Epigenetic age estimation in a long-lived, deepwater scorpionfish: insights into epigenetic clock development

Abstract

Age estimates are essential for fisheries assessment and management, but deepwater (textgreater200 m) fishes are often difficult to age using traditional techniques. Therefore, age-predictive epigenetic clocks were developed for a model deepwater reef fish, blackbelly rosefish (Helicolenus dactylopterus), using two tissue types (fin clips and muscle; n = 61 individuals; 9−60 years) and 14C-validated consensus age estimates. The influence of biological information (length and sex) on epigenetic clock accuracy, and the potential for developing a multi-tissue clock, were also assessed. Bisulfite-converted restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (bsRADseq) was used to identify CpG sites (cytosines followed by guanines) exhibiting age-correlated DNA methylation, and epigenetic clocks showed strong agreement (R2 textgreater 0.98) between predicted and consensus ages. Including length and sex data enhanced accuracy and precision (R2 textgreater 0.99; mean absolute error textless 1 year). Age-associated CpG sites were identified across tissues, but a multi-tissue clock performed poorly relative to single-tissue clocks. Overall, results demonstrate that accurate and precise epigenetic clocks can be developed for deepwater fishes, and the inclusion of biological information may enhance clock accuracy and precision.

Publication
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences