the promoter region; the HBA co-subunit of haemoglobin HBB has previously been identified as a QTL for the disease in sheep. There may be potential for DNA methylation markers to be used as a diagnosis proxy for FE or as a selection marker for resilient animals in the future.

Funding

Beyond the genome: Exploiting methylomes to accelerate adaptation to a changing environment

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

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History

Rights statement

© Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 2023

Publication date

2023-07-23

Project number

  • PRJ0133592

Language

  • English

Does this contain Māori information or data?

  • No

Publisher

Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics

ISSN

1328-3227

Conference name

25th Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics (AAABG)

Conference location

Perth, Western Australia

Conference start date

2023-07-26

Conference end date

2023-07-28

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