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Blecher AS, Ganswindt A, Scheun J. Scales of our lives: Sex identification of Temminck's pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) using scales retrieved out of the illegal wildlife trade. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 308:113782. [PMID: 33862053 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Pangolins are the most trafficked wild mammals, with their scales in high demand. Scales are often the only part of the animal confiscated from the trade, but they represent accessible material for forensic investigations, including for sexing. This study aimed to develop a sexing tool for Temminck's pangolin, using scales for hormone quantification. Scales from males and females were liquidised using keratinase and the resulting suspension analysed for progestagen and androgen metabolite (scPM and scAM) concentrations. Scale PM and scAM concentrations were compared between sexes, while overall median values for scPM and scAM, as well as a ratio of scPM to scAM (P/A) were used as boundary values for sex identification. Neither scPM nor scAM concentrations were significantly different between the sexes and concentrations of a juvenile and sub-adult male overlapped with females, possibly indicating later sexual maturity in males. Boundary values for scAM concentrations and the P/A ratio predicted sex with 100% accuracy for females and 78% for males, while the accuracies for the scPM boundary value were lower. When only adult individuals are considered, scAM and P/A ratio boundaries are 100% accurate for both sexes. Therefore, scale hormone ratios show promise as a sex identification tool for Temminck's pangolin, particularly applicable in forensic investigations on the pangolin trade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arantxa S Blecher
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - André Ganswindt
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Biodiversity Research Services, National Zoological Gardens, South Africa
| | - Juan Scheun
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Biodiversity Research Services, National Zoological Gardens, South Africa; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa
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2
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Singchat W, Ahmad SF, Laopichienpong N, Suntronpong A, Panthum T, Griffin DK, Srikulnath K. Snake W Sex Chromosome: The Shadow of Ancestral Amniote Super-Sex Chromosome. Cells 2020; 9:cells9112386. [PMID: 33142713 PMCID: PMC7692289 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
: Heteromorphic sex chromosomes, particularly the ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system of birds and some reptiles, undergo evolutionary dynamics distinct from those of autosomes. The W sex chromosome is a unique karyological member of this heteromorphic pair, which has been extensively studied in snakes to explore the origin, evolution, and genetic diversity of amniote sex chromosomes. The snake W sex chromosome offers a fascinating model system to elucidate ancestral trajectories that have resulted in genetic divergence of amniote sex chromosomes. Although the principal mechanism driving evolution of the amniote sex chromosome remains obscure, an emerging hypothesis, supported by studies of W sex chromosomes of squamate reptiles and snakes, suggests that sex chromosomes share varied genomic blocks across several amniote lineages. This implies the possible split of an ancestral super-sex chromosome via chromosomal rearrangements. We review the major findings pertaining to sex chromosomal profiles in amniotes and discuss the evolution of an ancestral super-sex chromosome by collating recent evidence sourced mainly from the snake W sex chromosome analysis. We highlight the role of repeat-mediated sex chromosome conformation and present a genomic landscape of snake Z and W chromosomes, which reveals the relative abundance of major repeats, and identifies the expansion of certain transposable elements. The latest revolution in chromosomics, i.e., complete telomere-to-telomere assembly, offers mechanistic insights into the evolutionary origin of sex chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Worapong Singchat
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (S.F.A.); (N.L.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Syed Farhan Ahmad
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (S.F.A.); (N.L.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Nararat Laopichienpong
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (S.F.A.); (N.L.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Aorarat Suntronpong
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (S.F.A.); (N.L.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Thitipong Panthum
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (S.F.A.); (N.L.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | | | - Kornsorn Srikulnath
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (S.F.A.); (N.L.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National Research University-Kasetsart University, Kasetsart University, (CASTNAR, NRU-KU, Thailand), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology (AG-BIO/PERDO-CHE), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1, Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima 739-8526, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +66-2562-5644
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3
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Existence of Bov-B LINE Retrotransposons in Snake Lineages Reveals Recent Multiple Horizontal Gene Transfers with Copy Number Variation. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11111241. [PMID: 33105659 PMCID: PMC7716205 DOI: 10.3390/genes11111241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are dynamic elements present in all eukaryotic genomes. They can “jump” and amplify within the genome and promote segmental genome rearrangements on both autosomes and sex chromosomes by disruption of gene structures. The Bovine-B long interspersed nuclear element (Bov-B LINE) is among the most abundant TE-retrotransposon families in vertebrates due to horizontal transfer (HT) among vertebrate lineages. Recent studies have shown multiple HTs or the presence of diverse Bov-B LINE groups in the snake lineage. It is hypothesized that Bov-B LINEs are highly dynamic and that the diversity reflects multiple HTs in snake lineages. Partial sequences of Bov-B LINE from 23 snake species were characterized. Phylogenetic analysis resolved at least two Bov-B LINE groups that might correspond to henophidian and caenophidian snakes; however, the tree topology differed from that based on functional nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences. Several Bov-B LINEs of snakes showed greater than 80% similarity to sequences obtained from insects, whereas the two Bov-B LINE groups as well as sequences from the same snake species classified in different Bov-B LINE groups showed sequence similarities of less than 80%. Calculation of estimated divergence time and pairwise divergence between all individual Bov-B LINE copies suggest invasion times ranging from 79.19 to 98.8 million years ago in snakes. Accumulation of elements in a lineage-specific fashion ranged from 9 × 10−6% to 5.63 × 10−2% per genome. The genomic proportion of Bov-B LINEs varied among snake species but was not directly associated with genome size or invasion time. No differentiation in Bov-B LINE copy number between males and females was observed in any of the snake species examined. Incongruence in tree topology between Bov-B LINEs and other snake phylogenies may reflect past HT events. Sequence divergence of Bov-B LINEs between copies suggests that recent multiple HTs occurred within the same evolutionary timeframe in the snake lineage. The proportion of Bov-B LINEs varies among species, reflecting species specificity in TE invasion. The rapid speciation of snakes, coinciding with Bov-B LINE invasion in snake genomes, leads us to better understand the effect of Bov-B LINEs on snake genome evolution.
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Koomgun T, Laopichienpong N, Singchat W, Panthum T, Phatcharakullawarawat R, Kraichak E, Sillapaprayoon S, Ahmad SF, Muangmai N, Peyachoknagul S, Duengkae P, Ezaz T, Srikulnath K. Genome Complexity Reduction High-Throughput Genome Sequencing of Green Iguana ( Iguana iguana) Reveal a Paradigm Shift in Understanding Sex-Chromosomal Linkages on Homomorphic X and Y Sex Chromosomes. Front Genet 2020; 11:556267. [PMID: 33193634 PMCID: PMC7606854 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.556267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of lizards classified in the superfamily Iguanoidea have an XX/XY sex-determination system in which sex-chromosomal linkage shows homology with chicken (Gallus gallus) chromosome 15 (GGA15). However, the genomics of sex chromosomes remain largely unexplored owing to the presence of homomorphic sex chromosomes in majority of the species. Recent advances in high-throughput genome complexity reduction sequencing provide an effective approach to the identification of sex-specific loci with both single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and restriction fragment presence/absence (PA), and a better understanding of sex chromosome dynamics in Iguanoidea. In this study, we applied Diversity Arrays Technology (DArTseqTM) in 29 phenotypic sex assignments (14 males and 15 females) of green iguana (Iguana iguana). We confirmed a male heterogametic (XX/XY) sex determination mode in this species, identifying 29 perfectly sex-linked SNP/PA loci and 164 moderately sex-linked SNP/PA loci, providing evidence probably indicative of XY recombination. Three loci from among the perfectly sex-linked SNP/PA loci showed partial homology with several amniote sex chromosomal linkages. The results support the hypothesis of an ancestral super-sex chromosome with overlaps of partial sex-chromosomal linkages. However, only one locus among the moderately sex-linked loci showed homology with GGA15, which suggests that the specific region homologous to GGA15 was located outside the non-recombination region but in close proximity to this region of the sex chromosome in green iguana. Therefore, the location of GGA15 might be further from the putative sex-determination locus in green iguana. This is a paradigm shift in understanding linkages on homomorphic X and Y sex chromosomes. The DArTseq platform provides an easy-to-use strategy for future research on the evolution of sex chromosomes in Iguanoidea, particularly for non-model species with homomorphic or highly cryptic sex chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tassika Koomgun
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nararat Laopichienpong
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Worapong Singchat
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thitipong Panthum
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Siwapech Sillapaprayoon
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Syed Farhan Ahmad
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Narongrit Muangmai
- Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Surin Peyachoknagul
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Prateep Duengkae
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Kornsorn Srikulnath
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National Research University, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology, Bangkok, Thailand.,Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima, Japan.,Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
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5
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Laopichienpong N, Kraichak E, Singchat W, Sillapaprayoon S, Muangmai N, Suntrarachun S, Baicharoen S, Peyachoknagul S, Chanhome L, Ezaz T, Srikulnath K. Genome-wide SNP analysis of Siamese cobra (Naja kaouthia) reveals the molecular basis of transitions between Z and W sex chromosomes and supports the presence of an ancestral super-sex chromosome in amniotes. Genomics 2020; 113:624-636. [PMID: 33002626 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.09.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Elucidation of the process of sex chromosome differentiation is necessary to understand the dynamics of evolutionary mechanisms in organisms. The W sex chromosome of the Siamese cobra (Naja kaouthia) contains a large number of repeats and shares amniote sex chromosomal linkages. Diversity Arrays Technology provides an effective approach to identify sex-specific loci that are epoch-making, to understand the dynamics of molecular transitions between the Z and W sex chromosomes in a snake lineage. From a total of 543 sex-specific loci, 90 showed partial homology with sex chromosomes of several amniotes and 89 loci were homologous to transposable elements. Two loci were confirmed as W-specific nucleotides after PCR amplification. These loci might result from a sex chromosome differentiation process and involve putative sex-determination regions in the Siamese cobra. Sex-specific loci shared linkage homologies among amniote sex chromosomes, supporting an ancestral super-sex chromosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nararat Laopichienpong
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
| | - Ekaphan Kraichak
- Department of Botany, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
| | - Worapong Singchat
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
| | - Siwapech Sillapaprayoon
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
| | - Narongrit Muangmai
- Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Sunutcha Suntrarachun
- Snake Farm, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, the Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Sudarath Baicharoen
- Bureau of Conservation and Research, Zoological Park Organization under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
| | - Surin Peyachoknagul
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
| | - Lawan Chanhome
- Snake Farm, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, the Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia.
| | - Kornsorn Srikulnath
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National Research University-Kasetsart University, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand, (CASTNAR, NRU-KU, Thailand); Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology (AG-BIO/PERDO-CHE), Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1, Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima 739-8526, Japan.
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6
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Singchat W, Ahmad SF, Sillapaprayoon S, Muangmai N, Duengkae P, Peyachoknagul S, O’Connor RE, Griffin DK, Srikulnath K. Partial Amniote Sex Chromosomal Linkage Homologies Shared on Snake W Sex Chromosomes Support the Ancestral Super-Sex Chromosome Evolution in Amniotes. Front Genet 2020; 11:948. [PMID: 33014016 PMCID: PMC7461878 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Squamate reptile chromosome 2 (SR2) is thought to be an important remnant of an ancestral amniote super-sex chromosome, but a recent study showed that the Siamese cobra W sex chromosome is also a part of this larger ancestral chromosome. To confirm the existence of an ancestral amniote super-sex chromosome and understand the mechanisms of amniote sex chromosome evolution, chromosome maps of two snake species [Russell's viper: Daboia russelii (DRU) and the common tiger snake: Notechis scutatus (NSC)] were constructed using bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) derived from chicken and zebra finch libraries containing amniote sex chromosomal linkages. Sixteen BACs were mapped on the W sex chromosome of DRU and/or NSC, suggesting that these BACs contained a common genomic region shared with the W sex chromosome of these snakes. Two of the sixteen BACs were co-localized to DRU2 and NSC2, corresponding to SR2. Prediction of genomic content from all BACs mapped on snake W sex chromosomes revealed a large proportion of long interspersed nuclear element (LINE) and short interspersed nuclear element (SINE) retrotransposons. These results led us to predict that amplification of LINE and SINE may have occurred on snake W chromosomes during evolution. Genome compartmentalization, such as transposon amplification, might be the key factor influencing chromosome structure and differentiation. Multiple sequence alignments of all BACs mapped on snake W sex chromosomes did not reveal common sequences. Our findings indicate that the SR2 and snake W sex chromosomes may have been part of a larger ancestral amniote super-sex chromosome, and support the view of sex chromosome evolution as a colorful myriad of situations and trajectories in which many diverse processes are in action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Worapong Singchat
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Syed Farhan Ahmad
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Siwapech Sillapaprayoon
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Narongrit Muangmai
- Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Prateep Duengkae
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Surin Peyachoknagul
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Darren K. Griffin
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Kornsorn Srikulnath
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National Research University-Kasetsart University, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology (AG-BIO/PERDO-CHE), Bangkok, Thailand
- Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok, Thailand
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima, Japan
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7
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Do sex chromosomes of snakes, monitor lizards, and iguanian lizards result from multiple fission of an “ancestral amniote super-sex chromosome”? Chromosome Res 2020; 28:209-228. [DOI: 10.1007/s10577-020-09631-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Molecular sexing is a viable alternative to probing for determining sex in the imperiled Louisiana Pine Snake (Pituophis ruthveni). CONSERV GENET RESOUR 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12686-020-01145-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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9
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Diversity of PBI-DdeI satellite DNA in snakes correlates with rapid independent evolution and different functional roles. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15459. [PMID: 31664097 PMCID: PMC6820872 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51863-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
To better understand PBI-DdeI satellite DNA located in the centromeric region of python, molecular evolution analysis was conducted on 40 snake species. A ladder-like pattern of DNA bands with repetition of the 194–210 bp monomer was observed in 15 species using PCR. Molecular cloning was performed to obtain 97 AT-rich monomer sequences. Phylogenetic and network analyses showed three PBI-DdeI subfamilies with sequences grouped in species-specific clusters, suggesting rapid evolution. Slow evolution was found in eight species with shared PBI-DdeI sequences, suggesting recent species diversification, allowing PBI-DdeI no time to diverge, with limited homogenization and fixation processes. Quantitative real-time PCR showed large differences in copy number between Python bivittatus and other snakes, consistent with repeat scanning of whole genome sequences. Copy numbers were significantly higher in female Naja kaouthia than in males, concurring with chromosomal distribution of PBI-DdeI specifically localized to female W chromosomes. PBI-DdeI might act as an evolutionary driver with several repeats to promote W chromosome differentiation and heterochromatinization in N. kaouthia. Analysis revealed PBI-DdeI with a reduced copy number, compared to P. bivittatus, in most snakes studied, and it is possible that it subsequently dispersed and amplified on W chromosomes with different functional roles in N. kaouthia.
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10
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Singchat W, Kraichak E, Tawichasri P, Tawan T, Suntronpong A, Sillapaprayoon S, Phatcharakullawarawat R, Muangmai N, Suntrarachun S, Baicharoen S, Punyapornwithaya V, Peyachoknagul S, Chanhome L, Srikulnath K. Dynamics of telomere length in captive Siamese cobra ( Naja kaouthia) related to age and sex. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:6366-6377. [PMID: 31236227 PMCID: PMC6580288 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres comprise tandem repeated DNA sequences that protect the ends of chromosomes from deterioration or fusion with neighboring chromosomes, and their lengths might vary with sex and age. Here, age- and sex-related telomere lengths in male and female captive Siamese cobras (Naja kaouthia) were investigated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction based on cross-sectional data. A negative correlation was shown between telomere length and body size in males but not in females. Age-related sex differences were also recorded. Juvenile female snakes have shorter telomeres relative to males at up to 5 years of age, while body size also rapidly increases during this period. This suggests that an accelerated increase in telomere length of female cobra results from sex hormone stimulation to telomerase activity, reflecting sexually dimorphic phenotypic traits. This might also result from amplification of telomeric repeats on sex chromosomes. By contrast, female Siamese cobras older than 5 years had longer telomeres than males. Diverse sex hormone levels and oxidative stress parameters between sexes may affect telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Worapong Singchat
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of GeneticsFaculty of ScienceKasetsart UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Ekaphan Kraichak
- Department of Botany, Faculty of ScienceKasetsart UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Panupong Tawichasri
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of GeneticsFaculty of ScienceKasetsart UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Tanapong Tawan
- Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute (QSMI)The Thai Red Cross SocietyBangkokThailand
| | - Aorarat Suntronpong
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of GeneticsFaculty of ScienceKasetsart UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Siwapech Sillapaprayoon
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of GeneticsFaculty of ScienceKasetsart UniversityBangkokThailand
| | | | - Narongrit Muangmai
- Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of FisheriesKasetsart UniversityBangkokThailand
| | | | - Sudarath Baicharoen
- Bureau of Conservation and ResearchZoological Park Organization under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King (ZPO)BangkokThailand
| | | | - Surin Peyachoknagul
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of GeneticsFaculty of ScienceKasetsart UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Lawan Chanhome
- Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute (QSMI)The Thai Red Cross SocietyBangkokThailand
| | - Kornsorn Srikulnath
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of GeneticsFaculty of ScienceKasetsart UniversityBangkokThailand
- Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National Research University‐Kasetsart University (CASTNAR, NRU‐KU), Kasetsart UniversityBangkokThailand
- Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology (AG‐BIO/PERDO‐CHE)BangkokThailand
- Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and HealthKasetsart University (OmiKU)BangkokThailand
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Singchat W, O'Connor RE, Tawichasri P, Suntronpong A, Sillapaprayoon S, Suntrarachun S, Muangmai N, Baicharoen S, Peyachoknagul S, Chanhome L, Griffin D, Srikulnath K. Chromosome map of the Siamese cobra: did partial synteny of sex chromosomes in the amniote represent "a hypothetical ancestral super-sex chromosome" or random distribution? BMC Genomics 2018; 19:939. [PMID: 30558533 PMCID: PMC6296137 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-5293-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unlike the chromosome constitution of most snakes (2n=36), the cobra karyotype shows a diploid chromosome number of 38 with a highly heterochromatic W chromosome and a large morphologically different chromosome 2. To investigate the process of sex chromosome differentiation and evolution between cobras, most snakes, and other amniotes, we constructed a chromosome map of the Siamese cobra (Naja kaouthia) with 43 bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) derived from the chicken and zebra finch libraries using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, and compared it with those of the chicken, the zebra finch, and other amniotes. RESULTS We produced a detailed chromosome map of the Siamese cobra genome, focusing on chromosome 2 and sex chromosomes. Synteny of the Siamese cobra chromosome 2 (NKA2) and NKAZ were highly conserved among snakes and other squamate reptiles, except for intrachromosomal rearrangements occurring in NKA2. Interestingly, twelve BACs that had partial homology with sex chromosomes of several amniotes were mapped on the heterochromatic NKAW as hybridization signals such as repeat sequences. Sequence analysis showed that most of these BACs contained high proportions of transposable elements. In addition, hybridization signals of telomeric repeat (TTAGGG)n and six microsatellite repeat motifs ((AAGG)8, (AGAT)8, (AAAC)8, (ACAG)8, (AATC)8, and (AAAAT)6) were observed on NKAW, and most of these were also found on other amniote sex chromosomes. CONCLUSIONS The frequent amplification of repeats might involve heterochromatinization and promote sex chromosome differentiation in the Siamese cobra W sex chromosome. Repeat sequences are also shared among amniote sex chromosomes, which supports the hypothesis of an ancestral super-sex chromosome with overlaps of partial syntenies. Alternatively, amplification of microsatellite repeat motifs could have occurred independently in each lineage, representing convergent sex chromosomal differentiation among amniote sex chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Worapong Singchat
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Consortium of Kasetsart University (ABG-KU), Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Rebecca E O'Connor
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NY, United Kingdom
| | - Panupong Tawichasri
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Consortium of Kasetsart University (ABG-KU), Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Aorarat Suntronpong
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Consortium of Kasetsart University (ABG-KU), Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Siwapech Sillapaprayoon
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Consortium of Kasetsart University (ABG-KU), Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Sunutcha Suntrarachun
- Department of Research and Development, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Narongrit Muangmai
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Consortium of Kasetsart University (ABG-KU), Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Sudarath Baicharoen
- Bureau of Conservation and Research, Zoological Park Organization under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Surin Peyachoknagul
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
| | - Lawan Chanhome
- Snake Farm, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Darren Griffin
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NY, United Kingdom
| | - Kornsorn Srikulnath
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Consortium of Kasetsart University (ABG-KU), Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
- Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National Research University-Kasetsart University, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
- Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology (AG-BIO/PERDO-CHE), Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
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