Application of the LUminometric Methylatoion Assay for plant ecological researches: the study of global DNA methylation in leaves of Elodea canadensis under laboratory conditions and in leaves of fen orchid from wild populations

Abstract

The epigenetic changes in the genome of plants are one of the important regulatory mechanisms in response to the environmental factors. The LUminometric Methylation Assay (LUMA) requires a relatively small DNA amount, a short processing time and is easily adapted for species with a non-resolved genome. The LUMA has not been previously used for ecological research of plants. In this research, LUMA was used for the first time to investigate the changes of global DNA methylation under different environmental factors in the leaves of different plants. The influence of salinity on global DNA methylation was studied on aquatic macrophyte Elodea canadensis Michx, which grew in aquatic tanks under different NaCl concentrations. After the third week of growth, the HpaII/MspI ratio was measured by LUMA and global DNA methylation percentages were calculated. The results showed salt stress-induced changes in the global DNA methylation level in E.canadensis leaves, compared to control. The response was salt dose-dependent. The changes of global DNA methylation in wildlife plant populations were analogically assessed on fen orchid Liparis loeselii (L.) Rich. It was shown that global DNA methylation level was higher in leaves of these plants in Engure Lake, where there are temporary changes in water regime, compared to leaves of plants from other places. It was assumed that global GC-DNA methylation plays an essential role in the survival of this plant. Therefore, we show the possibilities of using the LUMA method for epigenetic study of different plants ecological researches.