Epigenetic Regulation by Histone Methylation and Demethylation in Freeze‐Tolerant Frog Kidney

• Published in: Cell biochemistry and function Vol. 42; no. 8; pp. e70036 - n/a
• Main Authors: Taiwo, Olawale O., Breedon, Sarah A., Storey, Kenneth B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.12.2024; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Amphibians; Animals; Conservation biology; Cryobiology; Cryopreservation; Cycle protein; Demethylation; DNA methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Epigenetics; Extreme cold; freeze tolerance; Freezing; Frogs; Gene expression; Histone Demethylases - genetics; Histone Demethylases - metabolism; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase - genetics; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase - metabolism; Histones; Histones - metabolism; hypometabolism; Ice formation; Immunoblotting; kidney; Kidney - metabolism; Kidneys; Lysine; Medical innovations; Medical research; Medical science; Melting; Methylation; Physiology; Rana sylvatica; Ranidae - genetics; Ranidae - metabolism; Thawing; kidney; hypometabolism; freeze tolerance; gene expression; Rana sylvatica
• ISSN: 0263-6484; 1099-0844; 1099-0844
• DOI: 10.1002/cbf.70036

ABSTRACT The wood frog (Rana sylvatica) endures whole‐body freezing over the winter, with extensive extracellular ice formation and halted physiological activities. Epigenetic mechanisms, including reversible histone lysine methylation, enable quick alterations in gene expression, helping to maintain viability during freeze‐thaw cycles. The present study evaluated eight histone lysine methyltransferases (KMTs), 10 histone lysine demethylases (KDMs), and 11 histone marks in wood frog kidneys. Using immunoblotting, significant changes in relative protein levels of multiple KMTs and KDMs were observed in response to freezing, with variable alterations during thawing. Specifically, the repressive methyl marks H3K27me1 and H4K20me3 significantly decreased during freezing, whereas H3K9me3, H3K27me3, and H3K36me2 decreased during thawing. These results demonstrate that the regulation of histone methylation and demethylation play crucial roles in controlling gene expression over the freeze‐thaw cycle and the maintenance of normal renal physiology. Summary This research explores how histone methylation and demethylation regulate gene expression in the kidneys of freeze‐tolerant frogs, providing insights into how these animals survive prolonged extreme cold. Key findings reveal specific epigenetic modifications that enable frogs to endure freezing temperatures, offering a model for understanding similar survival mechanisms in other species. This work is significant because it further expands avenues for cryobiology research and may inspire innovative strategies for tissue preservation and organ transplantation, with potential impacts on both conservation biology and medical science.