Influence of LED lights on global DNA methylation in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) during maturation phase

Abstract

It is undisputable that the environment can cause epigenetic changes in or-ganisms through histone modifications or DNA methylations. In eukaryotes, DNA methylation plays a major role in gene regulation. The pattern of meth-ylation varies with exposure to external environmental stimuli that include radiations. Present study was an attempt to compare the global DNA methyl-ation changes in Zebrafish on exposure to LED lights of varying intensities (5lx, 10lx and 15lx) with different wavelengths (red, green, blue and white) during their maturation phases. The result of the study indicates an increase in methylation in early phase of maturation till mid phase ( Ì´70th day), than decreases on reaching adult phase. Further, it was also noticed that the ac-cumulation of biomass vary as a function of wavelength of the light. The fishes exposed to red light were found to have significantly least biomass as compared to the fish that underwent to other LED treatments. It can be con-cluded that DNA methylation is not only dynamic during maturation but also seems to follow similar trend across the species. Nevertheless more studies need to be done to elucidate the undefined controlling mechanism for the variations in DNA methylation pattern during maturation phase and validate the hypothesis.