华中农业大学赵云霞等研究人员合作发现，与体温相关的表观基因组特征使耐寒猪在寒冷暴露期间的组织趋于稳定。相关论文于2024年7月4日在线发表在《遗传学报》上。

研究人员利用H3K27ac CUT&Tag、RNA-seq和选择性标记分析，探讨了两种抗寒中国猪种——闽猪和恩施黑猪（ES猪）在寒冷环境中表观基因组特征的变化。结果显示，寒冷暴露后，闽猪间脑和ES猪脂肪组织中的H3K27ac修饰发生了显著变化。闽猪中H3K27ac修饰的显著变化主要与参与能量代谢和激素调节的基因相关，而ES猪中则主要与免疫相关基因相关。

此外，选择性证据显示的转录因子PRDM1和HSF1分别富集在闽猪间脑和ES猪脂肪中呈现寒冷反应的H3K27ac修饰变化的基因组区域。研究结果表明，闽猪和ES猪对寒冷暴露的表观基因组反应机制具有多样性，为研究大型哺乳动物低温适应性提供了独特的表观遗传资源。

据了解，低温环境中的寒冷应激会引发基因表达的变化，但包括脂肪和间脑在内的关键组织的温度稳定性表观基因组调控仍不清楚。

附：英文原文

Title: Epigenomic features associated with body temperature stabilize tissues during cold exposure in cold-resistant pigs

Author: Hong Ma c, Di Liu c, Shuhong Zhao a b d, Yunxia Zhao a b

Issue&Volume: 2024/07/04

Abstract: Cold stress in low-temperature environments can trigger changes in gene expression, but epigenomics regulation of temperature stability in vital tissues, including the fat and diencephalon, is still unclear. Here, we explore the cold-induced changes in epigenomic features in the diencephalon and fat tissues of two cold-resistant Chinese pig breeds, Min and Enshi black (ES) pigs, utilizing H3K27ac CUT&Tag, RNA-seq, and selective signature analysis. Our results show significant alterations in H3K27ac modifications in the diencephalon of Min pigs and the fat of ES pigs after cold exposure. Dramatic changes in H3K27ac modifications in Min pigs are primarily associated with genes involved in energy metabolism and hormone regulation, whereas those in ES pigs are primarily associated with immunity-related genes. Moreover, transcription factors PRDM1 and HSF1, which show evidence of selection, are enriched in genomic regions presenting cold-responsive alterations in H3K27ac modification in the Min pig diencephalon and ES pig fat, respectively. Our results indicate the diversity of epigenomic response mechanisms to cold exposure between Min and ES pigs, providing unique epigenetic resources for studies of low-temperature adaptation in large mammals.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.06.017

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1673852724001590