Table 2 Gene Ontology (GO) terms enriched with the genes corresponding to the differentially methylated regions (P < 0.05) in striped bass sperm of high- and sub-fertility

Biological Process

GO:0001654 eye development P = 1.91 × 10^− 4

 bbs9 (− 0.919 fold methylation, DMR downstream of gene), vangl2 (+ 1.130 fold methylation, DMR within gene), nfkb1 (+ 1.199 fold methylation, DMR within gene), lamc1 (− 0.796 fold methylation, DMR within gene), axin1 (+ 0.772 fold methylation, DMR within gene)

GO:0007369 gastrulation P = 1.56 × 10^− 2

 bbs9 (− 0.919 fold methylation, DMR downstream of gene), vangl2 (+ 1.130 fold methylation, DMR within gene), bcl2l10 (+ 0.987 fold, DMR downstream of gene)

GO:0051301 cell division P = 1.63 × 10^− 2

 cdc6 (− 0.576 fold, DMR downstream of gene), babam1 (+ 1.174 fold, DMR downstream of gene)^a

nuf2 (+ 1.278 fold, DMR downstream of gene), cntrl(− 0.481 fold, DMR downstream of gene)

GO:0007257 activation of JUN kinase activity P = 2.49 × 10^− 2

 mapk8ip3 (− 2.553X fold, DMR downstream of gene)^a, axin1 (+ 0.772 fold, DMR within gene)

GO:0006261 DNA-dependent DNA replication P = 4.44 × 10^− 2

 rfc5 (− 1.342 fold, DMR downstream of gene), rfc4 (− 0.565 fold, DMR downstream of gene)

Cellular Component

GO:0005663 DNA replication factor C complex P = 2.54 × 10^− 2

 rfc5 (− 1.342 fold, DMR downstream of gene), rfc4 (− 0.565 fold, DMR downstream of gene)

GO:0005739 Mitochondrion P = 4.82 × 10^− 2

 mrps34 (− 2.553 X fold, DMR downstream of gene)^a, spg7 (+ 1.038 fold, DMR downstream of gene), gtpbp3 (+ 1.174 fold, DMR downstream of gene)^a, pgam5 (+ 1.065 fold, DMR upstream of gene), echdc3 (− 0.366 fold, DMR downstream of gene), apex1 (− 0.315 fold, DMR downstream of gene), bcl2l10 (+ 0.987 fold, DMR downstream of gene)

Molecular Function

GO:0004721 phosphoprotein phosphatase activity P = 1.81 × 10^− 2

 ppm1e (− 0.413 fold, DMR within gene), ppp3cca (− 1.002 fold, DMR downstream of gene)^a, pgam5 (+ 1.065 fold, DMR upstream of gene), ptpro (− 0.288 fold, DMR within gene)

GO:0004222 metalloendopeptidase activity P = 1.90 × 10^− 2

 adam28 (− 1.002 fold, DMR within gene)^a, adamts6 (+ 1.032 fold, DMR upstream of gene), spg7 (+ 1.038 fold, DMR downstream of gene), afg3l2 (− 0.321 fold, DMR within gene)

GO:0008237 metallopeptidase activity P = 2.68 × 10^− 2

 adam28 (− 1.002 fold, DMR within gene)^a, adamts6 (+ 1.032 fold, DMR upstream of gene), spg7 (+ 1.038 fold, DMR downstream of gene), afg3l2 (− 0.321 fold, DMR within gene)

GO:0030159 receptor signaling complex scaffold activity P = 3.45 × 10^− 2

 mapk8ip3 (− 2.553X fold, DMR downstream of gene)^a, axin1 (+ 0.772 fold, DMR within gene)

GO:0003689 DNA clamp loader activity P = 3.45 × 10^− 2

 rfc5 (− 1.342 fold, DMR downstream of gene), rfc4 (− 0.565 fold, DMR downstream of gene)