Molecular insights into high altitude adaption and acclimatisation of Aporrectodea caliginosa

Iain Perry, Szabolcs Balazs Hernadi, Luis Cunha, Stephen Short, David Spurgeon, Pablo Orozco-Terwengel, Angela M Marchbank, Peter Kille

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    Abstract

    Here we explore the high-altitude adaptions and acclimatisation of Aporrectodea caliginosa. Population diversity is assessed through mitochondrial barcoding, identifying closely related populations across the island of Pico (Azores). We present the first Megabase N50 assembly size (1.2 Mbp) genome for A. caliginosa is presented. High and low -altitude populations were exposed experimentally to a range of Oxygen and temperature conditions, simulating altitudinal conditions and the transcriptomic responses explored. SNP densities are assessed to identify signatures of selective pressure and their link to differentially expressed genes. The high-altitude A. caliginosa population had lower differential expression and fewer co-expressed genes between conditions indicating a more condition refined epigenetic response. Genes identified as under adaptive pressure through Fst and nucleotide diversity in the high-altitude population clustered around the differentially expressed upstream environmental response control gene, HMGB1. The high-altitude population of A. caliginosa indicated adaption and acclimatisation to high altitude conditions and suggested resilience to extreme weather events. This mechanistic understanding could help offer a strategy in further identifying other species capable of maintaining soil fertility in extreme environments.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article number01513
    Number of pages12
    JournalLife Science Alliance
    Volume5
    Issue number11
    Early online date17 Aug 2022
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2022

    Keywords

    • Adaptation, Physiological - genetics
    • Altitude
    • Animals
    • Genome
    • Oligochaeta

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