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Kurland S, Saha A, Keehnen N, de la Paz Celorio-Mancera M, Díez-Del-Molino D, Ryman N, Laikre L. New indicators for monitoring genetic diversity applied to alpine brown trout populations using whole genome sequence data. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17213. [PMID: 38014725 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
International policy recently adopted commitments to maintain genetic diversity in wild populations to secure their adaptive potential, including metrics to monitor temporal trends in genetic diversity - so-called indicators. A national programme for assessing trends in genetic diversity was recently initiated in Sweden. Relating to this effort, we systematically assess contemporary genome-wide temporal trends (40 years) in wild populations using the newly adopted indicators and whole genome sequencing (WGS). We use pooled and individual WGS data from brown trout (Salmo trutta) in eight alpine lakes in protected areas. Observed temporal trends in diversity metrics (nucleotide diversity, Watterson's ϴ and heterozygosity) lie within proposed acceptable threshold values for six of the lakes, but with consistently low values in lakes above the tree line and declines observed in these northern-most lakes. Local effective population size is low in all lakes, highlighting the importance of continued protection of interconnected systems to allow genetic connectivity for long-term viability of these populations. Inbreeding (FROH ) spans 10%-30% and is mostly represented by ancient (<1 Mb) runs of homozygosity, with observations of little change in mutational load. We also investigate adaptive dynamics over evolutionarily short time frames (a few generations); identifying putative parallel selection across all lakes within a gene pertaining to skin pigmentation as well as candidates of selection unique to specific lakes and lake systems involved in reproduction and immunity. We demonstrate the utility of WGS for systematic monitoring of natural populations, a priority concern if genetic diversity is to be protected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Kurland
- Division of Population Genetics, Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Atal Saha
- Division of Population Genetics, Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Coastal Research, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Naomi Keehnen
- Division of Population Genetics, Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Ecology, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - David Díez-Del-Molino
- Division of Population Genetics, Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nils Ryman
- Division of Population Genetics, Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linda Laikre
- Division of Population Genetics, Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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2
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Gao X, Zhang M, Lin S, Lyu M, Luo X, You W, Ke C. Reproduction strategy of nocturnal marine molluscs: running for love. Integr Zool 2023; 18:906-923. [PMID: 36609825 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The cost of reproduction is the core driver of life history evolution in animals. This paper demonstrates that the cumulative distance moved and the duration of movement of sexually immature abalones, Haliotis discus hannai, kept in various male and female groups, were significantly higher than those of sexually mature individuals, except when kept in mixed cultures of mature males and females. After mixed-culture, sexually mature males moved significantly further and for a longer duration than mature female abalones, and even more so than mature male abalones of any other group. Examination of the LC-MS metabolomics of mature males cultured with sexually mature females (AM) and those cultured with sexually immature females (JM) showed that cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) acted as a differential metabolic biomarker. After 24-h uninterrupted sampling, the concentration of 5-HT and the expression levels of the 5-HT2 and 5-HT6 receptors in AM were significantly higher than those in JM. After further injection of 5-HT2 and 5-HT6 receptor antagonists, the concentrations of cAMP and PKA rose again, but the cumulative movement duration and distance of male abalones decreased significantly, showing that 5-HT was involved in the regulation of movement behavior of male abalones through the 5-HT2 and 5-HT6 receptor-activated cAMP-PKA pathways. The results demonstrated a significant increase in the movement endurance of mature male abalones cultured with mature females, providing a theoretical basis for understanding the adaptive life history strategies of abalones and suggesting ways to protect diverse benthic resources for abalones during the reproductive stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Mo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Shihui Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Mingxin Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xuan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Weiwei You
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Caihuan Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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3
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Buchinger TJ, Hondorp DW, Krueger CC. Spatiotemporal segregation by migratory phenotype indicates potential for assortative mating in lake sturgeon. Oecologia 2023; 201:953-964. [PMID: 36995424 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05280-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Migratory diversity can promote population differentiation if sympatric phenotypes become temporally, spatially, or behaviorally segregated during breeding. In this study, the potential for spatiotemporal segregation was tested among three migratory phenotypes of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) that spawn in the St. Clair River of North America's Laurentian Great Lakes but differ in how often they migrate into the river and in which direction they move after spawning. Acoustic telemetry over 9 years monitored use of two major spawning sites by lake sturgeon that moved north to overwinter in Lake Huron or south to overwinter in Lake St. Clair. Lake St. Clair migrants were further distinguished by whether they migrated into the St. Clair River each year (annual migrants) or intermittently (intermittent migrants). Social network analyses indicated lake sturgeon generally co-occurred with individuals of the same migratory phenotype more often than with different migratory phenotypes. A direct test for differences in space use revealed one site was almost exclusively visited by Lake St. Clair migrants whereas the other site was visited by Lake Huron migrants, intermittent Lake St. Clair migrants, and, to a lesser extent, annual Lake St. Clair migrants. Analysis of arrival and departure dates indicated opportunity for co-occurrence at the site visited by all phenotypes but showed Lake Huron migrants arrived approximately 2 weeks before Lake St. Clair migrants. Taken together, our results indicated partial spatiotemporal segregation of migratory phenotypes that may generate assortative mating and promote population differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J Buchinger
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
- Great Lakes Science Center, U. S. Geological Survey, 1451 Green Rd., Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA.
| | - Darryl W Hondorp
- Great Lakes Science Center, U. S. Geological Survey, 1451 Green Rd., Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA
| | - Charles C Krueger
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
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4
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Fernlund Isaksson E, Fitzpatrick JL. Examining the potential for resource-dependent female reproductive fluid-sperm interactive effects in a livebearing fish. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:709-719. [PMID: 36891998 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Sexually selected traits can be costly to produce and maintain. The amount of resources available to an individual is therefore expected to influence investment in costly sexual traits. While resource-dependent expression of sexually selected traits has traditionally been examined in males, resource limitation can also influence how sexual selection operates in females. Female reproductive fluids are thought to be costly to produce and may play an important role in shaping the outcome of postcopulatory sexual selection by influencing sperm performance. However, we know surprisingly little about whether and how female reproductive fluids are influenced by resource limitation. Here, we examine if resource restriction influences female reproductive fluid-sperm interactive effects in the pygmy halfbeak (Dermogenys collettei), a small internally fertilizing freshwater fish where females store sperm. After experimentally altering female diets (high vs. restricted diets), we compared how female reproductive fluids influence two key metrics of sperm quality: sperm viability and velocity. While female reproductive fluids enhanced sperm viability and velocity, we found no evidence that female diet influenced the interactive effect between female reproductive fluids and sperm viability or velocity. Our findings build on the growing evidence that female reproductive fluids influence sperm performance and call for further attention to be devoted to understanding how resource quantity and quality influence how female reproductive fluids affect sperm performance.
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A Review of Suggested Mechanisms of MHC Odor Signaling. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11081187. [PMID: 36009814 PMCID: PMC9405088 DOI: 10.3390/biology11081187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Immune genes of the vertebrate MHC vary among individuals. Each individual collection is optimally diverse to provide resistance against some infectious diseases but not too diverse to cause autoimmune diseases. MHC-dependent mate choice aims for optimally complementary MHC alleles. Each potential partner signals through body odor his/her MHC alleles. Identifying the signal molecules was a long-lasting puzzle solved only recently after many deviations as described. Commensal microbiota which are controlled by the individual MHC genes differ among individuals. They were suspected repeatedly to provide the signal, though mice raised germ-free could still smell MHC genes. Carrier hypotheses came in various versions, centered around the specificity of each MHC molecule for binding peptides from diseases, shown to T lymphocytes to induce the immune response. Volatiles of various origins were suggested to fill the place of the peptide and thus reflect the identity of the MHC molecule. Finally, the bound peptides themselves were identified as the sought info-chemicals. Synthesized peptides affect mate choice as predicted. Specific olfactory neurons were shown to react to these peptides but only to the anchors that define the binding specificity. Even eggs choose sperm to produce offspring with optimal MHC, though the signaling pathway needs further research. Abstract Although an individual’s mix of MHC immune genes determines its resistance, finding MHC-dependent mate choice occurred by accident in inbred mice. Inbred mice prefer MHC dissimilar mates, even when the choice was restricted to urine. It took decades to find the info-chemicals, which have to be as polymorphic as the MHC. Microbiota were suggested repeatedly as the origin of the odor signal though germ-free mice maintained normal preference. Different versions of the ‘carrier hypothesis’ suggested MHC molecules carry volatiles after the bound peptide is released. Theory predicted an optimal individual MHC diversity to maximize resistance. The optimally complementary mate should be and is preferred as several studies show. Thus, the odor signal needs to transmit the exact information of the sender’s MHC alleles, as do MHC ligand peptides but not microbiota. The ‘MHC peptide hypothesis’ assumes that olfactory perception of the peptide ligand provides information about the MHC protein in a key-lock fashion. Olfactory neurons react only to the anchors of synthesized MHC peptides, which reflect the binding MHC molecule’s identity. Synthesized peptides supplemented to a male’s signal affect choice in the predicted way, however, not when anchors are mutated. Also, the human brain detects smelled synthesized self-peptides as such. After mate choice, the lottery of meiosis of randomly paired oocyte and sperm haplotypes would often produce MHC non-optimal offspring. In sticklebacks, eggs select MHC-compatible sperm, thus prefer the best combination close to the population optimum.
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6
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Kekäläinen J, Hiltunen J, Jokiniemi A, Kuusipalo L, Heikura M, Leppänen J, Malinen M. Female-induced selective modification of sperm protein SUMOylation-potential mechanistic insights into the non-random fertilization in humans. J Evol Biol 2022; 35:254-264. [PMID: 35000241 PMCID: PMC9305144 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In many species, mate choice continues after the mating via female‐ or egg‐derived biochemical factors that induce selective changes in sperm pre‐fertilization physiology and behaviour. Recent studies have indicated that gamete‐mediated mate choice likely occurs also in humans, but the mechanistic basis of the process has remained virtually unexplored. Here, we investigated whether female‐induced modifications in sperm protein SUMOylation (post‐translational modification of the proteome) could serve as a novel mechanism for gamete‐mediated mate choice in humans. We treated the sperm of ten males with the oocyte‐surrounding bioactive liquid (follicular fluid) of five females and investigated motility, viability and global protein SUMOylation status of the sperm in all (n = 50) of these male–female combinations (full‐factorial design). All the measured sperm traits were affected by male–female combinations, and sperm protein SUMOylation status was also negatively associated with sperm motility. Furthermore, our results indicate that female‐induced sperm protein SUMOylation is selective, potentially allowing females to increase sperm motility in some males, whereas decreasing it in the others. Consequently, our findings suggest that follicular fluid may non‐randomly modify the structure and function of sperm proteome and in this way facilitate gamete‐mediated mate choice in humans and possibly many other species. However, due to the relatively low number of female subjects and their potential infertility problems, our results should be replicated with larger subset of fully fertile women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jukka Kekäläinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Johannes Hiltunen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Annalaura Jokiniemi
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | | | - Marjo Heikura
- Eastern Finland Laboratory Centre Joint Authority (ISLAB), North Savonia Regional Laboratory, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Marjo Malinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
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7
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Kekäläinen J. Genetic incompatibility of the reproductive partners: an evolutionary perspective on infertility. Hum Reprod 2021; 36:3028-3035. [PMID: 34580729 PMCID: PMC8600657 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In natural fertilisation, the female reproductive tract allows only a strictly selected sperm subpopulation to proceed in the vicinity of an unfertilised oocyte. Female-mediated sperm selection (also known as cryptic female choice (CFC)) is far from a random process, which frequently biases paternity towards particular males over others. Earlier studies have shown that CFC is a ubiquitous phenomenon in the animal kingdom and often promotes assortative fertilisation between genetically compatible mates. Here, I demonstrate that CFC for genetic compatibility likely also occurs in humans and is mediated by a complex network of interacting male and female genes. I also show that the relative contribution of genetic compatibility (i.e. the male-female interaction effect) to reproductive success is generally high and frequently outweighs the effects of individual males and females. Together, these facts indicate that, along with male- and female-dependent pathological factors, reproductive failure can also result from gamete-level incompatibility of the reproductive partners. Therefore, I argue that a deeper understanding of these evolutionary mechanisms of sperm selection can pave the way towards a more inclusive view of infertility and open novel possibilities for the development of more personalised infertility diagnostics and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jukka Kekäläinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
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8
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Nunes K, Maia MHT, Dos Santos EJM, Dos Santos SEB, Guerreiro JF, Petzl-Erler ML, Bedoya G, Gallo C, Poletti G, Llop E, Tsuneto L, Bortolini MC, Rothhammer F, Single R, Ruiz-Linares A, Rocha J, Meyer D. How natural selection shapes genetic differentiation in the MHC region: A case study with Native Americans. Hum Immunol 2021; 82:523-531. [PMID: 33812704 PMCID: PMC8217218 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) loci are extremely well documented targets of balancing selection, yet few studies have explored how selection affects population differentiation at these loci. In the present study we investigate genetic differentiation at HLA genes by comparing differentiation at microsatellites distributed genomewide to those in the MHC region. Our study uses a sample of 494 individuals from 30 human populations, 28 of which are Native Americans, all of whom were typed for genomewide and MHC region microsatellites. We find greater differentiation in the MHC than in the remainder of the genome (FST-MHC = 0.130 and FST-Genomic = 0.087), and use a permutation approach to show that this difference is statistically significant, and not accounted for by confounding factors. This finding lies in the opposite direction to the expectation that balancing selection reduces population differentiation. We interpret our findings as evidence that selection favors different sets of alleles in distinct localities, leading to increased differentiation. Thus, balancing selection at HLA genes simultaneously increases intra-population polymorphism and inter-population differentiation in Native Americans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Nunes
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Gabriel Bedoya
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Carla Gallo
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Giovanni Poletti
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Elena Llop
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Faculdad de Medicina, Universidade de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luiza Tsuneto
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Maria Cátira Bortolini
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Richard Single
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Andrés Ruiz-Linares
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; D Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille 13007, France
| | - Jorge Rocha
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; CIBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Diogo Meyer
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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9
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Magris M, Jokiniemi A, Kuusipalo L, Ritari J, Koskela S, Partanen J, Kekäläinen J. Structural dissimilarity of partners' immune genes increases sperm viability in women's reproductive tract. J Evol Biol 2021; 34:1125-1132. [PMID: 34056789 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genes appear to mediate pre- and post-copulatory mate choice towards HLA-dissimilar ('compatible') partners. However, since genetically distinct alleles often have similar immunogenic properties, genetic dissimilarity is not necessarily an accurate predictor of the functional compatibility of HLA alleles and, hence, may not reflect partners' true compatibility. Furthermore, it has remained unclear whether other genes of the immune system could also play a role in male-female compatibility. We studied whether the immunoglobulin binding regions (eplets) of HLA molecules and the immunoglobulin structural dissimilarity of the partners affect their gamete-level compatibility. We exposed sperm of multiple men to follicular fluid or cervical mucus of multiple women and tested whether sperm viability in these reproductive secretions was influenced by HLA eplet and immunoglobulin structural dissimilarity between partners. We found that eplet dissimilarity positively affects sperm viability in follicular fluid, whereas immunoglobulin dissimilarity enhanced sperm viability in cervical mucus. Together, these findings indicate that structural characteristics of both HLA alleles and immunoglobulins may facilitate cryptic female choice towards immunologically compatible partners. Our results, thus, indicate that partners' genetic compatibility may have wider immunological basis than traditionally has been assumed. Relative contribution of different immunogenetic factors to overall compatibility of the reproductive partners needs to be clarified in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Magris
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Annalaura Jokiniemi
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | | | - Jarmo Ritari
- Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Research and Development, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Satu Koskela
- Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Research and Development, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jukka Partanen
- Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Research and Development, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jukka Kekäläinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
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10
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Johnson SL, Borziak K, Kleffmann T, Rosengrave P, Dorus S, Gemmell NJ. Ovarian fluid proteome variation associates with sperm swimming speed in an externally fertilizing fish. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:1783-1794. [PMID: 33034086 PMCID: PMC7719593 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Sperm velocity is a key trait that predicts the outcome of sperm competition. By promoting or impeding sperm velocity, females can control fertilization via postcopulatory cryptic female choice. In Chinook salmon, ovarian fluid (OF), which surrounds the ova, mediates sperm velocity according to male and female identity, biasing the outcome of sperm competition towards males with faster sperm. Past investigations have revealed proteome variation in OF, but the specific components of OF that differentially mediate sperm velocity have yet to be characterized. Here we use quantitative proteomics to investigate whether OF protein composition explains variation in sperm velocity and fertilization success. We found that OF proteomes from six females robustly clustered into two groups and that these groups are distinguished by the abundance of a restricted set of proteins significantly associated with sperm velocity. Exposure of sperm to OF from females in group I had faster sperm compared to sperm exposed to the OF of group II females. Overall, OF proteins that distinguished between these groups were enriched for vitellogenin and calcium ion interactions. Our findings suggest that these proteins may form the functional basis for cryptic female choice via the biochemical and physiological mediation of sperm velocity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheri L. Johnson
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Kirill Borziak
- Biology Department, Center for Reproductive Evolution, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Torsten Kleffmann
- Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Protein Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Patrice Rosengrave
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- AgResearch, Biocontrol and Biosecurity, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Steve Dorus
- Biology Department, Center for Reproductive Evolution, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Neil J. Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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11
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Jokiniemi A, Magris M, Ritari J, Kuusipalo L, Lundgren T, Partanen J, Kekäläinen J. Post-copulatory genetic matchmaking: HLA-dependent effects of cervical mucus on human sperm function. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20201682. [PMID: 32811307 PMCID: PMC7482290 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have demonstrated that women show pre-copulatory mating preferences for human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-dissimilar men. A fascinating, yet unexplored, possibility is that the ultimate mating bias towards HLA-dissimilar partners could occur after copulation, at the gamete level. Here, we explored this possibility by investigating whether the selection towards HLA-dissimilar partners occurs in the cervical mucus. After combining sperm and cervical mucus from multiple males and females (full factorial design), we found that sperm performance (swimming velocity, hyperactivation, and viability) was strongly influenced by the male–female combination. This indicates that sperm fertilization capability may be dependent on the compatibility between cervical mucus (female) and sperm (male). We also found that sperm viability was associated with partners' HLA dissimilarity, indicating that cervical mucus may selectively facilitate later gamete fusion between immunogenetically compatible partners. Together, these results provide novel insights into the female-mediated sperm selection (cryptic female choice) in humans and indicate that processes occurring after copulation may contribute to the mating bias towards HLA-dissimilar partners. Finally, by showing that sperm performance in cervical mucus is influenced by partners' genetic compatibility, the present findings may promote a deeper understanding of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalaura Jokiniemi
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Martina Magris
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Jarmo Ritari
- Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Research and Development, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Liisa Kuusipalo
- North Karelia Central Hospital, Tikkamäentie 16, 80210 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Tuulia Lundgren
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Jukka Partanen
- Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Research and Development, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jukka Kekäläinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
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12
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Jokiniemi A, Kuusipalo L, Ritari J, Koskela S, Partanen J, Kekäläinen J. Gamete-level immunogenetic incompatibility in humans-towards deeper understanding of fertilization and infertility? Heredity (Edinb) 2020; 125:281-289. [PMID: 32747723 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-020-0350-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) immune genes play an important role in partner selection, but it has remained unclear if nonrandom pairing with respect to parental HLA genes could occur at the level of the gametes. We tested this possibility by investigating whether the sperm fertilization competence in humans is dependent on HLA genotype combination of the partners. We conducted a full-factorial experiment, in which the sperm physiological preparation for fertilization among multiple males was studied in the presence of follicular fluid (oocyte surrounding bioactive liquid) of several females. All the studied sperm pre-fertilization physiological parameters (motility, hyperactivation, acrosome reaction, and viability) were strongly dependent on male-female combination. In other words, follicular fluids (women) that induce strong sperm physiological response in some males often induce much weaker response in the other(s). Sperm physiological responses were stronger in HLA-dissimilar male-female pairs than in HLA-similar combinations, but none of the measured sperm traits were associated with genome-wide similarity. Together, these findings shed new light on the evolutionary and immunological mechanisms of fertilization. Furthermore, our results raise an intriguing possibility that against currently prevailing WHO's definition, infertility may not represent exclusively a pathological condition, but may also result from immunogenetic incompatibility of the gametes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalaura Jokiniemi
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Liisa Kuusipalo
- North Karelia Central Hospital, Tikkamäentie 16, FI-80210, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Jarmo Ritari
- Research and Development, Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Haartmaninkatu 8, FI-00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Satu Koskela
- Research and Development, Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Haartmaninkatu 8, FI-00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jukka Partanen
- Research and Development, Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Haartmaninkatu 8, FI-00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jukka Kekäläinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101, Joensuu, Finland.
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13
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Jaworska J, Jaworski Z, Tobolski D, Siemieniuch M, Janowski T, Górecka-Bruzda A. Selection of reproductive partners in semi-feral horses (Equus caballus) is not influenced by major histocompatibility complex (MHC): A field study. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.104973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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14
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Myers JN, Bradford AJ, Hallas VS, Lawson LL, Pitcher TE, Dunham RA, Butts IAE. Channel catfish ovarian fluid differentially enhances blue catfish sperm performance. Theriogenology 2020; 149:62-71. [PMID: 32247214 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
For externally fertilizing fishes, interactions between male and female gametes have been shown to have remarkable impacts on sperm performance. Ovarian fluid (OF) and its ability to alter the swimming behavior of fish sperm makes it a determining factor of fertility. With the expansion of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) ♀ × blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) ♂ hybrid aquaculture, it is essential to understand the impacts during fertilization and the magnitude such gametic interactions have on sperm performance and subsequent male fertility potential. This study was conducted to address the following: 1) activate blue catfish sperm with/without channel catfish OF to determine impacts on sperm performance and 2) assess if sperm behave differently when activated in the OF from individual females. Sperm (n = 4 males) were activated without OF (control) and with diluted OF from unique females (n = 6), creating 24 experimental crosses. Sperm motility (%), velocity (VCL), and longevity were analyzed using computer assisted sperm analyses software. With OF incorporated in the activation media, sperm velocity was significantly higher than the control at 10, 20, and 30 s post-activation. OF did not have an impact on motility for any females at 10 s and 20 s post-activation but became significantly higher than the control at 30 s. In all cases, OF treatments greatly increased longevity. Male × female interactions were highly significant, such that motility, velocity, and longevity were dependent on specific male-female pairs. This information shows that OF should be incorporated in aquatic media to simulate natural spawning conditions and accurately assess the fluid mechanics of sperm propulsion for each male. Additionally, there are mechanisms that drive gamete interactions that need to be explored further, which may improve selection of male-female pairs for in-vitro fertilization. On a broad scale, our results also help to shed light on the complexities of fertilization and fish reproduction overall, which may have implications for recruitment variability and recovery strategies of threatened and/or endangered freshwater species.
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Affiliation(s)
- J N Myers
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - A J Bradford
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - V S Hallas
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - L L Lawson
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - T E Pitcher
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - R A Dunham
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - I A E Butts
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
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15
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Fish sperm competition in hatcheries and between wild and hatchery origin fish in nature. Theriogenology 2020; 133:201-209. [PMID: 31155035 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Males compete pre- and post-mating to fertilize the maximum number of eggs. In polyandry, sperm competition occurs when sperm from two or more males compete to fertilize eggs from a female. Here we review how sperm competition from hatchery origin fish can cause loss of genetic variability in fish populations kept in captivity and in wild populations. In fish hatchery practices, sperm competition occurs in mass spawners that release gametes in tanks, and in artificial fertilizations when pooled semen is used. In mass spawnings sperm competition is difficult to tease apart from pre-mating competition and other post-mating selective mechanisms, whereas, studies focused on the use of pooled semen in different fish species have shown a clear relationship between sperm motility parameters and precedence in fertilization. In both situations, sperm competition will result in a loss of genetic variability that accumulates over generations, but hatchery protocols can be adjusted to mitigate it. Another source of concern regarding sperm competition for hatchery produced fish is the spatial and temporal overlap in spawning with wild individuals, either via aquaculture escapees or purposeful stocking programs. This may result in sperm competition between hatchery origin and wild males and impact natural populations. Our review suggests that in order to give every adult selected as broodstock an equal opportunity to produce offspring in captivity, mass spawning and the use of pooled semen should be limited.
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16
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Han QH, Sun RN, Yang HQ, Wang ZW, Wan QH, Fang SG. MHC class I diversity predicts non-random mating in Chinese alligators (Alligator sinensis). Heredity (Edinb) 2019; 122:809-818. [PMID: 30670843 PMCID: PMC6781117 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0177-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has several important roles in kin recognition, pathogen resistance and mate selection. Research in fish, birds and mammals has suggested that individuals optimise MHC diversity, and therefore offspring fitness, when choosing mates. In reptiles, however, it is unclear whether female mate choice is based on genome-wide genetic characteristics such as microsatellite DNA loci, particular functional-trait loci (e.g., MHC) or both, and MHC's effects on mate choice remain relatively understudied. Herein, we used 13 microsatellite loci and two MHC class I loci to investigate female mate choice of Chinese alligators (Alligator sinensis) in the semi-natural condition. We also determined correlations between the MHC genotype of breeding males and male reproductive success. We found that MHC-heterozygous males harbour a greater reproductive success, which probably is the reason that these males are more preferred by the females than MHC-homozygous males. Furthermore, the MHC class I amino-acid distance and functional distance of true mating pairs were higher compared with those of randomly sampled pairs. Analysis of microsatellites revealed that, despite mate choice, females did not completely avoid inbreeding. These findings are the first evidence of MHC-associated mate choice in Chinese alligators, suggesting that females may adopt different mating strategies after assessing the MHC characteristics of potential mates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qun-Hua Han
- The Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of the Ministry of Education and State Conservation Center for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ru-Na Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of the Ministry of Education and State Conservation Center for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hai-Qiong Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of the Ministry of Education and State Conservation Center for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhen-Wei Wang
- Changxing Chinese Alligator Nature Reserve, Changxing, 313100, China
| | - Qiu-Hong Wan
- The Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of the Ministry of Education and State Conservation Center for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Sheng-Guo Fang
- The Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of the Ministry of Education and State Conservation Center for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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17
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Judycka S, Nynca J, Ciereszko A. Opportunities and challenges related to the implementation of sperm cryopreservation into breeding of salmonid fishes. Theriogenology 2019; 132:12-21. [PMID: 30981941 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The main aim of the present review is to present the opportunities and challenges associated with the application of cryopreserved sperm, which may improve the breeding of salmonid fishes. Cryopreservation of sperm has been used as a strategy for the conservation of biodiversity of fishes populations, the preservation of sperm from the most valuable breeding individuals and facilitate transportation of genomes, and providing a biological source of sperm regardless of the synchronisation of the maturity of broodstocks. Cryopreserved sperm can be used for the genetic improvement of salmonid fishes based on the programs of individual crossing of selected males with individual females. However, these opportunities have not yet been fully implemented at the conditions of hatchery practice. Despite the significant progress concerning the standardization of cryopreservation procedures, there are still more challenges than opportunities related to the implementation of sperm cryopreservation into breeding of salmonid fishes. The main challenge concerns the scaling up of the method towards fulfilling the requirements of fishes-breeders, in particular mass production of eyed eggs and fry. The present review shows knowledge gaps that should be considered in further studies, including development of methods to obtain sufficient amounts of sperm from numerous species of salmonids, scaling up the methods towards cryopreservation of high volumes of sperm and towards thawing high number of straws, and optimizing artificial fertilization in which oocytes are fertilized with high numbers of frozen/thawed sperm. Moreover, the implementation of technologies into hatchery practice will require special consideration to counteract the risk of sperm infection and its transmission to offsprings during cryopreservation and storage in liquid nitrogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Judycka
- Department of Gametes and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Joanna Nynca
- Department of Gametes and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Andrzej Ciereszko
- Department of Gametes and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland
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18
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Zhu Y, Wan QH, Zhang HM, Fang SG. Reproductive Strategy Inferred from Major Histocompatibility Complex-Based Inter-Individual, Sperm-Egg, and Mother-Fetus Recognitions in Giant Pandas ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Cells 2019; 8:cells8030257. [PMID: 30893784 PMCID: PMC6468540 DOI: 10.3390/cells8030257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Few major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-based mate choice studies include all MHC genes at the inter-individual, sperm-egg, and mother-fetus recognition levels. We tested three hypotheses of female mate choice in a 17-year study of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) while using ten functional MHC loci (four MHC class I loci: Aime-C, Aime-F, Aime-I, and Aime-L; six MHC class II loci: Aime-DRA, Aime-DRB3, Aime-DQA1, Aime-DQA2, Aime-DQB1, and Aime-DQB2); five super haplotypes (SuHa, SuHaI, SuHaII, DQ, and DR); and, seven microsatellites. We found female choice for heterozygosity at Aime-C, Aime-I, and DQ and for disassortative mate choice at Aime-C, DQ, and DR at the inter-individual recognition level. High mating success occurred in MHC-dissimilar mating pairs. No significant results were found based on any microsatellite parameters, suggesting that MHCs were the mate choice target and there were no signs of inbreeding avoidance. Our results indicate Aime-DQA1- and Aime-DQA2-associated disassortative selection at the sperm-egg recognition level and a possible Aime-C- and Aime-I-associated assortative maternal immune tolerance mechanism. The MHC genes were of differential importance at the different recognition levels, so all of the functional MHC genes should be included when studying MHC-dependent reproductive mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, State Conservation Centre for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Qiu-Hong Wan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, State Conservation Centre for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - He-Min Zhang
- China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, No. 98 Tongjiang Road, Dujiangyan 611800, China.
| | - Sheng-Guo Fang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, State Conservation Centre for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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19
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Lenz TL, Hafer N, Samonte IE, Yeates SE, Milinski M. Cryptic haplotype-specific gamete selection yields offspring with optimal MHC immune genes. Evolution 2018; 72:2478-2490. [PMID: 30246285 PMCID: PMC6282957 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Females choose specific mates in order to produce fitter offspring. However, several factors interfere with females' control over fertilization of their eggs, including sneaker males and phenotypically unpredictable allele segregation during meiosis. Mate choice at the individual level thus provides only a poor approximation for obtaining the best genetic match. Consequently, postcopulatory sperm selection by female oocytes has been proposed as a mechanism to achieve complementary combinations of parental haplotypes. Here, using controlled in vitro fertilization of three‐spined stickleback eggs, we find haplotype‐specific fertilization bias toward gametes with complementary major histocompatibility complex (MHC) immunogenes. The resulting zygote (and thus offspring) genotypes exhibit an intermediate level of individual MHC diversity that was previously shown to confer highest pathogen resistance. Our finding of haplotype‐specific gamete selection thus represents an intriguing mechanism for fine‐tuned optimization of the offspring's immune gene composition and an evolutionary advantage in the Red Queen dynamics of host‐parasite coevolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias L Lenz
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Str. 2, 24306 Plön, Germany
| | - Nina Hafer
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Str. 2, 24306 Plön, Germany
| | - Irene E Samonte
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Str. 2, 24306 Plön, Germany
| | - Sarah E Yeates
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Str. 2, 24306 Plön, Germany.,Current Address: School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Manfred Milinski
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Str. 2, 24306 Plön, Germany
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20
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Kekäläinen J, Evans JP. Gamete-mediated mate choice: towards a more inclusive view of sexual selection. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20180836. [PMID: 30051836 PMCID: PMC6083266 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
'Sperm competition'-where ejaculates from two or more males compete for fertilization-and 'cryptic female choice'-where females bias this contest to suit their reproductive interests-are now part of the everyday lexicon of sexual selection. Yet the physiological processes that underlie these post-ejaculatory episodes of sexual selection remain largely enigmatic. In this review, we focus on a range of post-ejaculatory cellular- and molecular-level processes, known to be fundamental for fertilization across most (if not all) sexually reproducing species, and point to their putative role in facilitating sexual selection at the level of the cells and gametes, called 'gamete-mediated mate choice' (GMMC). In this way, we collate accumulated evidence for GMMC across different mating systems, and emphasize the evolutionary significance of such non-random interactions among gametes. Our overall aim in this review is to build a more inclusive view of sexual selection by showing that mate choice often acts in more nuanced ways than has traditionally been assumed. We also aim to bridge the conceptual divide between proximal mechanisms of reproduction, and adaptive explanations for patterns of non-random sperm-egg interactions that are emerging across an increasingly diverse array of taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jukka Kekäläinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Jonathan P Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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21
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Evolution of MHC class I genes in Eurasian badgers, genus Meles (Carnivora, Mustelidae). Heredity (Edinb) 2018; 122:205-218. [PMID: 29959426 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0100-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of their role in immune defense against pathogens, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are useful in evolutionary studies on how wild vertebrates adapt to their environments. We investigated the molecular evolution of MHC class I (MHCI) genes in four closely related species of Eurasian badgers, genus Meles. All four species of badgers showed similarly high variation in MHCI sequences compared to other Carnivora. We identified 7-21 putatively functional MHCI sequences in each of the badger species, and 2-7 sequences per individual, indicating the existence of 1-4 loci. MHCI exon 2 and 3 sequences encoding domains α1 and α2 exhibited different clade topologies in phylogenetic networks. Non-synonymous nucleotide substitutions at codons for antigen-binding sites exceeded synonymous substitutions for domain α1 but not for domain α2, suggesting that the domains α1 and α2 likely had different evolutionary histories in these species. Positive selection and recombination seem to have shaped the variation in domain α2, whereas positive selection was dominant in shaping the variation in domain α1. In the separate phylogenetic analyses for exon 2, exon 3, and intron 2, each showed three clades of Meles alleles, with rampant trans-species polymorphism, indicative of the long-term maintenance of ancestral MHCI polymorphism by balancing selection.
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22
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Hill GE. Mitonuclear Mate Choice: A Missing Component of Sexual Selection Theory? Bioessays 2018; 40. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201700191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey E. Hill
- Department of Biological Sciences; Auburn University; Auburn Alabama 36849-5414
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23
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Geßner C, Johnson SL, Fisher P, Clarke S, Rutherford K, Symonds J, Gemmell NJ. Male-female relatedness at specific SNP-linkage groups influences cryptic female choice in Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.0853. [PMID: 28747474 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In a range of taxa, the relatedness between mates influences both pre- and post-mating processes of sexual selection. However, relatively little is known about the genetic loci facilitating such a bias, with the exception of the major histocompatibility complex. Here, we performed tightly controlled replicated in vitro fertilization trials to explore the impact of relatedness on two possible mechanisms of cryptic female choice (CFC) in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). We tested (i) whether relatedness of mates, assessed using 682 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on 29 SNP-linkage groups (LGs), biases a male's sperm velocity in ovarian fluid (a parameter previously shown to predict male fertilization success), and (ii) whether relatedness of mates governs fertilization success via other mechanisms, probably via sperm-egg interactions. We found that relatedness on three LGs explained the variation in sperm velocity, and relatedness on two LGs explained fertilization success, which might indicate the presence of genes important in sperm-ovarian fluid and sperm-egg interactions in these genomic regions. Mapping of the SNPs on these LGs to the rainbow trout genome revealed two genes that affect fertility in humans and represent candidate genes for further studies. Our results thereby provide a novel contribution to the understanding of the mechanism of CFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Geßner
- Allan Wilson Centre, Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, 270 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Sheri L Johnson
- Allan Wilson Centre, Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, 270 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.,Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Paul Fisher
- AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley, Mosgiel 9053, New Zealand
| | - Shannon Clarke
- AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley, Mosgiel 9053, New Zealand
| | - Kim Rutherford
- Allan Wilson Centre, Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, 270 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Jane Symonds
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Bream Bay Aquaculture Park, Station Road, Ruakaka 0116, New Zealand
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Allan Wilson Centre, Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, 270 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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24
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Lehnert SJ, Helou L, Pitcher TE, Heath JW, Heath DD. Sperm competition, but not major histocompatibility divergence, drives differential fertilization success between alternative reproductive tactics in Chinook salmon. J Evol Biol 2017; 31:88-97. [PMID: 29055057 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 09/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Post-copulatory sexual selection processes, including sperm competition and cryptic female choice (CFC), can operate based on major histocompatibility (MH) genes. We investigated sperm competition between male alternative reproductive tactics [jack (sneaker) and hooknose (guard)] of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Using a full factorial design, we examined in vitro competitive fertilization success of paired jack and hooknose males at three time points after sperm activation (0, 15 and 60 s) to test for male competition, CFC and time effects on male fertilization success. We also examined egg-mediated CFC at two MH genes by examining both the relationship between competitive fertilization success and MH divergence as well as inheritance patterns of MH alleles in resulting offspring. We found that jacks sired more offspring than hooknose males at 0 s post-activation; however, jack fertilization success declined over time post-activation, suggesting a trade-off between sperm speed and longevity. Enhanced fertilization success of jacks (presumably via higher sperm quality) may serve to increase sneaker tactic competitiveness relative to dominant hooknose males. We also found evidence of egg-mediated CFC (i.e. female × male interaction) influencing competitive fertilization success; however, CFC was not acting on the MH genes as we found no relationship between fertilization success and MH II β1 or MH I α1 divergence and we found no deviations from Mendelian inheritance of MH alleles in the offspring. Our study provides insight into evolutionary mechanisms influencing variation in male mating success within alternative reproductive tactics, thus underscoring different strategies that males can adopt to attain success.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Lehnert
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - L Helou
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - T E Pitcher
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - J W Heath
- Yellow Island Aquaculture Ltd., Heriot Bay, BC, Canada
| | - D D Heath
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
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