Magdalena Winklhofer

• Winklhofer, Magdalena (2022). Poster presentation at the Epigenetic Symposium in Oslo . Show summary

  Epigenetic mechanisms during anoxia and re-oxygenation in crucian carp brain Crucian carp (Carassius carassius) overwinter in ice-covered lakes and can survive hypoxia and anoxia for several months, depending on the temperature. The physiological adaptations allowing this survival are well understood at the whole-organism level, but we know less about the molecular machinery coordinating the various elements of adaptation to anoxia and re-oxygenation, and the possible role of epigenetic mechanisms. Posttranslational modifications such as methylation, on either the histone tail or the globular domain, or both, can cause chromatin remodeling. Consequently, gene expression can be activated, altered or repressed solely depending on the epigenetic environment. Previous experiments analyzing whole brain transcriptome (RNAseq) data have shown that a large proportion of the transcriptome is regulated differentially in response to anoxia, and we suspect that at least some of these changes in gene transcription during anoxia are regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. By whole genome DNA sequencing before and after bisulfite conversion, we want to determine if DNA methylation loci are altered. Furthermore, the resulting data from methylation sequencing can be correlated with RNAseq data to investigate which specific genes are under epigenetic regulation. The obtained data will help to uncover the role of epigenetic mechanisms involved in response to anoxia and further guide us towards uncovering potentially novel molecular players in anoxia tolerance.

• Winklhofer, Magdalena (2022). Poster at the conference in Montpellier (05.07.2022 - 08.07.2022). Show summary

  Epigenetic mechanisms during anoxia and re-oxygenation in crucian carp brain Crucian carp (Carassius carassius) overwinter in ice-covered lakes and can survive hypoxia and anoxia for several months, depending on the temperature. The physiological adaptations allowing this survival are well understood at the whole-organism level, but we know less about the molecular machinery coordinating the various elements of adaptation to anoxia and re-oxygenation, and the possible role of epigenetic mechanisms. Posttranslational modifications such as methylation, on either the histone tail or the globular domain, or both, can cause chromatin remodeling. Consequently, gene expression can be activated, altered or repressed solely depending on the epigenetic environment. Previous experiments analyzing whole brain transcriptome (RNAseq) data have shown that a large proportion of the transcriptome is regulated differentially in response to anoxia, and we suspect that at least some of these changes in gene transcription during anoxia are regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. By whole genome DNA sequencing before and after bisulfite conversion, we want to determine if DNA methylation loci are altered. Furthermore, the resulting data from methylation sequencing can be correlated with RNAseq data to investigate which specific genes are under epigenetic regulation. The obtained data will help to uncover the role of epigenetic mechanisms involved in response to anoxia and further guide us towards uncovering potentially novel molecular players in anoxia tolerance.

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