Host under epigenetic control: A novel perspective on the interaction between microorganisms and corals

Coral reefs have been challenged by the current rate and severity of environmental change that might outpace their ability to adapt and survive. Current research focuses on understanding how microbial communities and epigenetic changes separately affect phenotypes and gene expression of corals. Here...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BioEssays 2021-10, Vol.43 (10), p.e2100068-n/a
Main Authors: Barno, Adam R., Villela, Helena D. M., Aranda, Manuel, Thomas, Torsten, Peixoto, Raquel S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ankyrins
beneficial bacteria
coral
Coral reefs
Corals
DNA methyltransferase
Environmental changes
Epigenetics
Gene expression
global change
Histone methyltransferase
Histones
Homology
Internalin
Microbial activity
microbiome manipulation
Microbiomes
Microorganisms
Phenotypes
probiotics
Protein A
Proteins
resilience
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Summary:Coral reefs have been challenged by the current rate and severity of environmental change that might outpace their ability to adapt and survive. Current research focuses on understanding how microbial communities and epigenetic changes separately affect phenotypes and gene expression of corals. Here, we provide the hypothesis that coral‐associated microorganisms may directly or indirectly affect the coral's phenotypic response through the modulation of its epigenome. Homologs of ankyrin‐repeat protein A and internalin B, which indirectly cause histone modifications in humans, as well as Rv1988 histone methyltransferase, and the DNA methyltransferases Rv2966c, Mhy1, Mhy2, and Mhy3 found in coral‐associated bacteria indicate that there are potential host epigenome‐modifying proteins in the coral microbiome. With the ideas presented here, we suggest that microbiome manipulation may be a means to alter a coral's epigenome, which could aid the current efforts to protect coral reefs. Also see the video here: https://youtu.be/CW9GbChjKM4 We hypothesize that coral‐associated microorganisms can modify the epigenome of their hosts and cause changes to the gene expression patterns and coral phenotype. Furthermore, the modified epigenomes may be inherited by coral offspring, which makes this a promising area of research for coral rehabilitation efforts.
ISSN:0265-9247
1521-1878
DOI:10.1002/bies.202100068