1
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Okude G, Yamasaki YY, Toyoda A, Mori S, Kitano J. Genome-wide analysis of histone modifications can contribute to the identification of candidate cis-regulatory regions in the threespine stickleback fish. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:685. [PMID: 38992624 PMCID: PMC11241946 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10602-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cis-regulatory mutations often underlie phenotypic evolution. However, because identifying the locations of promoters and enhancers in non-coding regions is challenging, we have fewer examples of identified causative cis-regulatory mutations that underlie naturally occurring phenotypic variations than of causative amino acid-altering mutations. Because cis-regulatory elements have epigenetic marks of specific histone modifications, we can detect cis-regulatory elements by mapping and analyzing them. Here, we investigated histone modifications and chromatin accessibility with cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin-sequencing (ATAC-seq). RESULTS Using the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) as a model, we confirmed that the genes for which nearby regions showed active marks, such as H3K4me1, H3K4me3, and high chromatin accessibility, were highly expressed. In contrast, the expression levels of genes for which nearby regions showed repressive marks, such as H3K27me3, were reduced, suggesting that our chromatin analysis protocols overall worked well. Genomic regions with peaks of histone modifications showed higher nucleotide diversity within and between populations. By comparing gene expression in the gills of the marine and stream ecotypes, we identified several insertions and deletions (indels) with transposable element fragments in the candidate cis-regulatory regions. CONCLUSIONS Thus, mapping and analyzing histone modifications can help identify cis-regulatory elements and accelerate the identification of causative mutations in the non-coding regions underlying naturally occurring phenotypic variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genta Okude
- Ecological Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Yata 1111, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan.
| | - Yo Y Yamasaki
- Ecological Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Yata 1111, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Seiichi Mori
- Faculty of Economics, Gifu-Kyoritsu University, Ogaki, Gifu, Japan
| | - Jun Kitano
- Ecological Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Yata 1111, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan.
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2
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Teng D, Zhang W. The diversification of butterfly wing patterns: progress and prospects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 61:101137. [PMID: 37922984 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Butterfly wings display rich phenotypic diversity and are associated with complex biological functions, thus serving as an important evolutionary system to address the genetic basis and evolution of phenotypic diversification. We review recent butterfly studies that revealed complex functions underlying diversified wing patterns and describe the genetic and environmental factors involved in wing pattern determinations. These factors lead to inter-specific divergence, genetic polymorphism, and phenotypic plasticity, which in many cases are decided by several key genes. We also summarize the research advances on gene co-option as an important origin of functional complexity and evolutionary novelty. These findings reveal a pattern of evolutionary innovation within a constrained developmental framework during butterfly wing morphogenesis, but further research is required to gain a systematic and comprehensive understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dequn Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Medog Biodiversity Observation and Research Station of Tibet Autonomous Region, Nyingchi 860711, China.
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3
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Willink B, Tunström K, Nilén S, Chikhi R, Lemane T, Takahashi M, Takahashi Y, Svensson EI, Wheat CW. The genomics and evolution of inter-sexual mimicry and female-limited polymorphisms in damselflies. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:83-97. [PMID: 37932383 PMCID: PMC10781644 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02243-1] [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: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Sex-limited morphs can provide profound insights into the evolution and genomic architecture of complex phenotypes. Inter-sexual mimicry is one particular type of sex-limited polymorphism in which a novel morph resembles the opposite sex. While inter-sexual mimics are known in both sexes and a diverse range of animals, their evolutionary origin is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the genomic basis of female-limited morphs and male mimicry in the common bluetail damselfly. Differential gene expression between morphs has been documented in damselflies, but no causal locus has been previously identified. We found that male mimicry originated in an ancestrally sexually dimorphic lineage in association with multiple structural changes, probably driven by transposable element activity. These changes resulted in ~900 kb of novel genomic content that is partly shared by male mimics in a close relative, indicating that male mimicry is a trans-species polymorphism. More recently, a third morph originated following the translocation of part of the male-mimicry sequence into a genomic position ~3.5 mb apart. We provide evidence of balancing selection maintaining male mimicry, in line with previous field population studies. Our results underscore how structural variants affecting a handful of potentially regulatory genes and morph-specific genes can give rise to novel and complex phenotypic polymorphisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Willink
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Kalle Tunström
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sofie Nilén
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Rayan Chikhi
- Sequence Bioinformatics, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Téo Lemane
- University of Rennes, Inria, CNRS, IRISA, Rennes, France
| | - Michihiko Takahashi
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuma Takahashi
- Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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4
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Arnqvist G, Rowe L. Ecology, the pace-of-life, epistatic selection and the maintenance of genetic variation in life-history genes. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:4713-4724. [PMID: 37386734 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Evolutionary genetics has long struggled with understanding how functional genes under selection remain polymorphic in natural populations. Taking as a starting point that natural selection is ultimately a manifestation of ecological processes, we spotlight an underemphasized and potentially ubiquitous ecological effect that may have fundamental effects on the maintenance of genetic variation. Negative frequency dependency is a well-established emergent property of density dependence in ecology, because the relative profitability of different modes of exploiting or utilizing limiting resources tends to be inversely proportional to their frequency in a population. We suggest that this may often generate negative frequency-dependent selection (NFDS) on major effect loci that affect rate-dependent physiological processes, such as metabolic rate, that are phenotypically manifested as polymorphism in pace-of-life syndromes. When such a locus under NFDS shows stable intermediate frequency polymorphism, this should generate epistatic selection potentially involving large numbers of loci with more minor effects on life-history (LH) traits. When alternative alleles at such loci show sign epistasis with a major effect locus, this associative NFDS will promote the maintenance of polygenic variation in LH genes. We provide examples of the kind of major effect loci that could be involved and suggest empirical avenues that may better inform us on the importance and reach of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Göran Arnqvist
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Locke Rowe
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Swedish Collegium of Advanced Study, Uppsala, Sweden
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5
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Hanly JJ, Francescutti CM, Loh LS, Corning OBWH, Long DJ, Nakatani MA, Porter AH, Martin A. Genetics of yellow-orange color variation in a pair of sympatric sulphur butterflies. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112820. [PMID: 37481719 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Continuous color polymorphisms can serve as a tractable model for the genetic and developmental architecture of traits. Here we investigated continuous color variation in Colias eurytheme and Colias philodice, two species of sulphur butterflies that hybridize in sympatry. Using quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis and high-throughput color quantification, we found two interacting large-effect loci affecting orange-to-yellow chromaticity. Knockouts of red Malpighian tubules (red), likely involved in endosomal maturation, result in depigmented wing scales. Additionally, the transcription factor bric-a-brac can act as a modulator of orange pigmentation. We also describe the QTL architecture of other continuously varying traits, together supporting a large-X effect model where the genetic control of species-defining traits is enriched on sex chromosomes. This study sheds light on the range of possible genetic architectures that can underpin a continuously varying trait and illustrates the power of using automated measurement to score phenotypes that are not always conspicuous to the human eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Hanly
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Panama.
| | | | - Ling S Loh
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Olaf B W H Corning
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Derek J Long
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Marshall A Nakatani
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Adam H Porter
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.
| | - Arnaud Martin
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
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6
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Galbraith JD, Hayward A. The influence of transposable elements on animal colouration. Trends Genet 2023:S0168-9525(23)00091-4. [PMID: 37183153 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic sequences present within host genomes. TEs can contribute to the evolution of host traits, since transposition is mutagenic and TEs often contain host regulatory and protein coding sequences. We review cases where TEs influence animal colouration, reporting major patterns and outstanding questions. TE-induced colouration phenotypes typically arise via introduction of novel regulatory sequences and splice sites, affecting pigment cell development or pigment synthesis. We discuss if particular TE types may be more frequently involved in the evolution of colour variation in animals, given that examples involving long terminal repeat (LTR) elements appear to dominate. Currently, examples of TE-induced colouration phenotypes in animals mainly concern model and domesticated insect and mammal species. However, several influential recent examples, coupled with increases in genome sequencing, suggest cases reported from wild species will increase considerably.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Galbraith
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK.
| | - Alexander Hayward
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK.
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7
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Tunström K, Woronik A, Hanly JJ, Rastas P, Chichvarkhin A, Warren AD, Kawahara AY, Schoville SD, Ficarrotta V, Porter AH, Watt WB, Martin A, Wheat CW. Evidence for a single, ancient origin of a genus-wide alternative life history strategy. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eabq3713. [PMID: 36947619 PMCID: PMC10032607 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq3713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the evolutionary origins and factors maintaining alternative life history strategies (ALHS) within species is a major goal of evolutionary research. While alternative alleles causing discrete ALHS are expected to purge or fix over time, one-third of the ~90 species of Colias butterflies are polymorphic for a female-limited ALHS called Alba. Whether Alba arose once, evolved in parallel, or has been exchanged among taxa is currently unknown. Using comparative genome-wide association study (GWAS) and population genomic analyses, we placed the genetic basis of Alba in time-calibrated phylogenomic framework, revealing that Alba evolved once near the base of the genus and has been subsequently maintained via introgression and balancing selection. CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis was then used to verify a putative cis-regulatory region of Alba, which we identified using phylogenetic foot printing. We hypothesize that this cis-regulatory region acts as a modular enhancer for the induction of the Alba ALHS, which has likely facilitated its long evolutionary persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalle Tunström
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alyssa Woronik
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biology, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT, USA
| | - Joseph J. Hanly
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Pasi Rastas
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anton Chichvarkhin
- National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Palchevskogo 17, Vladivostok 690022, Russia
| | - Andrew D. Warren
- McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Akito Y. Kawahara
- McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Sean D. Schoville
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Vincent Ficarrotta
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Adam H. Porter
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Ward B. Watt
- Department of Biology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, CO 81224, USA
| | - Arnaud Martin
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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8
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McCulloch GA, Waters JM. Rapid adaptation in a fast-changing world: Emerging insights from insect genomics. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:943-954. [PMID: 36333958 PMCID: PMC10100130 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Many researchers have questioned the ability of biota to adapt to rapid anthropogenic environmental shifts. Here, we synthesize emerging genomic evidence for rapid insect evolution in response to human pressure. These new data reveal diverse genomic mechanisms (single locus, polygenic, structural shifts; introgression) underpinning rapid adaptive responses to a variety of anthropogenic selective pressures. While the effects of some human impacts (e.g. pollution; pesticides) have been previously documented, here we highlight startling new evidence for rapid evolutionary responses to additional anthropogenic processes such as deforestation. These recent findings indicate that diverse insect assemblages can indeed respond dynamically to major anthropogenic evolutionary challenges. Our synthesis also emphasizes the critical roles of genomic architecture, standing variation and gene flow in maintaining future adaptive potential. Broadly, it is clear that genomic approaches are essential for predicting, monitoring and responding to ongoing anthropogenic biodiversity shifts in a fast-changing world.
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9
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Functional genomic tools for emerging model species. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:1104-1115. [PMID: 35914975 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Most studies in the field of ecology and evolution aiming to connect genotype to phenotype rarely validate identified loci using functional tools. Recent developments in RNA interference (RNAi) and clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas genome editing have dramatically increased the feasibility of functional validation. However, these methods come with specific challenges when applied to emerging model organisms, including limited spatial control of gene silencing, low knock-in efficiencies, and low throughput of functional validation. Moreover, many functional studies to date do not recapitulate ecologically relevant variation, and this limits their scope for deeper insights into evolutionary processes. We therefore argue that increased use of gene editing by allelic replacement through homology-directed repair (HDR) would greatly benefit the field of ecology and evolution.
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10
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Ruggieri AA, Livraghi L, Lewis JJ, Evans E, Cicconardi F, Hebberecht L, Ortiz-Ruiz Y, Montgomery SH, Ghezzi A, Rodriguez-Martinez JA, Jiggins CD, McMillan WO, Counterman BA, Papa R, Van Belleghem SM. A butterfly pan-genome reveals that a large amount of structural variation underlies the evolution of chromatin accessibility. Genome Res 2022; 32:1862-1875. [PMID: 36109150 PMCID: PMC9712634 DOI: 10.1101/gr.276839.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Despite insertions and deletions being the most common structural variants (SVs) found across genomes, not much is known about how much these SVs vary within populations and between closely related species, nor their significance in evolution. To address these questions, we characterized the evolution of indel SVs using genome assemblies of three closely related Heliconius butterfly species. Over the relatively short evolutionary timescales investigated, up to 18.0% of the genome was composed of indels between two haplotypes of an individual Heliconius charithonia butterfly and up to 62.7% included lineage-specific SVs between the genomes of the most distant species (11 Mya). Lineage-specific sequences were mostly characterized as transposable elements (TEs) inserted at random throughout the genome and their overall distribution was similarly affected by linked selection as single nucleotide substitutions. Using chromatin accessibility profiles (i.e., ATAC-seq) of head tissue in caterpillars to identify sequences with potential cis-regulatory function, we found that out of the 31,066 identified differences in chromatin accessibility between species, 30.4% were within lineage-specific SVs and 9.4% were characterized as TE insertions. These TE insertions were localized closer to gene transcription start sites than expected at random and were enriched for sites with significant resemblance to several transcription factor binding sites with known function in neuron development in Drosophila We also identified 24 TE insertions with head-specific chromatin accessibility. Our results show high rates of structural genome evolution that were previously overlooked in comparative genomic studies and suggest a high potential for structural variation to serve as raw material for adaptive evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo A Ruggieri
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, San Juan PR 00931, Puerto Rico
| | - Luca Livraghi
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092 Panamá, Panama
| | - James J Lewis
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Evans
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, San Juan PR 00931, Puerto Rico
| | - Francesco Cicconardi
- School of Biological Sciences, Bristol University, Bristol BS8 1QU, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Hebberecht
- School of Biological Sciences, Bristol University, Bristol BS8 1QU, United Kingdom
| | - Yadira Ortiz-Ruiz
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, San Juan PR 00931, Puerto Rico
- Molecular Sciences and Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00926, Puerto Rico
| | - Stephen H Montgomery
- School of Biological Sciences, Bristol University, Bristol BS8 1QU, United Kingdom
| | - Alfredo Ghezzi
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, San Juan PR 00931, Puerto Rico
| | | | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - W Owen McMillan
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092 Panamá, Panama
| | - Brian A Counterman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA
| | - Riccardo Papa
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, San Juan PR 00931, Puerto Rico
- Molecular Sciences and Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00926, Puerto Rico
| | - Steven M Van Belleghem
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, San Juan PR 00931, Puerto Rico
- Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, Biology Department, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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11
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Baril T, Hayward A. Migrators within migrators: exploring transposable element dynamics in the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus. Mob DNA 2022; 13:5. [PMID: 35172896 PMCID: PMC8848866 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-022-00263-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) are an important model system in ecology and evolution. A high-quality chromosomal genome assembly is available for the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), but it lacks an in-depth transposable element (TE) annotation, presenting an opportunity to explore monarch TE dynamics and the impact of TEs on shaping the monarch genome. Results We find 6.21% of the monarch genome is comprised of TEs, a reduction of 6.85% compared to the original TE annotation performed on the draft genome assembly. Monarch TE content is low compared to two closely related species with available genomes, Danaus chrysippus (33.97% TE) and Danaus melanippus (11.87% TE). The biggest TE contributions to genome size in the monarch are LINEs and Penelope-like elements, and three newly identified families, r2-hero_dPle (LINE), penelope-1_dPle (Penelope-like), and hase2-1_dPle (SINE), collectively contribute 34.92% of total TE content. We find evidence of recent TE activity, with two novel Tc1 families rapidly expanding over recent timescales (tc1-1_dPle, tc1-2_dPle). LINE fragments show signatures of genomic deletions indicating a high rate of TE turnover. We investigate associations between TEs and wing colouration and immune genes and identify a three-fold increase in TE content around immune genes compared to other host genes. Conclusions We provide a detailed TE annotation and analysis for the monarch genome, revealing a considerably smaller TE contribution to genome content compared to two closely related Danaus species with available genome assemblies. We identify highly successful novel DNA TE families rapidly expanding over recent timescales, and ongoing signatures of both TE expansion and removal highlight the dynamic nature of repeat content in the monarch genome. Our findings also suggest that insect immune genes are promising candidates for future interrogation of TE-mediated host adaptation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13100-022-00263-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Baril
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK.
| | - Alexander Hayward
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK.
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12
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Sinclair-Waters M, Piavchenko N, Ruokolainen A, Aykanat T, Erkinaro J, Primmer CR. Refining the genomic location of single nucleotide polymorphism variation affecting Atlantic salmon maturation timing at a key large-effect locus. Mol Ecol 2021; 31:562-570. [PMID: 34716945 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Efforts to understand the genetic underpinnings of phenotypic variation are becoming more and more frequent in molecular ecology. Such efforts often lead to the identification of candidate regions showing signals of association and/or selection. These regions may contain multiple genes and therefore validation of which genes are actually responsible for the signal is required. In Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), a large-effect locus for maturation timing, an ecologically important trait, occurs in a genomic region including two genes, vgll3 and akap11, but data for clearly determining which of the genes (or both) contribute to the association have been lacking. Here, we take advantage of natural recombination events detected between the two candidate genes in a salmon broodstock to reduce linkage disequilibrium at the locus, thus enabling delineation of the influence of variation at these two genes on early maturation. By rearing 5,895 males to maturation age, of which 81% had recombinant vgll3/akap11 allelic combinations, we found that vgll3 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variation was strongly associated with early maturation, whereas there was little or no association between akap11 SNP variation and early maturation. These findings provide strong evidence supporting vgll3 as the primary candidate gene in the chromosome 25 locus for influencing early maturation. This will help guide future research for understanding the genetic processes controlling early maturation. This also exemplifies the utility of natural recombinants to more precisely map causal variation underlying ecologically important phenotypic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Sinclair-Waters
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nikolai Piavchenko
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annukka Ruokolainen
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tutku Aykanat
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Craig R Primmer
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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13
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Ebdon S, Mackintosh A, Hayward A, Wotton K. The genome sequence of the clouded yellow, Colias crocea (Geoffroy, 1785). Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:284. [PMID: 36157970 PMCID: PMC9490288 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17292.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a genome assembly from an individual female
Colias crocea (also known as
Colias croceus; the clouded yellow; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Pieridae). The genome sequence is 325 megabases in span. The complete assembly is scaffolded into 32 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the W and Z sex chromosome assembled. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 13,803 protein coding genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Ebdon
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alex Mackintosh
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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14
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O'Connor TK, Sandoval MC, Wang J, Hans JC, Takenaka R, Child M, Whiteman NK. Ecological basis and genetic architecture of crypsis polymorphism in the desert clicker grasshopper (Ligurotettix coquilletti). Evolution 2021; 75:2441-2459. [PMID: 34370317 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14321] [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: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Color polymorphic species can offer exceptional insight into the ecology and genetics of adaptation. Although the genetic architecture of animal coloration is diverse, many color polymorphisms are associated with large structural variants and maintained by biotic interactions. Grasshoppers are notably polymorphic in both color and karyotype, which makes them excellent models for understanding the ecological drivers and genetic underpinnings of color variation. Banded and uniform morphs of the desert clicker grasshopper (Ligurotettix coquilletti) are found across the western deserts of North America. To address the hypothesis that predation maintains local color polymorphism and shapes regional crypsis variation, we surveyed morph frequencies and tested for covariation with two predation environments. Morphs coexisted at intermediate frequencies at most sites, consistent with local balancing selection. Morph frequencies covaried with the appearance of desert substrate-an environment used only by females-suggesting that ground-foraging predators are major agents of selection on crypsis. We next addressed the hypothesized link between morph variation and genome structure. To do so, we designed an approach for detecting inversions and indels using only RADseq data. The banded morph was perfectly correlated with a large putative indel. Remarkably, indel dominance differed among populations, a rare example of dominance evolution in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy K O'Connor
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720.,Current Address: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637
| | - Marissa C Sandoval
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720
| | - Jiarui Wang
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720
| | - Jacob C Hans
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, 92521
| | - Risa Takenaka
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195.,Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, 98109
| | - Myron Child
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112
| | - Noah K Whiteman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720
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15
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Ernst DA, Westerman EL. Stage- and sex-specific transcriptome analyses reveal distinctive sensory gene expression patterns in a butterfly. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:584. [PMID: 34340656 PMCID: PMC8327453 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07819-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Animal behavior is largely driven by the information that animals are able to extract and process from their environment. However, the function and organization of sensory systems often change throughout ontogeny, particularly in animals that undergo indirect development. As an initial step toward investigating these ontogenetic changes at the molecular level, we characterized the sensory gene repertoire and examined the expression profiles of genes linked to vision and chemosensation in two life stages of an insect that goes through metamorphosis, the butterfly Bicyclus anynana. Results Using RNA-seq, we compared gene expression in the heads of late fifth instar larvae and newly eclosed adults that were reared under identical conditions. Over 50 % of all expressed genes were differentially expressed between the two developmental stages, with 4,036 genes upregulated in larval heads and 4,348 genes upregulated in adult heads. In larvae, upregulated vision-related genes were biased toward those involved with eye development, while phototransduction genes dominated the vision genes that were upregulated in adults. Moreover, the majority of the chemosensory genes we identified in the B. anynana genome were differentially expressed between larvae and adults, several of which share homology with genes linked to pheromone detection, host plant recognition, and foraging in other species of Lepidoptera. Conclusions These results revealed promising candidates for furthering our understanding of sensory processing and behavior in the disparate developmental stages of butterflies and other animals that undergo metamorphosis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07819-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Ernst
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, 72701, Fayetteville, AR, USA.
| | - Erica L Westerman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, 72701, Fayetteville, AR, USA
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16
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Andrade P, Carneiro M. Pterin-based pigmentation in animals. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210221. [PMID: 34403644 PMCID: PMC8370806 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pterins are one of the major sources of bright coloration in animals. They are produced endogenously, participate in vital physiological processes and serve a variety of signalling functions. Despite their ubiquity in nature, pterin-based pigmentation has received little attention when compared to other major pigment classes. Here, we summarize major aspects relating to pterin pigmentation in animals, from its long history of research to recent genomic studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying its evolution. We argue that pterins have intermediate characteristics (endogenously produced, typically bright) between two well-studied pigment types, melanins (endogenously produced, typically cryptic) and carotenoids (dietary uptake, typically bright), providing unique opportunities to address general questions about the biology of coloration, from the mechanisms that determine how different types of pigmentation evolve to discussions on honest signalling hypotheses. Crucial gaps persist in our knowledge on the molecular basis underlying the production and deposition of pterins. We thus highlight the need for functional studies on systems amenable for laboratory manipulation, but also on systems that exhibit natural variation in pterin pigmentation. The wealth of potential model species, coupled with recent technological and analytical advances, make this a promising time to advance research on pterin-based pigmentation in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Andrade
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Miguel Carneiro
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
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17
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Errbii M, Keilwagen J, Hoff KJ, Steffen R, Altmüller J, Oettler J, Schrader L. Transposable elements and introgression introduce genetic variation in the invasive ant Cardiocondyla obscurior. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:6211-6228. [PMID: 34324751 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Introduced populations of invasive organisms have to cope with novel environmental challenges, while having reduced genetic variation caused by founder effects. The mechanisms associated with this "genetic paradox of invasive species" has received considerable attention, yet few studies have examined the genomic architecture of invasive species. Populations of the heart node ant Cardiocondyla obscurior belong to two distinct lineages, a New World lineage so far only found in Latin America and a more globally distributed Old World lineage. In the present study, we use population genomic approaches to compare populations of the two lineages with apparent divergent invasive potential. We find that the strong genetic differentiation of the two lineages began at least 40,000 generations ago and that activity of transposable elements (TEs) has contributed significantly to the divergence of both lineages, possibly linked to the very unusual genomic distribution of TEs in this species. Furthermore, we show that introgression from the Old World lineage is a dominant source of genetic diversity in the New World lineage, despite the lineages' strong genetic differentiation. Our study uncovers mechanisms underlying novel genetic variation in introduced populations of C. obscurior that could contribute to the species' adaptive potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Errbii
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jens Keilwagen
- Institute for Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Quedlinburg, Germany
| | - Katharina J Hoff
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Raphael Steffen
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Janine Altmüller
- Cologne Center for Genomics, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Core Facility Genomics, Berlin, Germany.,Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Oettler
- Lehrstuhl für Zoologie/Evolutionsbiologie, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Schrader
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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18
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Li A, Wang J, Sun K, Wang S, Zhao X, Wang T, Xiong L, Xu W, Qiu L, Shang Y, Liu R, Wang S, Lu Y. Two reference-quality sea snake genomes reveal their divergent evolution of adaptive traits and venom systems. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:4867-4883. [PMID: 34320652 PMCID: PMC8557462 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
True sea snakes (Hydrophiini) are among the last and most successful clades of vertebrates that show secondary marine adaptation, exhibiting diverse phenotypic traits and lethal venom systems. To better understand their evolution, we generated the first chromosome-level genomes of two representative Hydrophiini snakes, Hydrophis cyanocinctus and H. curtus. Through comparative genomics we identified a great expansion of the underwater olfaction-related V2R gene family, consisting of more than 1,000 copies in both snakes. A series of chromosome rearrangements and genomic structural variations were recognized, including large inversions longer than 30 megabase (Mb) on sex chromosomes which potentially affect key functional genes associated with differentiated phenotypes between the two species. By integrating multiomics we found a significant loss of the major weapon for elapid predation, three-finger toxin genes, which displayed a dosage effect in H. curtus. These genetic changes may imply mechanisms that drove the divergent evolution of adaptive traits including prey preferences between the two closely related snakes. Our reference-quality sea snake genomes also enrich the repositories for addressing important issues on the evolution of marine tetrapods, and provide a resource for discovering marine-derived biological products.
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Affiliation(s)
- An Li
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.,School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Junjie Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Kuo Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Shuocun Wang
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Tingfang Wang
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Liyan Xiong
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Weiheng Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Lei Qiu
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yan Shang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Runhui Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Sheng Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Yiming Lu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.,School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.,School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
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19
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Takahashi M, Okude G, Futahashi R, Takahashi Y, Kawata M. The effect of the doublesex gene in body colour masculinization of the damselfly Ischnura senegalensis. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20200761. [PMID: 34102071 PMCID: PMC8187028 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Odonata species display a remarkable diversity of colour patterns, including intrasexual polymorphisms. In the damselfly (Ischnura senegalensis), the expression of a sex-determining transcription factor, the doublesex (Isdsx) gene is reportedly associated with female colour polymorphism (CP) (gynomorph for female-specific colour and andromorph for male-mimicking colour). Here, the function of Isdsx in thoracic coloration was investigated by electroporation-mediated RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi of the Isdsx common region in males and andromorphic females reduced melanization and thus changed the colour pattern into that of gynomorphic females, while the gynomorphic colour pattern was not affected. By contrast, RNAi against the Isdsx long isoform produced no changes, suggesting that the Isdsx short isoform is important for body colour masculinization in both males and andromorphic females. When examining the expression levels of five genes with differences between sexes and female morphs, two melanin-suppressing genes, black and ebony, were expressed at higher levels in the Isdsx RNAi body area than a control area. Therefore, the Isdsx short isoform may induce thoracic colour differentiation by suppressing black and ebony, thereby generating female CP in I. senegalensis. These findings contribute to the understanding of the molecular and evolutionary mechanisms underlying female CP in Odonata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michihiko Takahashi
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki, Aoba, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Genta Okude
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, the University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 6, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan
| | - Ryo Futahashi
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 6, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan
| | - Yuma Takahashi
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Masakado Kawata
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki, Aoba, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
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20
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Celorio-Mancera MDLP, Rastas P, Steward RA, Nylin S, Wheat CW. Chromosome Level Assembly of the Comma Butterfly (Polygonia c-album). Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:evab054. [PMID: 33749729 PMCID: PMC8140205 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album, Nymphalidae, Lepidoptera) is a model insect species, most notably in the study of phenotypic plasticity and plant-insect coevolutionary interactions. In order to facilitate the integration of genomic tools with a diverse body of ecological and evolutionary research, we assembled the genome of a Swedish comma using 10X sequencing, scaffolding with matepair data, genome polishing, and assignment to linkage groups using a high-density linkage map. The resulting genome is 373 Mb in size, with a scaffold N50 of 11.7 Mb and contig N50 of 11,2Mb. The genome contained 90.1% of single-copy Lepidopteran orthologs in a BUSCO analysis of 5,286 genes. A total of 21,004 gene-models were annotated on the genome using RNA-Seq data from larval and adult tissue in combination with proteins from the Arthropoda database, resulting in a high-quality annotation for which functional annotations were generated. We further documented the quality of the chromosomal assembly via synteny assessment with Melitaea cinxia. The resulting annotated, chromosome-level genome will provide an important resource for investigating coevolutionary dynamics and comparative analyses in Lepidoptera.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pasi Rastas
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rachel A Steward
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Stockholm University, Sweden
| | - Soren Nylin
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Stockholm University, Sweden
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21
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Gilbert C, Peccoud J, Cordaux R. Transposable Elements and the Evolution of Insects. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 66:355-372. [PMID: 32931312 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-070720-074650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Insects are major contributors to our understanding of the interaction between transposable elements (TEs) and their hosts, owing to seminal discoveries, as well as to the growing number of sequenced insect genomes and population genomics and functional studies. Insect TE landscapes are highly variable both within and across insect orders, although phylogenetic relatedness appears to correlate with similarity in insect TE content. This correlation is unlikely to be solely due to inheritance of TEs from shared ancestors and may partly reflect preferential horizontal transfer of TEs between closely related species. The influence of insect traits on TE landscapes, however, remains unclear. Recent findings indicate that, in addition to being involved in insect adaptations and aging, TEs are seemingly at the cornerstone of insect antiviral immunity. Thus, TEs are emerging as essential insect symbionts that may have deleterious or beneficial consequences on their hosts, depending on context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Gilbert
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France;
| | - Jean Peccoud
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Equipe Ecologie Evolution Symbiose, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7267 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Poitiers, 86073 Poitiers CEDEX 9, France
| | - Richard Cordaux
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Equipe Ecologie Evolution Symbiose, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7267 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Poitiers, 86073 Poitiers CEDEX 9, France
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22
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Chromonomer: A Tool Set for Repairing and Enhancing Assembled Genomes Through Integration of Genetic Maps and Conserved Synteny. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:4115-4128. [PMID: 32912931 PMCID: PMC7642942 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The pace of the sequencing and computational assembly of novel reference genomes is accelerating. Though DNA sequencing technologies and assembly software tools continue to improve, biological features of genomes such as repetitive sequence as well as molecular artifacts that often accompany sequencing library preparation can lead to fragmented or chimeric assemblies. If left uncorrected, defects like these trammel progress on understanding genome structure and function, or worse, positively mislead this research. Fortunately, integration of additional, independent streams of information, such as a marker-dense genetic map and conserved orthologous gene order from related taxa, can be used to scaffold together unlinked, disordered fragments and to restructure a reference genome where it is incorrectly joined. We present a tool set for automating these processes, one that additionally tracks any changes to the assembly and to the genetic map, and which allows the user to scrutinize these changes with the help of web-based, graphical visualizations. Chromonomer takes a user-defined reference genome, a map of genetic markers, and, optionally, conserved synteny information to construct an improved reference genome of chromosome models: a “chromonome”. We demonstrate Chromonomer’s performance on genome assemblies and genetic maps that have disparate characteristics and levels of quality.
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23
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Weissensteiner MH, Bunikis I, Catalán A, Francoijs KJ, Knief U, Heim W, Peona V, Pophaly SD, Sedlazeck FJ, Suh A, Warmuth VM, Wolf JBW. Discovery and population genomics of structural variation in a songbird genus. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3403. [PMID: 32636372 PMCID: PMC7341801 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17195-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Structural variation (SV) constitutes an important type of genetic mutations providing the raw material for evolution. Here, we uncover the genome-wide spectrum of intra- and interspecific SV segregating in natural populations of seven songbird species in the genus Corvus. Combining short-read (N = 127) and long-read re-sequencing (N = 31), as well as optical mapping (N = 16), we apply both assembly- and read mapping approaches to detect SV and characterize a total of 220,452 insertions, deletions and inversions. We exploit sampling across wide phylogenetic timescales to validate SV genotypes and assess the contribution of SV to evolutionary processes in an avian model of incipient speciation. We reveal an evolutionary young (~530,000 years) cis-acting 2.25-kb LTR retrotransposon insertion reducing expression of the NDP gene with consequences for premating isolation. Our results attest to the wealth and evolutionary significance of SV segregating in natural populations and highlight the need for reliable SV genotyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias H Weissensteiner
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Grosshaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, 310 Wartik Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Ignas Bunikis
- Uppsala Genome Center, Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 815, 752 37, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ana Catalán
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Grosshaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Ulrich Knief
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Grosshaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Wieland Heim
- Institute of Landscsape Ecology, University of Münster, Heisenbergstrasse 2, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Valentina Peona
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Organismal Biology - Systematic Biology, Uppsala University, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Saurabh D Pophaly
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Grosshaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, 50829, Cologne, Germany
| | - Fritz J Sedlazeck
- Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Alexander Suh
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Organismal Biology - Systematic Biology, Uppsala University, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TU, UK
| | - Vera M Warmuth
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Grosshaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jochen B W Wolf
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Grosshaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
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24
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Willink B, Duryea MC, Wheat C, Svensson EI. Changes in gene expression during female reproductive development in a color polymorphic insect. Evolution 2020; 74:1063-1081. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Willink
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Unit, Ecology BuildingLund University Lund 223–62 Sweden
- Current Address: School of BiologyUniversity of Costa Rica San José 11501–2060 Costa Rica
| | | | | | - Erik I. Svensson
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Unit, Ecology BuildingLund University Lund 223–62 Sweden
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25
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Orteu A, Jiggins CD. The genomics of coloration provides insights into adaptive evolution. Nat Rev Genet 2020; 21:461-475. [PMID: 32382123 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-020-0234-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Coloration is an easily quantifiable visual trait that has proven to be a highly tractable system for genetic analysis and for studying adaptive evolution. The application of genomic approaches to evolutionary studies of coloration is providing new insight into the genetic architectures underlying colour traits, including the importance of large-effect mutations and supergenes, the role of development in shaping genetic variation and the origins of adaptive variation, which often involves adaptive introgression. Improved knowledge of the genetic basis of traits can facilitate field studies of natural selection and sexual selection, making it possible for strong selection and its influence on the genome to be demonstrated in wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Orteu
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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