Abstract

DNA methylation is known to play an important role in the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. In this study, the author assessed the extent and pattern of cytosine methylation in the Scapharca broughtonii genome using the technique of methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP).The results showed that, DNA methylation rate was negatively related to the shell length, the gross weight and the weight of soft body, but positively related to the shell broadness and the shell height; there was significantly different between the parents and the offspring: 31.6% of 5'-CCGG sites in the Patinopecten yessoensis of Korean populations genome were cytosine methylated, and in the Patinopecten yessoensis of Chinese populations were 33%, the methylation rates of F1 was 29.98%; four classes of patterns were identified in a comparative assay of cytosine methylation in the parents and hybrid, increased methylation was detected in the hybrid compared to the parents at some of the recognition sites, while decreased methylation in the hybrid was detected at other sites. It indicated that the alteration of methylation resulted from cross-breeding, and the inbreeding did not change the methylation ratio and patterns; The DNA cytosine methylation has a relationship with the heterosis.

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