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AbuAlia KFN, Damm E, Ullrich KK, Mukaj A, Parvanov E, Forejt J, Odenthal-Hesse L. Natural variation in the zinc-finger-encoding exon of Prdm9 affects hybrid sterility phenotypes in mice. Genetics 2024; 226:iyae004. [PMID: 38217871 PMCID: PMC10917509 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae004] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
PRDM9-mediated reproductive isolation was first described in the progeny of Mus musculus musculus (MUS) PWD/Ph and Mus musculus domesticus (DOM) C57BL/6J inbred strains. These male F1 hybrids fail to complete chromosome synapsis and arrest meiosis at prophase I, due to incompatibilities between the Prdm9 gene and hybrid sterility locus Hstx2. We identified 14 alleles of Prdm9 in exon 12, encoding the DNA-binding domain of the PRDM9 protein in outcrossed wild mouse populations from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, 8 of which are novel. The same allele was found in all mice bearing introgressed t-haplotypes encompassing Prdm9. We asked whether 7 novel Prdm9 alleles in MUS populations and the t-haplotype allele in 1 MUS and 3 DOM populations induce Prdm9-mediated reproductive isolation. The results show that only combinations of the dom2 allele of DOM origin and the MUS msc1 allele ensure complete infertility of intersubspecific hybrids in outcrossed wild populations and inbred mouse strains examined so far. The results further indicate that MUS mice may share the erasure of PRDM9msc1 binding motifs in populations with different Prdm9 alleles, which implies that erased PRDM9 binding motifs may be uncoupled from their corresponding Prdm9 alleles at the population level. Our data corroborate the model of Prdm9-mediated hybrid sterility beyond inbred strains of mice and suggest that sterility alleles of Prdm9 may be rare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khawla F N AbuAlia
- Research Group Meiotic Recombination and Genome Instability, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön D-24306, Germany
| | - Elena Damm
- Research Group Meiotic Recombination and Genome Instability, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön D-24306, Germany
| | - Kristian K Ullrich
- Research Group Meiotic Recombination and Genome Instability, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön D-24306, Germany
| | - Amisa Mukaj
- Laboratory of Mouse Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec CZ-25250, Czech Republic
| | - Emil Parvanov
- Laboratory of Mouse Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec CZ-25250, Czech Republic
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute of the Medical University of Varna, 9002 Varna, Bulgaria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Digital Health and Patient Safety, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jiri Forejt
- Laboratory of Mouse Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec CZ-25250, Czech Republic
| | - Linda Odenthal-Hesse
- Research Group Meiotic Recombination and Genome Instability, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön D-24306, Germany
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2
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Majka M, Janáková E, Jakobson I, Järve K, Cápal P, Korchanová Z, Lampar A, Juračka J, Valárik M. The chromatin determinants and Ph1 gene effect at wheat sites with contrasting recombination frequency. J Adv Res 2023; 53:75-85. [PMID: 36632886 PMCID: PMC10658417 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.01.002] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Meiotic recombination is one of the most important processes of evolution and adaptation to environmental conditions. Even though there is substantial knowledge about proteins involved in the process, targeting specific DNA loci by the recombination machinery is not well understood. OBJECTIVES This study aims to investigate a wheat recombination hotspot (H1) in comparison with a "regular" recombination site (Rec7) on the sequence and epigenetic level in conditions with functional and non-functional Ph1 locus. METHODS The DNA sequence, methylation pattern, and recombination frequency were analyzed for the H1 and Rec7 in three mapping populations derived by crossing introgressive wheat line 8.1 with cv. Chinese Spring (with Ph1 and ph1 alleles) and cv. Tähti. RESULTS The H1 and Rec7 loci are 1.586 kb and 2.538 kb long, respectively. High-density mapping allowed to delimit the Rec7 and H1 to 19 and 574 bp and 593 and 571 bp CO sites, respectively. A new method (ddPing) allowed screening recombination frequency in almost 66 thousand gametes. The screening revealed a 5.94-fold higher recombination frequency at the H1 compared to the Rec7. The H1 was also found out of the Ph1 control, similarly as gamete distortion. The recombination was strongly affected by larger genomic rearrangements but not by the SNP proximity. Moreover, chromatin markers for open chromatin and DNA hypomethylation were found associated with crossover occurrence except for the CHH methylation. CONCLUSION Our results, for the first time, allowed study of wheat recombination directly on sequence, shed new light on chromatin landmarks associated with particular recombination sites, and deepened knowledge about role of the Ph1 locus in control of wheat recombination processes. The results are suggesting more than one recombination control pathway. Understanding this phenomenon may become a base for more efficient wheat genome manipulation, gene pool enrichment, breeding, and study processes of recombination itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Majka
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, Olomouc 779 00, Czech Republic; Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plant Genetics, Strzeszyńska 34, Poznań 60-479, Poland
| | - Eva Janáková
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, Olomouc 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Irena Jakobson
- Tallinn University of Technology, Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 19086, Estonia
| | - Kadri Järve
- Tallinn University of Technology, Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 19086, Estonia
| | - Petr Cápal
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, Olomouc 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Korchanová
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, Olomouc 779 00, Czech Republic; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, Olomouc 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Adam Lampar
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, Olomouc 779 00, Czech Republic; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, Olomouc 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Juračka
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, Olomouc 779 00, Czech Republic; Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, Olomouc 779 00, Czech Republic; Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, Olomouc 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Valárik
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, Olomouc 779 00, Czech Republic.
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3
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Damm E, Ullrich KK, Amos WB, Odenthal-Hesse L. Evolution of the recombination regulator PRDM9 in minke whales. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:212. [PMID: 35296233 PMCID: PMC8925151 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08305-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background PRDM9 is a key regulator of meiotic recombination in most metazoans, responsible for reshuffling parental genomes. During meiosis, the PRDM9 protein recognizes and binds specific target motifs via its array of C2H2 zinc-fingers encoded by a rapidly evolving minisatellite. The gene coding for PRDM9 is the only speciation gene identified in vertebrates to date and shows high variation, particularly in the DNA-recognizing positions of the zinc-finger array, within and between species. Across all vertebrate genomes studied for PRDM9 evolution, only one genome lacks variability between repeat types – that of the North Pacific minke whale. This study aims to understand the evolution and diversity of Prdm9 in minke whales, which display the most unusual genome reference allele of Prdm9 so far discovered in mammals. Results Minke whales possess all the features characteristic of PRDM9-directed recombination, including complete KRAB, SSXRD and SET domains and a rapidly evolving array of C2H2-type-Zincfingers (ZnF) with evidence of rapid evolution, particularly at DNA-recognizing positions that evolve under positive diversifying selection. Seventeen novel PRDM9 variants were identified within the Antarctic minke whale species, plus a single distinct PRDM9 variant in Common minke whales – shared across North Atlantic and North Pacific minke whale subspecies boundaries. Conclusion The PRDM9 ZnF array evolves rapidly, in minke whales, with at least one DNA-recognizing position under positive selection. Extensive PRDM9 diversity is observed, particularly in the Antarctic in minke whales. Common minke whales shared a specific Prdm9 allele across subspecies boundaries, suggesting incomplete speciation by the mechanisms associated with PRDM9 hybrid sterility. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08305-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Damm
- Department Evolutionary Genetics, Research Group Meiotic Recombination and Genome Instability, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann Str. 2, D-24306, Plön, Germany
| | - Kristian K Ullrich
- Department Evolutionary Genetics, Research Group Meiotic Recombination and Genome Instability, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann Str. 2, D-24306, Plön, Germany
| | - William B Amos
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Linda Odenthal-Hesse
- Department Evolutionary Genetics, Research Group Meiotic Recombination and Genome Instability, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann Str. 2, D-24306, Plön, Germany.
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Fouché S, Oggenfuss U, Chanclud E, Croll D. A devil's bargain with transposable elements in plant pathogens. Trends Genet 2021; 38:222-230. [PMID: 34489138 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) spread in genomes through self-copying mechanisms and are a major cause of genome expansions. Plant pathogens have finely tuned the expression of virulence factors to rely on epigenetic control targeted at nearby TEs. Stress experienced during the plant infection process leads to derepression of TEs and concurrently allows the expression of virulence factors. We argue that the derepression of TEs elements causes an evolutionary conflict by favoring TEs that can be reactivated. Active TEs and recent genome size expansions indicate that plant pathogens could face long-term consequences from the short-term benefit of fine-tuning the infection process. Hence, encoding key virulence factors close to TEs under epigenetic control constitutes a devil's bargain for pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Fouché
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Department of Organismal Biology - Systematic Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ursula Oggenfuss
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Emilie Chanclud
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Croll
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
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5
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Gergelits V, Parvanov E, Simecek P, Forejt J. Chromosome-wide characterization of meiotic noncrossovers (gene conversions) in mouse hybrids. Genetics 2021; 217:1-14. [PMID: 33683354 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyaa013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
During meiosis, the recombination-initiating DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are repaired by crossovers or noncrossovers (gene conversions). While crossovers are easily detectable, noncrossover identification is hampered by the small size of their converted tracts and the necessity of sequence polymorphism. We report identification and characterization of a mouse chromosome-wide set of noncrossovers by next-generation sequencing of 10 mouse intersubspecific chromosome substitution strains. Based on 94 identified noncrossovers, we determined the mean length of a conversion tract to be 32 bp. The spatial chromosome-wide distribution of noncrossovers and crossovers significantly differed, although both sets overlapped the known hotspots of PRDM9-directed histone methylation and DNA DSBs, thus supporting their origin in the standard DSB repair pathway. A significant deficit of noncrossovers descending from asymmetric DSBs proved their proposed adverse effect on meiotic recombination and pointed to sister chromatids as an alternative template for their repair. The finding has implications for the molecular mechanism of hybrid sterility in mice from crosses between closely related Mus musculus musculus and Mus musculus domesticus subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaclav Gergelits
- Laboratory of Mouse Molecular Genetics, Division BIOCEV, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-25250 Vestec, Czech Republic.,Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, CZ-12000 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Emil Parvanov
- Laboratory of Mouse Molecular Genetics, Division BIOCEV, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-25250 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Simecek
- Laboratory of Mouse Molecular Genetics, Division BIOCEV, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-25250 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Forejt
- Laboratory of Mouse Molecular Genetics, Division BIOCEV, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-25250 Vestec, Czech Republic
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Prieler S, Chen D, Huang L, Mayrhofer E, Zsótér S, Vesely M, Mbogning J, Klein F. Spo11 generates gaps through concerted cuts at sites of topological stress. Nature 2021; 594:577-582. [PMID: 34108684 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03632-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Meiotic recombination is essential for chromosome segregation at meiosis and fertility. It is initiated by programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) introduced by Spo11, a eukaryotic homologue of an archaeal topoisomerase (Topo VIA)1. Here we describe previously uncharacterized Spo11-induced lesions, 34 to several hundred base pair-long gaps, which are generated by coordinated pairs of DSBs termed double DSBs. Isolation and genome-wide mapping of the resulting fragments with single base-pair precision revealed enrichment at DSB hotspots but also a widely dispersed distribution across the genome. Spo11 prefers to cut sequences with similarity to a DNA-bending motif2, which indicates that bendability contributes to the choice of cleavage site. Moreover, fragment lengths have a periodicity of approximately (10.4n + 3) base pairs, which indicates that Spo11 favours cleavage on the same face of underwound DNA. Consistently, double DSB signals overlap and correlate with topoisomerase II-binding sites, which points to a role for topological stress and DNA crossings in break formation, and suggests a model for the formation of DSBs and double DSBs in which Spo11 traps two DNA strands. Double DSB gaps, which make up an estimated 20% of all initiation events, can account for full gene conversion events that are independent of both Msh2-dependent heteroduplex repair3,4 and the MutLγ endonuclease4. Because non-homologous gap repair results in deletions, and ectopically re-integrated double DSB fragments result in insertions, the formation of double DSBs is a potential source of evolutionary diversity and pathogenic germline aberrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Prieler
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna, University of Vienna, Department of Chromosome Biology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Doris Chen
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna, University of Vienna, Department of Chromosome Biology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lingzhi Huang
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna, University of Vienna, Department of Chromosome Biology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisa Mayrhofer
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna, University of Vienna, Department of Chromosome Biology, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology, Microbiology and Cell Culture, Vienna, Austria
| | - Soma Zsótér
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna, University of Vienna, Department of Chromosome Biology, Vienna, Austria.,Humboldt University of Berlin, IRI Life Sciences, Berlin, Germany
| | - Magdalena Vesely
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna, University of Vienna, Department of Chromosome Biology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jean Mbogning
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna, University of Vienna, Department of Chromosome Biology, Vienna, Austria.,McGill University, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Montréal, Canada
| | - Franz Klein
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna, University of Vienna, Department of Chromosome Biology, Vienna, Austria.
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7
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Powers NR, Dumont BL, Emori C, Lawal RA, Brunton C, Paigen K, Handel MA, Bolcun-Filas E, Petkov PM, Bhattacharyya T. Sexual dimorphism in the meiotic requirement for PRDM9: A mammalian evolutionary safeguard. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/43/eabb6606. [PMID: 33097538 PMCID: PMC7608834 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abb6606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
In many mammals, genomic sites for recombination are determined by the histone methyltransferase PRMD9. Some mouse strains lacking PRDM9 are infertile, but instances of fertility or semifertility in the absence of PRDM9 have been reported in mice, canines, and a human female. Such findings raise the question of how the loss of PRDM9 is circumvented to maintain fertility. We show that genetic background and sex-specific modifiers can obviate the requirement for PRDM9 in mice. Specifically, the meiotic DNA damage checkpoint protein CHK2 acts as a modifier allowing female-specific fertility in the absence of PRDM9. We also report that, in the absence of PRDM9, a PRDM9-independent recombination system is compatible with female meiosis and fertility, suggesting sex-specific regulation of meiotic recombination, a finding with implications for speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie R Powers
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Beth L Dumont
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Chihiro Emori
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | | | | | - Kenneth Paigen
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Mary Ann Handel
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | | | - Petko M Petkov
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
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8
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Vara C, Capilla L, Ferretti L, Ledda A, Sánchez-Guillén RA, Gabriel SI, Albert-Lizandra G, Florit-Sabater B, Bello-Rodríguez J, Ventura J, Searle JB, Mathias ML, Ruiz-Herrera A. PRDM9 Diversity at Fine Geographical Scale Reveals Contrasting Evolutionary Patterns and Functional Constraints in Natural Populations of House Mice. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 36:1686-1700. [PMID: 31004162 PMCID: PMC6657731 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the major challenges in evolutionary biology is the identification of the genetic basis of postzygotic reproductive isolation. Given its pivotal role in this process, here we explore the drivers that may account for the evolutionary dynamics of the PRDM9 gene between continental and island systems of chromosomal variation in house mice. Using a data set of nearly 400 wild-caught mice of Robertsonian systems, we identify the extent of PRDM9 diversity in natural house mouse populations, determine the phylogeography of PRDM9 at a local and global scale based on a new measure of pairwise genetic divergence, and analyze selective constraints. We find 57 newly described PRDM9 variants, this diversity being especially high on Madeira Island, a result that is contrary to the expectations of reduced variation for island populations. Our analysis suggest that the PRDM9 allelic variability observed in Madeira mice might be influenced by the presence of distinct chromosomal fusions resulting from a complex pattern of introgression or multiple colonization events onto the island. Importantly, we detect a significant reduction in the proportion of PRDM9 heterozygotes in Robertsonian mice, which showed a high degree of similarity in the amino acids responsible for protein–DNA binding. Our results suggest that despite the rapid evolution of PRDM9 and the variability detected in natural populations, functional constraints could facilitate the accumulation of allelic combinations that maintain recombination hotspot symmetry. We anticipate that our study will provide the basis for examining the role of different PRDM9 genetic backgrounds in reproductive isolation in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Covadonga Vara
- Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Biologia Cel.lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laia Capilla
- Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luca Ferretti
- Oxford Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alice Ledda
- Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rosa A Sánchez-Guillén
- Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Instituto de Ecología AC (INECOL), Red de Biología Evolutiva, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Sofia I Gabriel
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Guillermo Albert-Lizandra
- Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Biologia Cel.lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriu Florit-Sabater
- Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Biologia Cel.lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Judith Bello-Rodríguez
- Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Biologia Cel.lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jacint Ventura
- Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jeremy B Searle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Maria L Mathias
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Aurora Ruiz-Herrera
- Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Biologia Cel.lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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9
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Mouresan EF, González-Rodríguez A, Cañas-Álvarez JJ, Munilla S, Altarriba J, Díaz C, Baró JA, Molina A, Lopez-Buesa P, Piedrafita J, Varona L. Mapping Recombination Rate on the Autosomal Chromosomes Based on the Persistency of Linkage Disequilibrium Phase Among Autochthonous Beef Cattle Populations in Spain. Front Genet 2019; 10:1170. [PMID: 31824571 PMCID: PMC6880760 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In organisms with sexual reproduction, genetic diversity, and genome evolution are governed by meiotic recombination caused by crossing-over, which is known to vary within the genome. In this study, we propose a simple method to estimate the recombination rate that makes use of the persistency of linkage disequilibrium (LD) phase among closely related populations. The biological material comprised 171 triplets (sire/dam/offspring) from seven populations of autochthonous beef cattle in Spain (Asturiana de los Valles, Avileña-Negra Ibérica, Bruna dels Pirineus, Morucha, Pirenaica, Retinta, and Rubia Gallega), which were genotyped for 777,962 SNPs with the BovineHD BeadChip. After standard quality filtering, we reconstructed the haplotype phases in the parental individuals and calculated the LD by the correlation -r- between each pair of markers that had a genetic distance < 1 Mb. Subsequently, these correlations were used to calculate the persistency of LD phase between each pair of populations along the autosomal genome. Therefore, the distribution of the recombination rate along the genome can be inferred since the effect of the number of generations of divergence should be equivalent throughout the genome. In our study, the recombination rate was highest in the largest chromosomes and at the distal portion of the chromosomes. In addition, the persistency of LD phase was highly heterogeneous throughout the genome, with a ratio of 25.4 times between the estimates of the recombination rates from the genomic regions that had the highest (BTA18-7.1 Mb) and the lowest (BTA12-42.4 Mb) estimates. Finally, an overrepresentation enrichment analysis (ORA) showed differences in the enriched gene ontology (GO) terms between the genes located in the genomic regions with estimates of the recombination rate over (or below) the 95th (or 5th) percentile throughout the autosomal genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Flavia Mouresan
- Departamento de Anatomía, Embriología y Genética Animal, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | | | - Sebastián Munilla
- Departamento de Anatomía, Embriología y Genética Animal, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Altarriba
- Departamento de Anatomía, Embriología y Genética Animal, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Clara Díaz
- Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús A Baró
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Antonio Molina
- Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Pascual Lopez-Buesa
- Departamento de Anatomía, Embriología y Genética Animal, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jesús Piedrafita
- Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis Varona
- Departamento de Anatomía, Embriología y Genética Animal, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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10
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Heterogeneous transposable elements as silencers, enhancers and targets of meiotic recombination. Chromosoma 2019; 128:279-296. [PMID: 31332531 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-019-00718-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
During meiosis, DNA double-strand breaks are initiated by the topoisomerase-like enzyme SPO11 and are repaired by inter-sister chromatid and inter-homologue DNA repair pathways. Genome-wide maps of initiating DNA double-strand breaks and inter-homologue repair events are now available for a number of mammalian, fungal and plant species. In mammals, PRDM9 specifies the location of meiotic recombination initiation via recognition of specific DNA sequence motifs by its C2H2 zinc finger array. In fungi and plants, meiotic recombination appears to be initiated less discriminately in accessible chromatin, including at gene promoters. Generally, meiotic crossover is suppressed in highly repetitive genomic regions that are made up of transposable elements (TEs), to prevent deleterious non-allelic homologous recombination events. However, recent and older studies have revealed intriguing relationships between meiotic recombination initiation and repair, and transposable elements. For instance, gene conversion events have been detected in maize centromeric retroelements, mouse MULE-MuDR DNA transposons undergo substantial meiotic recombination initiation, Arabidopsis Helitron TEs are among the hottest of recombination initiation hotspots, and human TE sequences can modify the crossover rate at adjacent PRDM9 motifs in cis. Here, we summarize the relationship between meiotic recombination and TEs, discuss recent insights from highly divergent eukaryotes and highlight outstanding questions in the field.
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11
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Schwarz T, Striedner Y, Horner A, Haase K, Kemptner J, Zeppezauer N, Hermann P, Tiemann-Boege I. PRDM9 forms a trimer by interactions within the zinc finger array. Life Sci Alliance 2019; 2:2/4/e201800291. [PMID: 31308055 PMCID: PMC6643046 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201800291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PRDM9 forms a trimer as a soluble protein and in complex with DNA mediated by the ZnF domain. Five ZnFs are already sufficient for multimerization and only one DNA molecule is complexed in the trimer. PRDM9 is a trans-acting factor directing meiotic recombination to specific DNA-binding sites by its zinc finger (ZnF) array. It was suggested that PRDM9 is a multimer; however, we do not know the stoichiometry or the components inducing PRDM9 multimerization. In this work, we used in vitro binding studies and characterized with electrophoretic mobility shift assays, mass spectrometry, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy the stoichiometry of the PRDM9 multimer of two different murine PRDM9 alleles carrying different tags and domains produced with different expression systems. Based on the migration distance of the PRDM9–DNA complex, we show that PRDM9 forms a trimer. Moreover, this stoichiometry is adapted already by the free, soluble protein with little exchange between protein monomers. The variable ZnF array of PRDM9 is sufficient for multimerization, and at least five ZnFs form already a functional trimer. Finally, we also show that only one ZnF array within the PRDM9 oligomer binds to the DNA, whereas the remaining two ZnF arrays likely maintain the trimer by ZnF–ZnF interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Schwarz
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | - Yasmin Striedner
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | - Andreas Horner
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | - Karin Haase
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | - Jasmin Kemptner
- Red Cross Blood Transfusion Center Upper Austria, MedCampus II, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | | | - Philipp Hermann
- Institute of Applied Statistics, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
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12
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Heissl A, Betancourt AJ, Hermann P, Povysil G, Arbeithuber B, Futschik A, Ebner T, Tiemann-Boege I. The impact of poly-A microsatellite heterologies in meiotic recombination. Life Sci Alliance 2019; 2:2/2/e201900364. [PMID: 31023833 PMCID: PMC6485458 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201900364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Meiosis strongly influences the transmission and evolution of heterozygous poly-A repeats as measured experimentally in a large collection of single recombination products in a human hotspot. Meiotic recombination has strong, but poorly understood effects on short tandem repeat (STR) instability. Here, we screened thousands of single recombinant products with sperm typing to characterize the role of polymorphic poly-A repeats at a human recombination hotspot in terms of hotspot activity and STR evolution. We show that the length asymmetry between heterozygous poly-A’s strongly influences the recombination outcome: a heterology of 10 A’s (9A/19A) reduces the number of crossovers and elevates the frequency of non-crossovers, complex recombination products, and long conversion tracts. Moreover, the length of the heterology also influences the STR transmission during meiotic repair with a strong and significant insertion bias for the short heterology (6A/7A) and a deletion bias for the long heterology (9A/19A). In spite of this opposing insertion-/deletion-biased gene conversion, we find that poly-A’s are enriched at human recombination hotspots that could have important consequences in hotspot activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelika Heissl
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | | | - Philipp Hermann
- Institute of Applied Statistics, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | - Gundula Povysil
- Institute of Bioinformatics, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | | | - Andreas Futschik
- Institute of Applied Statistics, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | - Thomas Ebner
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecological Endocrinology, Kepler University Clinic, Linz, Austria
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13
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Hermann P, Heissl A, Tiemann-Boege I, Futschik A. LDJump: Estimating variable recombination rates from population genetic data. Mol Ecol Resour 2019; 19:623-638. [PMID: 30666785 PMCID: PMC6519033 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
As recombination plays an important role in evolution, its estimation and the identification of hotspot positions is of considerable interest. We propose a novel approach for estimating population recombination rates based on genotyping or sequence data that involves a sequential multiscale change point estimator. Our method also permits demography to be taken into account. It uses several summary statistics within a regression model fitted on suitable scenarios. Our proposed method is accurate, computationally fast, and provides a parsimonious solution by ensuring a type I error control against too many changes in the recombination rate. An application to human genome data suggests a good congruence between our estimated and experimentally identified hotspots. Our method is implemented in the R‐package LDJump, which is freely available at https://github.com/PhHermann/LDJump.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Hermann
- Department of Applied Statistics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
| | - Angelika Heissl
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
| | | | - Andreas Futschik
- Department of Applied Statistics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
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14
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Dluzewska J, Szymanska M, Ziolkowski PA. Where to Cross Over? Defining Crossover Sites in Plants. Front Genet 2018; 9:609. [PMID: 30619450 PMCID: PMC6299014 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is believed that recombination in meiosis serves to reshuffle genetic material from both parents to increase genetic variation in the progeny. At the same time, the number of crossovers is usually kept at a very low level. As a consequence, many organisms need to make the best possible use from the one or two crossovers that occur per chromosome in meiosis. From this perspective, the decision of where to allocate rare crossover events becomes an important issue, especially in self-pollinating plant species, which experience limited variation due to inbreeding. However, the freedom in crossover allocation is significantly limited by other, genetic and non-genetic factors, including chromatin structure. Here we summarize recent progress in our understanding of those processes with a special emphasis on plant genomes. First, we focus on factors which influence the distribution of recombination initiation sites and discuss their effects at both, the single hotspot level and at the chromosome scale. We also briefly explain the aspects of hotspot evolution and their regulation. Next, we analyze how recombination initiation sites translate into the development of crossovers and their location. Moreover, we provide an overview of the sequence polymorphism impact on crossover formation and chromosomal distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Dluzewska
- Department of Genome Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Maja Szymanska
- Department of Genome Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Piotr A Ziolkowski
- Department of Genome Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
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15
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Stapley J, Feulner PGD, Johnston SE, Santure AW, Smadja CM. Recombination: the good, the bad and the variable. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 372:rstb.2017.0279. [PMID: 29109232 PMCID: PMC5698631 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombination, the process by which DNA strands are broken and repaired, producing new combinations of alleles, occurs in nearly all multicellular organisms and has important implications for many evolutionary processes. The effects of recombination can be good, as it can facilitate adaptation, but also bad when it breaks apart beneficial combinations of alleles, and recombination is highly variable between taxa, species, individuals and across the genome. Understanding how and why recombination rate varies is a major challenge in biology. Most theoretical and empirical work has been devoted to understanding the role of recombination in the evolution of sex—comparing between sexual and asexual species or populations. How recombination rate evolves and what impact this has on evolutionary processes within sexually reproducing organisms has received much less attention. This Theme Issue focusses on how and why recombination rate varies in sexual species, and aims to coalesce knowledge of the molecular mechanisms governing recombination with our understanding of the evolutionary processes driving variation in recombination within and between species. By integrating these fields, we can identify important knowledge gaps and areas for future research, and pave the way for a more comprehensive understanding of how and why recombination rate varies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Stapley
- Centre for Adaptation to a Changing Environment, IBZ, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Philine G D Feulner
- Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Centre of Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, EAWAG Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 6047 Kastanienbaum, Switzerland.,Division of Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Susan E Johnston
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JY, UK
| | - Anna W Santure
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Carole M Smadja
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution UMR 5554, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, 3095 Montpellier cedex 05, France
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16
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Kent TV, Uzunović J, Wright SI. Coevolution between transposable elements and recombination. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 372:rstb.2016.0458. [PMID: 29109221 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most striking patterns of genome structure is the tight, typically negative, association between transposable elements (TEs) and meiotic recombination rates. While this is a highly recurring feature of eukaryotic genomes, the mechanisms driving correlations between TEs and recombination remain poorly understood, and distinguishing cause versus effect is challenging. Here, we review the evidence for a relation between TEs and recombination, and discuss the underlying evolutionary forces. Evidence to date suggests that overall TE densities correlate negatively with recombination, but the strength of this correlation varies across element types, and the pattern can be reversed. Results suggest that heterogeneity in the strength of selection against ectopic recombination and gene disruption can drive TE accumulation in regions of low recombination, but there is also strong evidence that the regulation of TEs can influence local recombination rates. We hypothesize that TE insertion polymorphism may be important in driving within-species variation in recombination rates in surrounding genomic regions. Furthermore, the interaction between TEs and recombination may create positive feedback, whereby TE accumulation in non-recombining regions contributes to the spread of recombination suppression. Further investigation of the coevolution between recombination and TEs has important implications for our understanding of the evolution of recombination rates and genome structure.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evolutionary causes and consequences of recombination rate variation in sexual organisms'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler V Kent
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3B2
| | - Jasmina Uzunović
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3B2
| | - Stephen I Wright
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3B2
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17
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Alves I, Houle AA, Hussin JG, Awadalla P. The impact of recombination on human mutation load and disease. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 372:20160465. [PMID: 29109227 PMCID: PMC5698626 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombination promotes genomic integrity among cells and tissues through double-strand break repair, and is critical for gamete formation and fertility through a strict regulation of the molecular mechanisms associated with proper chromosomal disjunction. In humans, congenital defects and recurrent structural abnormalities can be attributed to aberrant meiotic recombination. Moreover, mutations affecting genes involved in recombination pathways are directly linked to pathologies including infertility and cancer. Recombination is among the most prominent mechanism shaping genome variation, and is associated with not only the structuring of genomic variability, but is also tightly linked with the purging of deleterious mutations from populations. Together, these observations highlight the multiple roles of recombination in human genetics: its ability to act as a major force of evolution, its molecular potential to maintain genome repair and integrity in cell division and its mutagenic cost impacting disease evolution.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evolutionary causes and consequences of recombination rate variation in sexual organisms'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Alves
- Ontario Institute of Cancer Research, 661 University Avenue, Suite 510, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A3
| | - Armande Ang Houle
- Ontario Institute of Cancer Research, 661 University Avenue, Suite 510, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A3
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Medical Science Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
| | - Julie G Hussin
- Montreal Heart Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, 5000 Rue Bélanger, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H1T 1C8
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Philip Awadalla
- Ontario Institute of Cancer Research, 661 University Avenue, Suite 510, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A3
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Medical Science Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
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18
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Haag CR, Theodosiou L, Zahab R, Lenormand T. Low recombination rates in sexual species and sex-asex transitions. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 372:20160461. [PMID: 29109224 PMCID: PMC5698623 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In most sexual, diploid eukaryotes, at least one crossover occurs between each pair of homologous chromosomes during meiosis, presumably in order to ensure proper segregation. Well-known exceptions to this rule are species in which one sex does not recombine and specific chromosomes lacking crossover. We review other possible exceptions, including species with chromosome maps of less than 50 cM in one or both sexes. We discuss the idea that low recombination rates may favour sex-asex transitions, or, alternatively may be a consequence of it. We then show that a yet undescribed species of brine shrimp Artemia from Kazakhstan (A sp. Kazakhstan), the closest known relative of the asexual Artemia parthenogenetica, has one of the shortest genetic linkage maps known. Based on a family of 42 individuals and 589 RAD markers, we find that many linkage groups are considerably shorter than 50 cM, suggesting either no obligate crossover or crossovers concentrated at terminal positions with little effect on recombination. We contrast these findings with the published map of the more distantly related sexual congener, A. franciscana, and conclude that the study of recombination in non-model systems is important to understand the evolutionary causes and consequences of recombination.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evolutionary causes and consequences of recombination rate variation in sexual organisms'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph R Haag
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE)-Unité Mixte de Recherche 5175, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier-Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier-École Pratique des Hautes Études, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Loukas Theodosiou
- Research Group for Community Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Straße 2, 24306 Plön, Germany
| | - Roula Zahab
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE)-Unité Mixte de Recherche 5175, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier-Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier-École Pratique des Hautes Études, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Thomas Lenormand
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE)-Unité Mixte de Recherche 5175, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier-Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier-École Pratique des Hautes Études, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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