Dynamic alterations in methylation of global DNA and growth-related genes in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) in response to starvation stress

Abstract DNA methylation is susceptible to various environmental factors such as salinity, temperature and nutritional conditions, and can affect gene function, organ metabolism, body growth and development. In order to explore the effect of starvation on growth-related genes in large yellow croaker ( Larimichthys crocea ), we studied methylation of the global DNA and growth-related genes ( MSTN1 , MSTN2,IGF1,IGF2 ) and the corresponding mRNA expressions, using ELISA-based technique, bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) technique and quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) respectively. The results showed that the global DNA methylation levels were significantly different ( p MSTN1, MSTN2, IGF1 and IGF2 were enriched in exons rather than promoters. The proximal promoter of MSTN1 and IGF1 and the exon1 of MSTN2 had almost no methylation at all treatment stages. The methylation status in MSTN1 exon 1 and IGF2 exon 2 varied from different starvation time, and started to have significant differences on starvation 7d ( p IGF2 exon 2 methylation and global DNA methylation ( r  = 0.7558). The mRNA expression levels of these growth-related genes were significantly different at starvation 14d ( p