Hybrid epigenomes reveal extensive local genetic changes to chromatin accessibility contribute to divergence in embryonic gene expression between species.

ABSTRACT: Chromatin accessibility plays an important role in shaping gene expression patterns across development and evolution; however, little is known about the genetic and molecular mechanisms that influence chromatin configuration itself. Because cis and trans influences can both theoretically influence the accessibility of the epigenome, we sought to better characterize the role that both of these mechanisms play in altering chromatin accessibility in two closely related sea urchin species. Using hybrids of the two species, and adapting a statistical framework previously developed for the analysis of cis and trans influences on the transcriptome, we examined how these mechanisms shape the regulatory landscape at three important developmental stages, and compared our

SUBMITTER: Devens HR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9881966 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature