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Published on: August 28, 2018
Cold-induced retrotransposition of fish LINEs
Shue Chen1, Mengchao Yu2, Xu Chu2
1Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Resources and Utilization, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Cold exposure activates retrotransposon activity in fish, mediated by MAPK/p38 signaling. This process enhances cell survival in cold conditions, revealing a role for long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) in temperature adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Retrotransposons, particularly long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs), form a significant part of metazoan genomes.
- A correlation between retrotransposon abundance and low environmental temperatures has been observed, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms linking low temperatures to retrotransposon activity.
- To determine if cold exposure influences the retrotransposition of Antarctic fish LINEs (dmL1).
- To explore the role of LINEs in fish adaptation to cold environments.
Main Methods:
- Cell transfection assays using Dissostichus mawsoni LINE (dmL1).
- Analysis of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/p38 signaling pathway and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation.
- Comparative studies using zebrafish LINEs in cell lines and tissues.
Main Results:
- Low temperature exposure activated dmL1 retrotransposition, increasing dmL1 copies in host cells.
- Cold-induced LINE propagation was mediated by the MAPK/p38 pathway, activated by ROS under cold stress.
- dmL1-transfected cells exhibited increased viability compared to non-transfected cells during prolonged cold exposure.
- Cold inducibility of dmL1 was observed in zebrafish LINEs, suggesting a conserved mechanism in fishes.
Conclusions:
- LINE retrotransposition is activated by cold stress in fish via the MAPK/p38 pathway.
- LINE elements may play a crucial role in fish adaptation to low temperatures.
- This study provides insights into stress-responsive pathways shaping LINE composition in fish facing environmental cold challenges.
