Genome-wide DNA Methylation Patterns in Daphnia magna Reveal Targeting to 5' Exons

Daphnia magna is a widely used model organism in ecological and evolutionary studies. DNA methylation in D. magna can influence development and adaptation to changing environments. Previous studies have demonstrated that D. magna is generally hypomethylated. In this study we confirmed these observations using whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS). In line with previous studies we observe that DNA methylation is elevated in the first exons downstream of the transcription start sites (TSS). Moreover, these exons are hypermethylated compared to adjacent introns. In contrast to prior studies in Daphnia, we found no significant changes in DNA methylation with age. These observations extend our understanding of the epigenetic landscape in D. magna, and motivate further exploration of epigenetic regulation in this organism and its response to environmental factors. Overall design: Bisulfite sequencing of whole genome WT Daphnia magna from 3 age groups (18 samples)