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Xu W, Li T, Li J, Liu S, Yu X, Tang M, Dong J, Liu J, Bu X, Xia X, Zhou H, Nie L. The First Identification of Homomorphic XY Sex Chromosomes by Integrating Cytogenetic and Transcriptomic Approaches in Plestiodon elegans (Scincidae). Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:664. [PMID: 38927599 PMCID: PMC11203037 DOI: 10.3390/genes15060664] [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: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The sex chromosomes of skinks are usually poorly differentiated and hardly distinguished by cytogenetic methods. Therefore, identifying sex chromosomes in species lacking easily recognizable heteromorphic sex chromosomes is necessary to fully understand sex chromosome diversity. In this paper, we employed cytogenetics, sex quantification of genes, and transcriptomic approaches to characterize the sex chromosomes in Plestiodon elegans. Cytogenetic examination of metaphases revealed a diploid number of 2n = 26, consisting of 12 macrochromosomes and 14 microchromosomes, with no significant heteromorphic chromosome pairs, speculating that the sex chromosomes may be homomorphic or poorly differentiated. The results of the sex quantification of genes showed that Calumenin (calu), COPI coat complex subunit γ 2 (copg2), and Smoothened (smo) were at half the dose in males as in females, suggesting that they are on the X chromosome. Transcriptomic data analysis from the gonads yielded the excess expression male-specific genes (n = 16), in which five PCR molecular markers were developed. Restricting the observed heterozygosity to males suggests the presence of homomorphic sex chromosomes in P. elegans, XX/XY. This is the first breakthrough in the study of the sex chromosomes of Plestiodon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wannan Xu
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (W.X.); (T.L.); (J.L.); (S.L.); (X.Y.); (M.T.); (J.D.); (X.B.); (X.X.)
- Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214023, China
| | - Taiyue Li
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (W.X.); (T.L.); (J.L.); (S.L.); (X.Y.); (M.T.); (J.D.); (X.B.); (X.X.)
| | - Jiahui Li
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (W.X.); (T.L.); (J.L.); (S.L.); (X.Y.); (M.T.); (J.D.); (X.B.); (X.X.)
| | - Siqi Liu
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (W.X.); (T.L.); (J.L.); (S.L.); (X.Y.); (M.T.); (J.D.); (X.B.); (X.X.)
| | - Xing Yu
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (W.X.); (T.L.); (J.L.); (S.L.); (X.Y.); (M.T.); (J.D.); (X.B.); (X.X.)
| | - Min Tang
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (W.X.); (T.L.); (J.L.); (S.L.); (X.Y.); (M.T.); (J.D.); (X.B.); (X.X.)
| | - Jingxiu Dong
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (W.X.); (T.L.); (J.L.); (S.L.); (X.Y.); (M.T.); (J.D.); (X.B.); (X.X.)
| | - Jianjun Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210098, China;
| | - Xingjiang Bu
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (W.X.); (T.L.); (J.L.); (S.L.); (X.Y.); (M.T.); (J.D.); (X.B.); (X.X.)
| | - Xingquan Xia
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (W.X.); (T.L.); (J.L.); (S.L.); (X.Y.); (M.T.); (J.D.); (X.B.); (X.X.)
| | - Huaxing Zhou
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Aquaculture & Stock Enhancement, Fisheries Research Institution, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei 230041, China
| | - Liuwang Nie
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (W.X.); (T.L.); (J.L.); (S.L.); (X.Y.); (M.T.); (J.D.); (X.B.); (X.X.)
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2
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Uno Y, Matsubara K. Unleashing diversity through flexibility: The evolutionary journey of sex chromosomes in amphibians and reptiles. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 341:230-241. [PMID: 38155517 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Sex determination systems have greatly diversified between amphibians and reptiles, with such as the different sex chromosome compositions within a single species and transition between temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) and genetic sex determination (GSD). In most sex chromosome studies on amphibians and reptiles, the whole-genome sequence of Xenopous tropicalis and chicken have been used as references to compare the chromosome homology of sex chromosomes among each of these taxonomic groups, respectively. In the present study, we reviewed existing reports on sex chromosomes, including karyotypes, in amphibians and reptiles. Furthermore, we compared the identified genetic linkages of sex chromosomes in amphibians and reptiles with the chicken genome as a reference, which is believed to resemble the ancestral tetrapod karyotype. Our findings revealed that sex chromosomes in amphibians are derived from genetic linkages homologous to various chicken chromosomes, even among several frogs within single families, such as Ranidae and Pipidae. In contrast, sex chromosomes in reptiles exhibit conserved genetic linkages with chicken chromosomes, not only across most species within a single family, but also within closely related families. The diversity of sex chromosomes in amphibians and reptiles may be attributed to the flexibility of their sex determination systems, including the ease of sex reversal in these animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinobu Uno
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazumi Matsubara
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan
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3
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Rovatsos M, Mazzoleni S, Augstenová B, Altmanová M, Velenský P, Glaw F, Sanchez A, Kratochvíl L. Heteromorphic ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes sharing gene content with mammalian XX/XY are conserved in Madagascan chameleons of the genus Furcifer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4898. [PMID: 38418601 PMCID: PMC10901801 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55431-9] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Chameleons are well-known lizards with unique morphology and physiology, but their sex determination has remained poorly studied. Madagascan chameleons of the genus Furcifer have cytogenetically distinct Z and W sex chromosomes and occasionally Z1Z1Z2Z2/Z1Z2W multiple neo-sex chromosomes. To identify the gene content of their sex chromosomes, we microdissected and sequenced the sex chromosomes of F. oustaleti (ZZ/ZW) and F. pardalis (Z1Z1Z2Z2/Z1Z2W). In addition, we sequenced the genomes of a male and a female of F. lateralis (ZZ/ZW) and F. pardalis and performed a comparative coverage analysis between the sexes. Despite the notable heteromorphy and distinctiveness in heterochromatin content, the Z and W sex chromosomes share approximately 90% of their gene content. This finding demonstrates poor correlation of the degree of differentiation of sex chromosomes at the cytogenetic and gene level. The test of homology based on the comparison of gene copy number variation revealed that female heterogamety with differentiated sex chromosomes remained stable in the genus Furcifer for at least 20 million years. These chameleons co-opted for the role of sex chromosomes the same genomic region as viviparous mammals, lacertids and geckos of the genus Paroedura, which makes these groups excellent model for studies of convergent and divergent evolution of sex chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Sofia Mazzoleni
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Augstenová
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Altmanová
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | | | - Frank Glaw
- Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM-SNSB), Munich, Germany
| | - Antonio Sanchez
- Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Naveira H, Rojo V, Gómez-Seoane I, Ferguson-Smith MA, Pereira JC, Martínez-Lage A. Chromosome evolution in Iberolacerta, a genus that deviates from the standard karyotype formula of Lacertidae. Genetica 2023; 151:267-279. [PMID: 37656321 PMCID: PMC10654178 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-023-00194-w] [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: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes the preparation of flow-sorted chromosome paints from the Iberian Rock lizard Iberolacerta monticola, exemplifying their subsequent use in cross-species comparisons of chromosome painting. We carried out comparative analyses of chromosome evolution in the congeneric species I. galani and I. bonnali, as well as in two other species of Lacertini (Lacerta schreiberi and Timon lepidus) whose sex chromosomes were also studied through comparative genomic hybridization. Most species of Lacertini possess a diplod number of 2n = 38, with 36 acrocentric macrochromosomes and 2 microchromosomes. However, the nine species included in the genus Iberolacerta do not possess microchromosomes. Furthermore, very conspicuous differences from the standard Lacertini karyotype were observed in the three Pyrenean species of this genus, which included several biarmed metacentrics and a Z1Z2W multiple sex-chromosome system. With the possible exception of L. schreiberi, all the species of the family Lacertidae described to date appear to share homologous Z chromosomes, which date back to the last common ancestor of the whole group. We provide conclusive evidence that L. schreiberi should no longer be considered an exception to this rule, and demonstrate that the loss of microchromosomes in Iberolacerta was produced by their fusion to a middle-sized chromosome. Furthermore, we show that the multiple sex-chromosome system of the Pyrenean species of Iberolacerta originated from the fusion of the ancestral W chromosome with one of the shortest autosomes, and provide additional evidence of the fast evolution of DNA sequences linked to the W chromosome in Lacertini.
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Affiliation(s)
- Horacio Naveira
- Grupo de Investigación en Bioloxía Evolutiva, Departamento de Bioloxía, Facultade de Ciencias, CICA, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.
| | | | - Iván Gómez-Seoane
- Grupo de Investigación en Terapia Celular y Medicina Regenerativa, INIBIC, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Malcolm A Ferguson-Smith
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge Resource Centre for Comparative Genomics, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jorge C Pereira
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, AL 4AnimalS, Vila Real, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Andrés Martínez-Lage
- Grupo de Investigación en Bioloxía Evolutiva, Departamento de Bioloxía, Facultade de Ciencias, CICA, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
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5
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Rovatsos M, Galoyan E, Spangenberg V, Vassilieva A, Kratochvíl L. XX
/
XY
sex chromosomes in a blind lizard (Dibamidae): Towards understanding the evolution of sex determination in squamates. J Evol Biol 2022; 35:1791-1796. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science Charles University in Prague Praha 2 Czech Republic
| | - Eduard Galoyan
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
- Joint Russian‐Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technological Centre Hanoi Vietnam
- Zoological museum of Moscow State University Moscow State Regional University Mytishchi Russia
| | - Victor Spangenberg
- Zoological museum of Moscow State University Moscow State Regional University Mytishchi Russia
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
- Moscow State Regional University Mytishchi Russia
| | - Anna Vassilieva
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
- Joint Russian‐Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technological Centre Hanoi Vietnam
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science Charles University in Prague Praha 2 Czech Republic
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6
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Chromosome-scale genome assembly of the brown anole (Anolis sagrei), an emerging model species. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1126. [PMID: 36284162 PMCID: PMC9596491 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04074-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid technological improvements are democratizing access to high quality, chromosome-scale genome assemblies. No longer the domain of only the most highly studied model organisms, now non-traditional and emerging model species can be genome-enabled using a combination of sequencing technologies and assembly software. Consequently, old ideas built on sparse sampling across the tree of life have recently been amended in the face of genomic data drawn from a growing number of high-quality reference genomes. Arguably the most valuable are those long-studied species for which much is already known about their biology; what many term emerging model species. Here, we report a highly complete chromosome-scale genome assembly for the brown anole, Anolis sagrei – a lizard species widely studied across a variety of disciplines and for which a high-quality reference genome was long overdue. This assembly exceeds the vast majority of existing reptile and snake genomes in contiguity (N50 = 253.6 Mb) and annotation completeness. Through the analysis of this genome and population resequence data, we examine the history of repetitive element accumulation, identify the X chromosome, and propose a hypothesis for the evolutionary history of fusions between autosomes and the X that led to the sex chromosomes of A. sagrei. A highly-complete chromosome-scale genome assembly of the brown anole, Anolis sagrei, provides insight into the evolution of sex chromosomes and is a crucial resource for this model lizard species.
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7
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Fargevieille A, Reedy AM, Kahrl AF, Mitchell TS, Durso AM, Delaney DM, Pearson PR, Cox RM, Warner DA. Propagule size and sex ratio influence colonisation dynamics after introduction of a non-native lizard. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:845-857. [PMID: 35114034 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The composition of founding populations plays an important role in colonisation dynamics and can influence population growth during early stages of biological invasion. Specifically, founding populations with small propagules (i.e., low number of founders) are vulnerable to the Allee effect and have reduced likelihood of establishment compared to those with large propagules. The founding sex ratio can also impact establishment via its influence on mating success and offspring production. Our goal was to test the effects of propagule size and sex ratio on offspring production and annual population growth following introductions of a non-native lizard species (Anolis sagrei). We manipulated propagule composition on nine small islands, then examined offspring production, population growth, and survival rate of founders and their descendants encompassing three generations. By the third reproductive season, per capita offspring production was higher on islands seeded with a relatively large propagule size, but population growth was not associated with propagule size. Propagule sex ratio did not affect offspring production, but populations with a female-biased propagule had positive growth, whereas those with a male-biased propagule had negative growth in the first year. Populations were not affected by propagule sex ratio in subsequent years, possibly due to rapid shifts towards balanced (or slightly female-biased) population sex ratios. Overall, we show that different components of population fitness have different responses to propagule size and sex ratio in ways that could affect early stages of biological invasion. Despite these effects, the short lifespan and high fecundity of A. sagrei likely helped small populations to overcome Allee effects and enabled all populations to successfully establish. Our rare experimental manipulation of propagule size and sex ratio can inform predictions of colonisation dynamics in response to different compositions of founding populations, which is critical in the context of population ecology and invasion dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie Fargevieille
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.,Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Aaron M Reedy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Ariel F Kahrl
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA.,Department of Zoology/Ethology, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg, 18B SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Timothy S Mitchell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Andrew M Durso
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL, 33965, USA
| | - David M Delaney
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, 80302, USA
| | - Phillip R Pearson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.,Centre for Conservation, Ecology and Genomics, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia
| | - Robert M Cox
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Daniel A Warner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
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8
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Sex Chromosomes and Master Sex-Determining Genes in Turtles and Other Reptiles. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12111822. [PMID: 34828428 PMCID: PMC8622242 DOI: 10.3390/genes12111822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Among tetrapods, the well differentiated heteromorphic sex chromosomes of birds and mammals have been highly investigated and their master sex-determining (MSD) gene, Dmrt1 and SRY, respectively, have been identified. The homomorphic sex chromosomes of reptiles have been the least studied, but the gap with birds and mammals has begun to fill. This review describes our current knowledge of reptilian sex chromosomes at the cytogenetic and molecular level. Most of it arose recently from various studies comparing male to female gene content. This includes restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-Seq) experiments in several male and female samples, RNA sequencing and identification of Z- or X-linked genes by male/female comparative transcriptome coverage, and male/female transcriptomic or transcriptome/genome substraction approaches allowing the identification of Y- or W-linked transcripts. A few putative master sex-determining (MSD) genes have been proposed, but none has been demonstrated yet. Lastly, future directions in the field of reptilian sex chromosomes and their MSD gene studies are considered.
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Westfall AK, Telemeco RS, Grizante MB, Waits DS, Clark AD, Simpson DY, Klabacka RL, Sullivan AP, Perry GH, Sears MW, Cox CL, Cox RM, Gifford ME, John-Alder HB, Langkilde T, Angilletta MJ, Leaché AD, Tollis M, Kusumi K, Schwartz TS. A chromosome-level genome assembly for the eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus), a reptile model for physiological and evolutionary ecology. Gigascience 2021; 10:6380105. [PMID: 34599334 PMCID: PMC8486681 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giab066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background High-quality genomic resources facilitate investigations into behavioral ecology, morphological and physiological adaptations, and the evolution of genomic architecture. Lizards in the genus Sceloporus have a long history as important ecological, evolutionary, and physiological models, making them a valuable target for the development of genomic resources. Findings We present a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome assembly, SceUnd1.0 (using 10X Genomics Chromium, HiC, and Pacific Biosciences data), and tissue/developmental stage transcriptomes for the eastern fence lizard, Sceloporus undulatus. We performed synteny analysis with other snake and lizard assemblies to identify broad patterns of chromosome evolution including the fusion of micro- and macrochromosomes. We also used this new assembly to provide improved reference-based genome assemblies for 34 additional Sceloporus species. Finally, we used RNAseq and whole-genome resequencing data to compare 3 assemblies, each representing an increased level of cost and effort: Supernova Assembly with data from 10X Genomics Chromium, HiRise Assembly that added data from HiC, and PBJelly Assembly that added data from Pacific Biosciences sequencing. We found that the Supernova Assembly contained the full genome and was a suitable reference for RNAseq and single-nucleotide polymorphism calling, but the chromosome-level scaffolds provided by the addition of HiC data allowed synteny and whole-genome association mapping analyses. The subsequent addition of PacBio data doubled the contig N50 but provided negligible gains in scaffold length. Conclusions These new genomic resources provide valuable tools for advanced molecular analysis of an organism that has become a model in physiology and evolutionary ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aundrea K Westfall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Rory S Telemeco
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.,Department of Biology, California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA 93740, USA
| | | | - Damien S Waits
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Amanda D Clark
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Dasia Y Simpson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Randy L Klabacka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Alexis P Sullivan
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - George H Perry
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Michael W Sears
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Christian L Cox
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Robert M Cox
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Matthew E Gifford
- Department of Biology, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR 72035, USA
| | - Henry B John-Alder
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Tracy Langkilde
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | | | - Adam D Leaché
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.,Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Marc Tollis
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.,School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Kenro Kusumi
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Tonia S Schwartz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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10
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Rovatsos M, Gamble T, Nielsen SV, Georges A, Ezaz T, Kratochvíl L. Do male and female heterogamety really differ in expression regulation? Lack of global dosage balance in pygopodid geckos. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200102. [PMID: 34304587 PMCID: PMC8310713 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0102] [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] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Differentiation of sex chromosomes is thought to have evolved with cessation of recombination and subsequent loss of genes from the degenerated partner (Y and W) of sex chromosomes, which in turn leads to imbalance of gene dosage between sexes. Based on work with traditional model species, theory suggests that unequal gene copy numbers lead to the evolution of mechanisms to counter this imbalance. Dosage compensation, or at least achieving dosage balance in expression of sex-linked genes between sexes, has largely been documented in lineages with male heterogamety (XX/XY sex determination), while ZZ/ZW systems are assumed to be usually associated with the lack of chromosome-wide gene dose regulatory mechanisms. Here, we document that although the pygopodid geckos evolved male heterogamety with a degenerated Y chromosome 32-72 Ma, one species in particular, Burton's legless lizard (Lialis burtonis), does not possess dosage balance in the expression of genes in its X-specific region. We summarize studies on gene dose regulatory mechanisms in animals and conclude that there is in them no significant dichotomy between male and female heterogamety. We speculate that gene dose regulatory mechanisms are likely to be related to the general mechanisms of sex determination instead of type of heterogamety. This article is part of the theme issue 'Challenging the paradigm in sex chromosome evolution: empirical and theoretical insights with a focus on vertebrates (Part II)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, CZ 12844, Czech Republic
| | - Tony Gamble
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
- Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
- Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Stuart V. Nielsen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Arthur Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2617, Australia
| | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2617, Australia
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, CZ 12844, Czech Republic
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11
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Augstenová B, Pensabene E, Veselý M, Kratochvíl L, Rovatsos M. Are Geckos Special in Sex Determination? Independently Evolved Differentiated ZZ/ZW Sex Chromosomes in Carphodactylid Geckos. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:evab119. [PMID: 34051083 PMCID: PMC8290109 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Amniotes possess astonishing variability in sex determination ranging from environmental sex determination (ESD) to genotypic sex determination (GSD) with highly differentiated sex chromosomes. Geckos are one of the few amniote groups with substantial variability in sex determination. What makes them special in this respect? We hypothesized that the extraordinary variability of sex determination in geckos can be explained by two alternatives: 1) unusual lability of sex determination, predicting that the current GSD systems were recently formed and are prone to turnovers; and 2) independent transitions from the ancestral ESD to later stable GSD, which assumes that geckos possessed ancestrally ESD, but once sex chromosomes emerged, they remain stable in the long term. Here, based on genomic data, we document that the differentiated ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes evolved within carphodactylid geckos independently from other gekkotan lineages and remained stable in the genera Nephrurus, Underwoodisaurus, and Saltuarius for at least 15 Myr and potentially up to 45 Myr. These results together with evidence for the stability of sex chromosomes in other gekkotan lineages support more our second hypothesis suggesting that geckos do not dramatically differ from the evolutionary transitions in sex determination observed in the majority of the amniote lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Augstenová
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eleonora Pensabene
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Veselý
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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12
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Provazníková I, Hejníčková M, Visser S, Dalíková M, Carabajal Paladino LZ, Zrzavá M, Voleníková A, Marec F, Nguyen P. Large-scale comparative analysis of cytogenetic markers across Lepidoptera. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12214. [PMID: 34108567 PMCID: PMC8190105 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91665-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) allows identification of particular chromosomes and their rearrangements. Using FISH with signal enhancement via antibody amplification and enzymatically catalysed reporter deposition, we evaluated applicability of universal cytogenetic markers, namely 18S and 5S rDNA genes, U1 and U2 snRNA genes, and histone H3 genes, in the study of the karyotype evolution in moths and butterflies. Major rDNA underwent rather erratic evolution, which does not always reflect chromosomal changes. In contrast, the hybridization pattern of histone H3 genes was well conserved, reflecting the stable organisation of lepidopteran genomes. Unlike 5S rDNA and U1 and U2 snRNA genes which we failed to detect, except for 5S rDNA in a few representatives of early diverging lepidopteran lineages. To explain the negative FISH results, we used quantitative PCR and Southern hybridization to estimate the copy number and organization of the studied genes in selected species. The results suggested that their detection was hampered by long spacers between the genes and/or their scattered distribution. Our results question homology of 5S rDNA and U1 and U2 snRNA loci in comparative studies. We recommend the use of histone H3 in studies of karyotype evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Provazníková
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martina Hejníčková
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Sander Visser
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martina Dalíková
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | | | - Magda Zrzavá
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Voleníková
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - František Marec
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Nguyen
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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13
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Ehl J, Altmanová M, Kratochvíl L. With or Without W? Molecular and Cytogenetic Markers are Not Sufficient for Identification of Environmentally-Induced Sex Reversal in the Bearded Dragon. Sex Dev 2021; 15:272-281. [PMID: 33756476 DOI: 10.1159/000514195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Transitions from environmental sex determination (ESD) to genotypic sex determination (GSD) require an intermediate step of sex reversal, i.e., the production of individuals with a mismatch between the ancestral genotypic and the phenotypic sex. Among amniotes, the sole well-documented transition in this direction was shown in the laboratory in the central bearded dragon, Pogona vitticeps, where very high incubation temperatures led to the production of females with the male-typical (ZZ) genotype. These sex-reversed females then produced offspring whose sex depended on the incubation temperature. Sex-reversed animals identified by molecular and cytogenetic markers were also reported in the field, and their increasing incidence was speculated as a climate warming-driven transition in sex determination. We show that the molecular and cytogenetic markers normally sex-linked in P. vitticeps are also sex-linked in P. henrylawsoni and P. minor, which points to quite ancient sex chromosomes in this lineage. Nevertheless, we demonstrate, based on a crossing experiment with a male bearded dragon who possesses a mismatch between phenotypic sex and genotype, that the used cytogenetic and molecular markers might not be reliable for the identification of sex reversal. Sex reversal should not be considered as the only mechanism causing a mismatch between genetic sex-linked markers and phenotypic sex, which can emerge also by other processes, here most likely by a rare recombination between regions of sex chromosomes which are normally sex-linked. We warn that sex-linked, even apparently for a long evolutionary time, and sex-specific molecular and cytogenetic markers are not a reliable tool for the identification of sex-reversed individuals in a population and that sex reversal has to be verified by other approaches, particularly by observation of the sex ratio of the progeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Ehl
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Marie Altmanová
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Liběchov, Czechia
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia,
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14
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Hill P, Shams F, Burridge CP, Wapstra E, Ezaz T. Differences in Homomorphic Sex Chromosomes Are Associated with Population Divergence in Sex Determination in Carinascincus ocellatus (Scincidae: Lygosominae). Cells 2021; 10:291. [PMID: 33535518 PMCID: PMC7912723 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex determination directs development as male or female in sexually reproducing organisms. Evolutionary transitions in sex determination have occurred frequently, suggesting simple mechanisms behind the transitions, yet their detail remains elusive. Here we explore the links between mechanisms of transitions in sex determination and sex chromosome evolution at both recent and deeper temporal scales (<1 Myr; ~79 Myr). We studied a rare example of a species with intraspecific variation in sex determination, Carinascincus ocellatus, and a relative, Liopholis whitii, using c-banding and mapping of repeat motifs and a custom Y chromosome probe set to identify the sex chromosomes. We identified both unique and conserved regions of the Y chromosome among C. ocellatus populations differing in sex determination. There was no evidence for homology of sex chromosomes between C. ocellatus and L. whitii, suggesting independent evolutionary origins. We discuss sex chromosome homology between members of the subfamily Lygosominae and propose links between sex chromosome evolution, sex determination transitions, and karyotype evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peta Hill
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Sandy Bay, TAS 7000, Australia; (C.P.B.); (E.W.)
| | - Foyez Shams
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2601, Australia; (F.S.); (T.E.)
| | - Christopher P. Burridge
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Sandy Bay, TAS 7000, Australia; (C.P.B.); (E.W.)
| | - Erik Wapstra
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Sandy Bay, TAS 7000, Australia; (C.P.B.); (E.W.)
| | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2601, Australia; (F.S.); (T.E.)
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15
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Pensabene E, Kratochvíl L, Rovatsos M. Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Eublepharid Geckos, A Lineage with Environmental and Genotypic Sex Determination. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:E342. [PMID: 33322017 PMCID: PMC7763811 DOI: 10.3390/life10120342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Geckos demonstrate a remarkable variability in sex determination systems, but our limited knowledge prohibits accurate conclusions on the evolution of sex determination in this group. Eyelid geckos (Eublepharidae) are of particular interest, as they encompass species with both environmental and genotypic sex determination. We identified for the first time the X-specific gene content in the Yucatán banded gecko, Coleonyx elegans, possessing X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y multiple sex chromosomes by comparative genome coverage analysis between sexes. The X-specific gene content of Coleonyx elegans was revealed to be partially homologous to genomic regions linked to the chicken autosomes 1, 6 and 11. A qPCR-based test was applied to validate a subset of X-specific genes by comparing the difference in gene copy numbers between sexes, and to explore the homology of sex chromosomes across eleven eublepharid, two phyllodactylid and one sphaerodactylid species. Homologous sex chromosomes are shared between Coleonyx elegans and Coleonyx mitratus, two species diverged approximately 34 million years ago, but not with other tested species. As far as we know, the X-specific gene content of Coleonyx elegans / Coleonyx mitratus was never involved in the sex chromosomes of other gecko lineages, indicating that the sex chromosomes in this clade of eublepharid geckos evolved independently.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12844 Prague, Czech Republic; (E.P.); (L.K.)
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16
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Singchat W, Ahmad SF, Laopichienpong N, Suntronpong A, Panthum T, Griffin DK, Srikulnath K. Snake W Sex Chromosome: The Shadow of Ancestral Amniote Super-Sex Chromosome. Cells 2020; 9:cells9112386. [PMID: 33142713 PMCID: PMC7692289 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
: Heteromorphic sex chromosomes, particularly the ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system of birds and some reptiles, undergo evolutionary dynamics distinct from those of autosomes. The W sex chromosome is a unique karyological member of this heteromorphic pair, which has been extensively studied in snakes to explore the origin, evolution, and genetic diversity of amniote sex chromosomes. The snake W sex chromosome offers a fascinating model system to elucidate ancestral trajectories that have resulted in genetic divergence of amniote sex chromosomes. Although the principal mechanism driving evolution of the amniote sex chromosome remains obscure, an emerging hypothesis, supported by studies of W sex chromosomes of squamate reptiles and snakes, suggests that sex chromosomes share varied genomic blocks across several amniote lineages. This implies the possible split of an ancestral super-sex chromosome via chromosomal rearrangements. We review the major findings pertaining to sex chromosomal profiles in amniotes and discuss the evolution of an ancestral super-sex chromosome by collating recent evidence sourced mainly from the snake W sex chromosome analysis. We highlight the role of repeat-mediated sex chromosome conformation and present a genomic landscape of snake Z and W chromosomes, which reveals the relative abundance of major repeats, and identifies the expansion of certain transposable elements. The latest revolution in chromosomics, i.e., complete telomere-to-telomere assembly, offers mechanistic insights into the evolutionary origin of sex chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Worapong Singchat
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (S.F.A.); (N.L.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Syed Farhan Ahmad
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (S.F.A.); (N.L.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Nararat Laopichienpong
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (S.F.A.); (N.L.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Aorarat Suntronpong
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (S.F.A.); (N.L.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Thitipong Panthum
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (S.F.A.); (N.L.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | | | - Kornsorn Srikulnath
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (S.F.A.); (N.L.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National Research University-Kasetsart University, Kasetsart University, (CASTNAR, NRU-KU, Thailand), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology (AG-BIO/PERDO-CHE), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1, Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima 739-8526, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +66-2562-5644
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17
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Acosta A, Suárez-Varón G, Rodríguez-Miranda LA, Lira-Noriega A, Aguilar-Gómez D, Gutiérrez-Mariscal M, Hernández-Gallegos O, Méndez-de-la-Cruz F, Cortez D. Corytophanids Replaced the Pleurodont XY System with a New Pair of XY Chromosomes. Genome Biol Evol 2020; 11:2666-2677. [PMID: 31557287 PMCID: PMC6761961 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evz196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Almost all lizard families in the pleurodont clade share the same XY system. This system was meticulously studied in Anolis carolinensis, where it shows a highly degenerated Y chromosome and a male-specific X chromosome dosage compensation mechanism. Corytophanids (casque-headed lizards) have been proposed as the only family in the pleurodont clade to lack the XY system. In this study, we worked with extensive genomic and transcriptomic data from Basiliscus vittatus, a member of the Corytophanidae family that inhabits the tropical rainforests of Mexico. We confirmed that B. vittatus underwent a sex chromosome system turnover, which consisted in the loss of the pleurodont XY system and the gain of a new pair of XY chromosomes that are orthologous to chicken chromosome 17. We estimated the origin of the sex chromosome system to have occurred ∼63 Ma in the ancestor of corytophanids. Moreover, we identified 12 XY gametologues with particular attributes, such as functions related to the membrane and intracellular trafficking, very low expression levels, blood specificity, and incomplete dosage compensation in males.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriel Suárez-Varón
- Laboratorio de Herpetología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Mexico
| | | | - Andrés Lira-Noriega
- CONACYT Research Fellow, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecología, Xalapa, México
| | | | | | - Oswaldo Hernández-Gallegos
- Laboratorio de Herpetología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Mexico
| | | | - Diego Cortez
- Center for Genome Sciences, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mexico
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18
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Wiggins JM, Santoyo-Brito E, Scales JB, Fox SF. Gene Dose Indicates Presence of Sex Chromosomes in Collared Lizards (Crotaphytus collaris), a Species with Temperature-Influenced Sex Determination. HERPETOLOGICA 2020. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-19-00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jon B. Scales
- Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, TX 76308, USA
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19
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Nielsen SV, Pinto BJ, Guzmán-Méndez IA, Gamble T. First Report of Sex Chromosomes in Night Lizards (Scincoidea: Xantusiidae). J Hered 2020; 111:307-317. [DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esaa007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Squamate reptiles (lizards, snakes, and amphibians) are an outstanding group for studying sex chromosome evolution—they are old, speciose, geographically widespread, and exhibit myriad sex-determining modes. Yet, the vast majority of squamate species lack heteromorphic sex chromosomes. Cataloging the sex chromosome systems of species lacking easily identifiable, heteromorphic sex chromosomes, therefore, is essential before we are to fully understand the evolution of vertebrate sex chromosomes. Here, we use restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) to classify the sex chromosome system of the granite night lizard, Xantusia henshawi. RADseq is an effective alternative to traditional cytogenetic methods for determining a species’ sex chromosome system (i.e., XX/XY or ZZ/ZW), particularly in taxa with non-differentiated sex chromosomes. Although many xantusiid lineages have been karyotyped, none possess heteromorphic sex chromosomes. We identified a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system in X. henshawi—the first such data for this family. Furthermore, we report that the X. henshawi sex chromosome contains fragments of genes found on Gallus gallus chromosomes 7, 12, and 18 (which are homologous to Anolis carolinensis chromosome 2), the first vertebrate sex chromosomes to utilize this linkage group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart V Nielsen
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Brendan J Pinto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
- Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI
| | | | - Tony Gamble
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
- Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN
- Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI
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20
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Rovatsos M, Altmanová M, Augstenová B, Mazzoleni S, Velenský P, Kratochvíl L. ZZ/ZW Sex Determination with Multiple Neo-Sex Chromosomes is Common in Madagascan Chameleons of the Genus Furcifer (Reptilia: Chamaeleonidae). Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10121020. [PMID: 31817782 PMCID: PMC6947276 DOI: 10.3390/genes10121020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Chameleons are well-known, highly distinctive lizards characterized by unique morphological and physiological traits, but their karyotypes and sex determination system have remained poorly studied. We studied karyotypes in six species of Madagascan chameleons of the genus Furcifer by classical (conventional stain, C-banding) and molecular (comparative genomic hybridization, in situ hybridization with rDNA, microsatellite, and telomeric sequences) cytogenetic approaches. In contrast to most sauropsid lineages, the chameleons of the genus Furcifer show chromosomal variability even among closely related species, with diploid chromosome numbers varying from 2n = 22 to 2n = 28. We identified female heterogamety with cytogenetically distinct Z and W sex chromosomes in all studied species. Notably, multiple neo-sex chromosomes in the form Z1Z1Z2Z2/Z1Z2W were uncovered in four species of the genus (F. bifidus, F. verrucosus, F. willsii, and previously studied F. pardalis). Phylogenetic distribution and morphology of sex chromosomes suggest that multiple sex chromosomes, which are generally very rare among vertebrates with female heterogamety, possibly evolved several times within the genus Furcifer. Although acrodontan lizards (chameleons and dragon lizards) demonstrate otherwise notable variability in sex determination, it seems that female heterogamety with differentiated sex chromosomes remained stable in the chameleons of the genus Furcifer for about 30 million years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.A.); (B.A.); (S.M.); (L.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Marie Altmanová
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.A.); (B.A.); (S.M.); (L.K.)
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 27721 Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Augstenová
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.A.); (B.A.); (S.M.); (L.K.)
| | - Sofia Mazzoleni
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.A.); (B.A.); (S.M.); (L.K.)
| | - Petr Velenský
- Prague Zoological Garden, 17100 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.A.); (B.A.); (S.M.); (L.K.)
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21
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Lee L, Montiel EE, Valenzuela N. Discovery of Putative XX/XY Male Heterogamety in Emydura subglobosa Turtles Exposes a Novel Trajectory of Sex Chromosome Evolution in Emydura. Cytogenet Genome Res 2019; 158:160-169. [DOI: 10.1159/000501891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of sex chromosome systems in non-model organisms has elicited growing recognition that sex chromosomes evolved via diverse paths that are not fully elucidated. Lineages with labile sex determination, such as turtles, hold critical cues, yet data are skewed toward hide-neck turtles (suborder Cryptodira) and scant for side-neck turtles (suborder Pleurodira). Here, we used classic and molecular cytogenetics to investigate Emydura subglobosa (ESU), an unstudied side-neck turtle with genotypic sex determination from the family Chelidae, where extensive morphological divergence exists among XX/XY systems. Our data represent the first cytogenetic description for ESU. Similarities were found between ESU and E. macquarii (EMA), such as identical chromosome number (2n = 50), a single and dimorphic nucleolus organizer region (NOR) localized in a microchromosome pair (ESU14) of both sexes (detected via FISH of 18S rDNA). Only the larger NOR is active (detected by silver staining). As in EMA, comparative genome hybridization revealed putative macro XX/XY chromosomes in ESU (the 4th largest pair). Our comparative analyses and revaluation of previous data strongly support the hypothesis that Emydura's XX/XY system evolved via fusion of an ancestral micro-Y (retained by Chelodina longicollis) onto a macro-autosome. This evolutionary trajectory differs from the purported independent evolution of XX/XY from separate ancestral autosomes in Chelodina and Emydura that was previously reported. Our data permit dating this Y-autosome fusion to at least the split of Emydura around 45 Mya and add critical information about the evolution of the remarkable diversity of sex-determining mechanisms in turtles, reptiles, and vertebrates.
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22
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Iannucci A, Altmanová M, Ciofi C, Ferguson-Smith M, Milan M, Pereira JC, Pether J, Rehák I, Rovatsos M, Stanyon R, Velenský P, Ráb P, Kratochvíl L, Johnson Pokorná M. Conserved sex chromosomes and karyotype evolution in monitor lizards (Varanidae). Heredity (Edinb) 2019; 123:215-227. [PMID: 30670841 PMCID: PMC6781170 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0179-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their long history with the basal split dating back to the Eocene, all species of monitor lizards (family Varanidae) studied so far share the same chromosome number of 2n = 40. However, there are differences in the morphology of the macrochromosome pairs 5-8. Further, sex determination, which revealed ZZ/ZW sex microchromosomes, was studied only in a few varanid species and only with techniques that did not test their homology. The aim of this study was to (i) test if cryptic interchromosomal rearrangements of larger chromosomal blocks occurred during the karyotype evolution of this group, (ii) contribute to the reconstruction of the varanid ancestral karyotype, and (iii) test homology of sex chromosomes among varanids. We investigated these issues by hybridizing flow sorted chromosome paints from Varanus komodoensis to metaphases of nine species of monitor lizards. The results show that differences in the morphology of the chromosome pairs 5-8 can be attributed to intrachromosomal rearrangements, which led to transitions between acrocentric and metacentric chromosomes in both directions. We also documented the first case of spontaneous triploidy among varanids in Varanus albigularis. The triploid individual was fully grown, which demonstrates that polyploidization is compatible with life in this lineage. We found that the W chromosome differs between species in size and heterochromatin content. The varanid Z chromosome is clearly conserved in all the analyzed species. Varanids, in addition to iguanas, caenophidian snakes, and lacertid lizards, are another squamate group with highly conserved sex chromosomes over a long evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Iannucci
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
| | - Marie Altmanová
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburská 89, 277 21, Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Claudio Ciofi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
| | - Malcolm Ferguson-Smith
- Cambridge Resource Centre for Comparative Genomics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom
| | - Massimo Milan
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Jorge Claudio Pereira
- Cambridge Resource Centre for Comparative Genomics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom
| | - James Pether
- Reptilandia Park, Galdar, 35460, Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Ivan Rehák
- Prague Zoological Garden, U Trojského zámku 120/3, 171 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburská 89, 277 21, Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Roscoe Stanyon
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
| | - Petr Velenský
- Prague Zoological Garden, U Trojského zámku 120/3, 171 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Ráb
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburská 89, 277 21, Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Martina Johnson Pokorná
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburská 89, 277 21, Liběchov, Czech Republic
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23
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Lind AL, Lai YYY, Mostovoy Y, Holloway AK, Iannucci A, Mak ACY, Fondi M, Orlandini V, Eckalbar WL, Milan M, Rovatsos M, Kichigin IG, Makunin AI, Johnson Pokorná M, Altmanová M, Trifonov VA, Schijlen E, Kratochvíl L, Fani R, Velenský P, Rehák I, Patarnello T, Jessop TS, Hicks JW, Ryder OA, Mendelson JR, Ciofi C, Kwok PY, Pollard KS, Bruneau BG. Genome of the Komodo dragon reveals adaptations in the cardiovascular and chemosensory systems of monitor lizards. Nat Ecol Evol 2019; 3:1241-1252. [PMID: 31358948 PMCID: PMC6668926 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-0945-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Monitor lizards are unique among ectothermic reptiles in that they have high aerobic capacity and distinctive cardiovascular physiology resembling that of endothermic mammals. Here, we sequence the genome of the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis, the largest extant monitor lizard, and generate a high-resolution de novo chromosome-assigned genome assembly for V. komodoensis using a hybrid approach of long-range sequencing and single-molecule optical mapping. Comparing the genome of V. komodoensis with those of related species, we find evidence of positive selection in pathways related to energy metabolism, cardiovascular homoeostasis, and haemostasis. We also show species-specific expansions of a chemoreceptor gene family related to pheromone and kairomone sensing in V. komodoensis and other lizard lineages. Together, these evolutionary signatures of adaptation reveal the genetic underpinnings of the unique Komodo dragon sensory and cardiovascular systems, and suggest that selective pressure altered haemostasis genes to help Komodo dragons evade the anticoagulant effects of their own saliva. The Komodo dragon genome is an important resource for understanding the biology of monitor lizards and reptiles worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yvonne Y Y Lai
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yulia Mostovoy
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Alessio Iannucci
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Angel C Y Mak
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Marco Fondi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Valerio Orlandini
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Walter L Eckalbar
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Massimo Milan
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Ilya G Kichigin
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alex I Makunin
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Martina Johnson Pokorná
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Altmanová
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | | | - Elio Schijlen
- B.U. Bioscience, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Renato Fani
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | | | - Ivan Rehák
- Prague Zoological Garden, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomaso Patarnello
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Tim S Jessop
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - James W Hicks
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Oliver A Ryder
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo, Escondido, CA, USA
| | - Joseph R Mendelson
- Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Claudio Ciofi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Pui-Yan Kwok
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Katherine S Pollard
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Chan-Zuckerberg BioHub, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Benoit G Bruneau
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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24
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Rovatsos M, Farkačová K, Altmanová M, Johnson Pokorná M, Kratochvíl L. The rise and fall of differentiated sex chromosomes in geckos. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:3042-3052. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
| | - Klára Farkačová
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
| | - Marie Altmanová
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics The Czech Academy of Sciences Liběchov Czech Republic
| | - Martina Johnson Pokorná
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics The Czech Academy of Sciences Liběchov Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
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25
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Distribution and amplification of interstitial telomeric sequences (ITSs) in Australian dragon lizards support frequent chromosome fusions in Iguania. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212683. [PMID: 30794668 PMCID: PMC6386254 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeric sequences are generally located at the ends of chromosomes; however, they can also be found in non-terminal chromosomal regions when they are known as interstitial telomeric sequences (ITSs). Distribution of ITSs across closely related and divergent species elucidates karyotype evolution and speciation as ITSs provide evolutionary evidence for chromosome fusion. In this study, we performed physical mapping of telomeric repeats by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) in seven Australian dragon lizards thought to represent derived karyotypes of squamate reptiles and a gecko lizard with considerably different karyotypic feature. Telomeric repeats were present at both ends of all chromosomes in all species, while varying numbers of ITSs were also found on microchromosomes and in pericentromeric or centromeric regions on macrochromosomes in five lizard species examined. This suggests that chromosomal rearrangements from ancestral squamate reptiles to Iguania occurred mainly by fusion between ancestral types of acrocentric chromosomes and/or between microchromosomes, leading to appearance of bi-armed macrochromosomes, and in the reduction of microchromosome numbers. These results support the previously proposed hypothesis of karyotype evolution in squamate reptiles. In addition, we observed the presence of telomeric sequences in the similar regions to heterochromatin of the W microchromosome in Pogona barbata and Doporiphora nobbi, while sex chromosomes for the two species contained part of the nucleolar organiser regions (NORs). This likely implies that these ITSs are a part of the satellite DNA and not relics of chromosome fusions. Amplification of telomeric repeats may have involved heterochromatinisation of sex-specific W chromosomes and play a role in the organisation of the nucleolus.
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26
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Rovatsos M, Rehák I, Velenský P, Kratochvíl L. Shared Ancient Sex Chromosomes in Varanids, Beaded Lizards, and Alligator Lizards. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 36:1113-1120. [DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Rehák
- Prague Zoological Garden, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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27
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Nielsen SV, Banks JL, Diaz RE, Trainor PA, Gamble T. Dynamic sex chromosomes in Old World chameleons (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae). J Evol Biol 2018; 31:484-490. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- S. V. Nielsen
- Department of Biological Sciences; Marquette University; Milwaukee WI USA
| | - J. L. Banks
- Department of Biological Sciences; Marquette University; Milwaukee WI USA
| | - R. E. Diaz
- Department of Biological Sciences; Southeastern Louisiana University; Hammond LA USA
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County; Los Angeles CA USA
| | - P. A. Trainor
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research; Kansas City MO USA
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology; Medical Center; University of Kansas; Kansas City KS USA
| | - T. Gamble
- Department of Biological Sciences; Marquette University; Milwaukee WI USA
- Bell Museum of Natural History; University of Minnesota; Saint Paul MN USA
- Milwaukee Public Museum; Milwaukee WI USA
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28
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Altmanová M, Rovatsos M, Johnson Pokorná M, Veselý M, Wagner F, Kratochvíl L. All iguana families with the exception of basilisks share sex chromosomes. ZOOLOGY 2018; 126:98-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2017.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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29
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Rupp SM, Webster TH, Olney KC, Hutchins ED, Kusumi K, Wilson Sayres MA. Evolution of Dosage Compensation in Anolis carolinensis, a Reptile with XX/XY Chromosomal Sex Determination. Genome Biol Evol 2018; 9:231-240. [PMID: 28206607 PMCID: PMC5381669 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In species with highly heteromorphic sex chromosomes, the degradation of one of the sex chromosomes will result in unequal gene expression between the sexes (e.g. between XX females and XY males) and between the sex chromosomes and the autosomes. Dosage compensation is a process whereby genes on the sex chromosomes achieve equal gene expression. We compared genome-wide levels of transcription between males and females, and between the X chromosome and the autosomes in the green anole, Anolis carolinensis. We present evidence for dosage compensation between the sexes, and between the sex chromosomes and the autosomes. When dividing the X chromosome into regions based on linkage groups, we discovered that genes in the first reported X-linked region, anole linkage group b (LGb), exhibit complete dosage compensation, although the rest of the X-linked genes exhibit incomplete dosage compensation. Our data further suggest that the mechanism of this dosage compensation is upregulation of the X chromosome in males. We report that approximately 10% of coding genes, most of which are on the autosomes, are differentially expressed between males and females. In addition, genes on the X chromosome exhibited higher ratios of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitution than autosomal genes, consistent with the fast-X effect. Our results from the green anole add an additional observation of dosage compensation in a species with XX/XY sex determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn M Rupp
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | | - Kimberly C Olney
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | | - Kenro Kusumi
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Melissa A Wilson Sayres
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.,Center for Evolution and Medicine, The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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30
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Evolutionary Dynamics of the W Chromosome in Caenophidian Snakes. Genes (Basel) 2017; 9:genes9010005. [PMID: 29283388 PMCID: PMC5793158 DOI: 10.3390/genes9010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The caenophidian (assigned also as “advanced”) snakes are traditionally viewed as a group of reptiles with a limited karyotypic variation and stable ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes. The W chromosomes of the caenophidian snakes are heterochromatic, and pioneering studies demonstrated that they are rich in repetitive elements. However, a comparative study of the evolutionary dynamics of the repetitive content of the W chromosome across the whole lineage is missing. Using molecular-cytogenetic techniques, we explored the distribution of four repetitive motifs (microsatellites GATA, GACA, AG and telomeric-like sequences), which are frequently accumulated in differentiated sex chromosomes in vertebrates, in the genomes of 13 species of the caenophidian snakes covering a wide phylogenetic spectrum of the lineage. The results demonstrate a striking variability in the morphology and the repetitive content of the W chromosomes even between closely-related species, which is in contrast to the homology and long-term stability of the gene content of the caenophidian Z chromosome. We uncovered that the tested microsatellite motifs are accumulated on the degenerated, heterochromatic W chromosomes in all tested species of the caenophidian snakes with the exception of the Javan file snake representing a basal clade. On the other hand, the presence of the accumulation of the telomeric-like sequences on the caenophidian W chromosome is evolutionary much less stable. Moreover, we demonstrated that large accumulations of telomeric-like motifs on the W chromosome contribute to sexual differences in the number of copies of the telomeric and telomeric-like repeats estimated by quantitative PCR, which might be confusing and incorrectly interpreted as sexual differences in telomere length.
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31
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Evolution of Karyotypes in Chameleons. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8120382. [PMID: 29231849 PMCID: PMC5748700 DOI: 10.3390/genes8120382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The reconstruction of the evolutionary dynamics of karyotypes and sex determining systems in squamate reptiles is precluded by the lack of data in many groups including most chameleons (Squamata: Acrodonta: Chamaeleonidae). We performed cytogenetic analysis in 16 species of chameleons from 8 genera covering the phylogenetic diversity of the family and also phylogenetic reconstruction of karyotype evolution in this group. In comparison to other squamates, chameleons demonstrate rather variable karyotypes, differing in chromosome number, morphology and presence of interstitial telomeric signal (ITS). On the other hand, the location of rDNA is quite conserved among chameleon species. Phylogenetic analysis combining our new results and previously published data tentatively suggests that the ancestral chromosome number for chameleons is 2n = 36, which is the same as assumed for other lineages of the clade Iguania, i.e., agamids and iguanas. In general, we observed a tendency for the reduction of chromosome number during the evolution of chameleons, however, in Rieppeleon brevicaudatus, we uncovered a chromosome number of 2n = 62, very unusual among squamates, originating from a number of chromosome splits. Despite the presence of the highly differentiated ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes in the genus Furcifer, we did not detect any unequivocal sexual differences in the karyotypes of any other studied species of chameleons tested using differential staining and comparative genomic hybridization, suggesting that sex chromosomes in most chameleons are only poorly differentiated.
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32
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Marin R, Cortez D, Lamanna F, Pradeepa MM, Leushkin E, Julien P, Liechti A, Halbert J, Brüning T, Mössinger K, Trefzer T, Conrad C, Kerver HN, Wade J, Tschopp P, Kaessmann H. Convergent origination of a Drosophila-like dosage compensation mechanism in a reptile lineage. Genome Res 2017; 27:1974-1987. [PMID: 29133310 PMCID: PMC5741051 DOI: 10.1101/gr.223727.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Sex chromosomes differentiated from different ancestral autosomes in various vertebrate lineages. Here, we trace the functional evolution of the XY Chromosomes of the green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis), on the basis of extensive high-throughput genome, transcriptome and histone modification sequencing data and revisit dosage compensation evolution in representative mammals and birds with substantial new expression data. Our analyses show that Anolis sex chromosomes represent an ancient XY system that originated at least ≈160 million years ago in the ancestor of Iguania lizards, shortly after the separation from the snake lineage. The age of this system approximately coincides with the ages of the avian and two mammalian sex chromosomes systems. To compensate for the almost complete Y Chromosome degeneration, X-linked genes have become twofold up-regulated, restoring ancestral expression levels. The highly efficient dosage compensation mechanism of Anolis represents the only vertebrate case identified so far to fully support Ohno's original dosage compensation hypothesis. Further analyses reveal that X up-regulation occurs only in males and is mediated by a male-specific chromatin machinery that leads to global hyperacetylation of histone H4 at lysine 16 specifically on the X Chromosome. The green anole dosage compensation mechanism is highly reminiscent of that of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Altogether, our work unveils the convergent emergence of a Drosophila-like dosage compensation mechanism in an ancient reptilian sex chromosome system and highlights that the evolutionary pressures imposed by sex chromosome dosage reductions in different amniotes were resolved in fundamentally different ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ray Marin
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Diego Cortez
- Center for Genomic Sciences, UNAM, CP62210 Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Francesco Lamanna
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Madapura M Pradeepa
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Evgeny Leushkin
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philippe Julien
- EMBL/CRG Systems Biology Research Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angélica Liechti
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean Halbert
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Thoomke Brüning
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katharina Mössinger
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Timo Trefzer
- Department of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center/BioQuant, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Conrad
- Department of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center/BioQuant, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Halie N Kerver
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Juli Wade
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.,Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Patrick Tschopp
- Institute of Zoology, University of Basel, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Henrik Kaessmann
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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33
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Hormonal and thermal induction of sex reversal in the bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps, Agamidae). ZOOL ANZ 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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34
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Rovatsos M, Altmanová M, Johnson Pokorná M, Augstenová B, Kratochvíl L. Cytogenetics of the Javan file snake (Acrochordus javanicus
) and the evolution of snake sex chromosomes. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology; Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
| | - Marie Altmanová
- Department of Ecology; Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics; The Czech Academy of Sciences; Liběchov Czech Republic
| | - Martina Johnson Pokorná
- Department of Ecology; Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics; The Czech Academy of Sciences; Liběchov Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Augstenová
- Department of Ecology; Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology; Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
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35
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Dalíková M, Zrzavá M, Hladová I, Nguyen P, Šonský I, Flegrová M, Kubíčková S, Voleníková A, Kawahara AY, Peters RS, Marec F. New Insights into the Evolution of the W Chromosome in Lepidoptera. J Hered 2017; 108:709-719. [DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esx063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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36
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Localization and distribution of gonadal proteins in the oviparous lizard Sceloporus aeneus (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). Acta Histochem 2017; 119:516-522. [PMID: 28515008 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2017.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Among vertebrates, several specific proteins are involved in the function and development of gonads. Several genes such as SOX9, FOXL2, DDX4, IFITM3, and DPPA3, are active during embryonic differentiation and maintain their expression in adult tissues, playing important roles in the function and development of the line cell, where these are produced. Among reptiles, molecular mechanisms for sex differentiation have been analyzed in turtles, crocodiles, and some lizards, while in adult stages such studies are scarce. The aim of this study was to locate and analyze the distribution of important gonadal proteins in adult and embryonic ovaries and testes of the oviparous lizard Sceloporus aeneus (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). Adult specimens and embryos of the lizard S. aeneus were collected in Milpa Alta, a suburb located Southwest of Mexico City. Expression of gonadal proteins was analyzed using immunofluorescent staining and confocal microscopy. Our results showed that SOX9 is located in Sertoli cells of embryonic and adult testes. FOXL2 is expressed in follicular cells of adult ovaries. DDX4 and IFITM3 are located in germ line cells as well as in follicular cells of adult ovaries. DPPA3 was observed in somatic and germ line cells of adult and embryonic gonads. Our observations show that important molecules of vertebrate ovaries and testes are conserved in S. aeneus and it is suggested that these may have a similar role during gonadal development and function.
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Rovatsos M, Praschag P, Fritz U, Kratochvšl L. Stable Cretaceous sex chromosomes enable molecular sexing in softshell turtles (Testudines: Trionychidae). Sci Rep 2017; 7:42150. [PMID: 28186115 PMCID: PMC5301483 DOI: 10.1038/srep42150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Turtles demonstrate variability in sex determination ranging from environmental sex determination (ESD) to highly differentiated sex chromosomes. However, the evolutionary dynamics of sex determining systems in this group is not well known. Differentiated ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes were identified in two species of the softshell turtles (Trionychidae) from the subfamily Trionychinae and Z-specific genes were identified in a single species. We tested Z-specificity of a subset of these genes by quantitative PCR comparing copy gene numbers in male and female genomes in 10 species covering the phylogenetic diversity of trionychids. We demonstrated that differentiated ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes are conserved across the whole family and that they were already present in the common ancestor of the extant trionychids. As the sister lineage, Carettochelys insculpta, possess ESD, we can date the origin of the sex chromosomes in trionychids between 200 Mya (split of Trionychidae and Carettochelyidae) and 120 Mya (basal splitting of the recent trionychids). The results support the evolutionary stability of differentiated sex chromosomes in some lineages of ectothermic vertebrates. Moreover, our approach determining sex-linkage of protein coding genes can be used as a reliable technique of molecular sexing across trionychids useful for effective breeding strategy in conservation projects of endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail Rovatsos
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Department of Ecology, Viničná 7, 12844 Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Praschag
- Turtle Island, Turtle Conservation Center, Am Katzelbach 98, 8054 Graz, Austria
| | - Uwe Fritz
- Museum of Zoology, Senckenberg Dresden, A. B. Meyer Building, 01109 Dresden, Germany
| | - Lukáš Kratochvšl
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Department of Ecology, Viničná 7, 12844 Praha 2, Czech Republic
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Rovatsos M, Kratochvíl L. Molecular sexing applicable in 4000 species of lizards and snakes? From dream to real possibility. Methods Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology Faculty of Science Charles University in Prague Viničná 7 12844 Prague Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology Faculty of Science Charles University in Prague Viničná 7 12844 Prague Czech Republic
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Rovatsos M, Vukić J, Lymberakis P, Kratochvíl L. Evolutionary stability of sex chromosomes in snakes. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 282:20151992. [PMID: 26702042 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.1992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amniote vertebrates possess various mechanisms of sex determination, but their variability is not equally distributed. The large evolutionary stability of sex chromosomes in viviparous mammals and birds was believed to be connected with their endothermy. However, some ectotherm lineages seem to be comparably conserved in sex determination, but previously there was a lack of molecular evidence to confirm this. Here, we document a stability of sex chromosomes in advanced snakes based on the testing of Z-specificity of genes using quantitative PCR (qPCR) across 37 snake species (our qPCR technique is suitable for molecular sexing in potentially all advanced snakes). We discovered that at least part of sex chromosomes is homologous across all families of caenophidian snakes (Acrochordidae, Xenodermatidae, Pareatidae, Viperidae, Homalopsidae, Colubridae, Elapidae and Lamprophiidae). The emergence of differentiated sex chromosomes can be dated back to about 60 Ma and preceded the extensive diversification of advanced snakes, the group with more than 3000 species. The Z-specific genes of caenophidian snakes are (pseudo)autosomal in the members of the snake families Pythonidae, Xenopeltidae, Boidae, Erycidae and Sanziniidae, as well as in outgroups with differentiated sex chromosomes such as monitor lizards, iguanas and chameleons. Along with iguanas, advanced snakes are therefore another example of ectothermic amniotes with a long-term stability of sex chromosomes comparable with endotherms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail Rovatsos
- Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, 12844 Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Jasna Vukić
- Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, 12844 Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Petros Lymberakis
- Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, Knossou Avenue, 71409 Irakleio, Crete, Greece
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, 12844 Praha 2, Czech Republic
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Rovatsos M, Johnson Pokorná M, Altmanová M, Kratochvíl L. Mixed-Up Sex Chromosomes: Identification of Sex Chromosomes in the X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y System of the Legless Lizards of the Genus Lialis (Squamata: Gekkota: Pygopodidae). Cytogenet Genome Res 2016; 149:282-289. [DOI: 10.1159/000450734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Geckos in general show extensive variability in sex determining systems, but only male heterogamety has been demonstrated in the members of their legless family Pygopodidae. In the pioneering study published more than 45 years ago, multiple sex chromosomes of the type X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y were described in Burton's legless lizard (Lialisburtonis) based on conventional cytogenetic techniques. We conducted cytogenetic analyses including comparative genomic hybridization and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with selected cytogenetic markers in this species and the previously cytogenetically unstudied Papua snake lizard (Lialis jicari) to better understand the nature of these sex chromosomes and their differentiation. Both species possess male heterogamety with an X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y sex chromosome system; however, the Y and one of the X chromosomes are not small chromosomes as previously reported in L. burtonis, but the largest macrochromosomal pair in the karyotype. The Y chromosomes in both species have large heterochromatic blocks with extensive accumulations of GATA and AC microsatellite motifs. FISH with telomeric probe revealed an exclusively terminal position of telomeric sequences in L. jicari (2n = 42 chromosomes in females), but extensive interstitial signals, potentially remnants of chromosomal fusions, in L.burtonis (2n = 34 in females). Our study shows that even largely differentiated and heteromorphic sex chromosomes might be misidentified by conventional cytogenetic analyses and that the application of more sensitive cytogenetic techniques for the identification of sex chromosomes is beneficial even in the classical examples of multiple sex chromosomes.
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Evolutionary dynamics of Anolis sex chromosomes revealed by sequencing of flow sorting-derived microchromosome-specific DNA. Mol Genet Genomics 2016; 291:1955-66. [DOI: 10.1007/s00438-016-1230-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/09/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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42
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Montiel EE, Badenhorst D, Lee LS, Literman R, Trifonov V, Valenzuela N. Cytogenetic Insights into the Evolution of Chromosomes and Sex Determination Reveal Striking Homology of Turtle Sex Chromosomes to Amphibian Autosomes. Cytogenet Genome Res 2016; 148:292-304. [DOI: 10.1159/000447478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Turtle karyotypes are highly conserved compared to other vertebrates; yet, variation in diploid number (2n = 26-68) reflects profound genomic reorganization, which correlates with evolutionary turnovers in sex determination. We evaluate the published literature and newly collected comparative cytogenetic data (G- and C-banding, 18S-NOR, and telomere-FISH mapping) from 13 species spanning 2n = 28-68 to revisit turtle genome evolution and sex determination. Interstitial telomeric sites were detected in multiple lineages that underwent diploid number and sex determination turnovers, suggesting chromosomal rearrangements. C-banding revealed potential interspecific variation in centromere composition and interstitial heterochromatin at secondary constrictions. 18S-NORs were detected in secondary constrictions in a single chromosomal pair per species, refuting previous reports of multiple NORs in turtles. 18S-NORs are linked to ZW chromosomes in Apalone and Pelodiscus and to X (not Y) in Staurotypus. Notably, comparative genomics across amniotes revealed that the sex chromosomes of several turtles, as well as mammals and some lizards, are homologous to components of Xenopus tropicalis XTR1 (carrying Dmrt1). Other turtle sex chromosomes are homologous to XTR4 (carrying Wt1). Interestingly, all known turtle sex chromosomes, except in Trionychidae, evolved via inversions around Dmrt1 or Wt1. Thus, XTR1 appears to represent an amniote proto-sex chromosome (perhaps linked ancestrally to XTR4) that gave rise to turtle and other amniote sex chromosomes.
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Wright AE, Dean R, Zimmer F, Mank JE. How to make a sex chromosome. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12087. [PMID: 27373494 PMCID: PMC4932193 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex chromosomes can evolve once recombination is halted between a homologous pair of chromosomes. Owing to detailed studies using key model systems, we have a nuanced understanding and a rich review literature of what happens to sex chromosomes once recombination is arrested. However, three broad questions remain unanswered. First, why do sex chromosomes stop recombining in the first place? Second, how is recombination halted? Finally, why does the spread of recombination suppression, and therefore the rate of sex chromosome divergence, vary so substantially across clades? In this review, we consider each of these three questions in turn to address fundamental questions in the field, summarize our current understanding, and highlight important areas for future work. Sex chromosome evolution begins when recombination between a homologous pair of chromosomes is halted. Here, Wright et al. review our current understanding of the causes and mechanisms of recombination suppression between incipient sex chromosomes and suggest future directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison E. Wright
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment University College London, London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Rebecca Dean
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment University College London, London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Fabian Zimmer
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment University College London, London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Judith E. Mank
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment University College London, London WC1E 6BT UK
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Altmanová M, Rovatsos M, Kratochvíl L, Johnson Pokorná M. Minute Y chromosomes and karyotype evolution in Madagascan iguanas (Squamata: Iguania: Opluridae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12751 10.1080/11250000409356641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Altmanová
- Faculty of Science; Department of Ecology; Charles University in Prague; Viničná 7 Praha 2 Czech Republic
| | - Michail Rovatsos
- Faculty of Science; Department of Ecology; Charles University in Prague; Viničná 7 Praha 2 Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Faculty of Science; Department of Ecology; Charles University in Prague; Viničná 7 Praha 2 Czech Republic
| | - Martina Johnson Pokorná
- Faculty of Science; Department of Ecology; Charles University in Prague; Viničná 7 Praha 2 Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics; The Czech Academy of Sciences; Rumburská 89 Liběchov Czech Republic
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Sabath N, Itescu Y, Feldman A, Meiri S, Mayrose I, Valenzuela N. Sex determination, longevity, and the birth and death of reptilian species. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:5207-20. [PMID: 27551377 PMCID: PMC4984498 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate sex-determining mechanisms (SDMs) are triggered by the genotype (GSD), by temperature (TSD), or occasionally, by both. The causes and consequences of SDM diversity remain enigmatic. Theory predicts SDM effects on species diversification, and life-span effects on SDM evolutionary turnover. Yet, evidence is conflicting in clades with labile SDMs, such as reptiles. Here, we investigate whether SDM is associated with diversification in turtles and lizards, and whether alterative factors, such as lifespan's effect on transition rates, could explain the relative prevalence of SDMs in turtles and lizards (including and excluding snakes). We assembled a comprehensive dataset of SDM states for squamates and turtles and leveraged large phylogenies for these two groups. We found no evidence that SDMs affect turtle, squamate, or lizard diversification. However, SDM transition rates differ between groups. In lizards TSD-to-GSD surpass GSD-to-TSD transitions, explaining the predominance of GSD lizards in nature. SDM transitions are fewer in turtles and the rates are similar to each other (TSD-to-GSD equals GSD-to-TSD), which, coupled with TSD ancestry, could explain TSD's predominance in turtles. These contrasting patterns can be explained by differences in life history. Namely, our data support the notion that in general, shorter lizard lifespan renders TSD detrimental favoring GSD evolution in squamates, whereas turtle longevity permits TSD retention. Thus, based on the macro-evolutionary evidence we uncovered, we hypothesize that turtles and lizards followed different evolutionary trajectories with respect to SDM, likely mediated by differences in lifespan. Combined, our findings revealed a complex evolutionary interplay between SDMs and life histories that warrants further research that should make use of expanded datasets on unexamined taxa to enable more conclusive analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niv Sabath
- Department of Molecular Biology and Ecology of Plants Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 69978 Israel
| | - Yuval Itescu
- Department of Zoology Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 69978 Israel
| | - Anat Feldman
- Department of Zoology Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 69978 Israel
| | - Shai Meiri
- Department of Zoology Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 69978 Israel
| | - Itay Mayrose
- Department of Molecular Biology and Ecology of Plants Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 69978 Israel
| | - Nicole Valenzuela
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames Iowa 50011
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Deakin JE, Edwards MJ, Patel H, O'Meally D, Lian J, Stenhouse R, Ryan S, Livernois AM, Azad B, Holleley CE, Li Q, Georges A. Anchoring genome sequence to chromosomes of the central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) enables reconstruction of ancestral squamate macrochromosomes and identifies sequence content of the Z chromosome. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:447. [PMID: 27286959 PMCID: PMC4902969 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2774-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Squamates (lizards and snakes) are a speciose lineage of reptiles displaying considerable karyotypic diversity, particularly among lizards. Understanding the evolution of this diversity requires comparison of genome organisation between species. Although the genomes of several squamate species have now been sequenced, only the green anole lizard has any sequence anchored to chromosomes. There is only limited gene mapping data available for five other squamates. This makes it difficult to reconstruct the events that have led to extant squamate karyotypic diversity. The purpose of this study was to anchor the recently sequenced central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) genome to chromosomes to trace the evolution of squamate chromosomes. Assigning sequence to sex chromosomes was of particular interest for identifying candidate sex determining genes. Results By using two different approaches to map conserved blocks of genes, we were able to anchor approximately 42 % of the dragon genome sequence to chromosomes. We constructed detailed comparative maps between dragon, anole and chicken genomes, and where possible, made broader comparisons across Squamata using cytogenetic mapping information for five other species. We show that squamate macrochromosomes are relatively well conserved between species, supporting findings from previous molecular cytogenetic studies. Macrochromosome diversity between members of the Toxicofera clade has been generated by intrachromosomal, and a small number of interchromosomal, rearrangements. We reconstructed the ancestral squamate macrochromosomes by drawing upon comparative cytogenetic mapping data from seven squamate species and propose the events leading to the arrangements observed in representative species. In addition, we assigned over 8 Mbp of sequence containing 219 genes to the Z chromosome, providing a list of genes to begin testing as candidate sex determining genes. Conclusions Anchoring of the dragon genome has provided substantial insight into the evolution of squamate genomes, enabling us to reconstruct ancestral macrochromosome arrangements at key positions in the squamate phylogeny, demonstrating that fusions between macrochromosomes or fusions of macrochromosomes and microchromosomes, have played an important role during the evolution of squamate genomes. Assigning sequence to the sex chromosomes has identified NR5A1 as a promising candidate sex determining gene in the dragon. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2774-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine E Deakin
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Melanie J Edwards
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Hardip Patel
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Denis O'Meally
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Jinmin Lian
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Rachael Stenhouse
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Sam Ryan
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Alexandra M Livernois
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Bhumika Azad
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.,John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Clare E Holleley
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Qiye Li
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.,Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, 1350, Denmark
| | - Arthur Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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Rovatsos M, Vukić J, Altmanová M, Johnson Pokorná M, Moravec J, Kratochvíl L. Conservation of sex chromosomes in lacertid lizards. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:3120-6. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2015] [Revised: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology; Faculty of Science; Charles University in Prague; Viničná 7 128 44 Prague Czech Republic
| | - Jasna Vukić
- Department of Ecology; Faculty of Science; Charles University in Prague; Viničná 7 128 44 Prague Czech Republic
| | - Marie Altmanová
- Department of Ecology; Faculty of Science; Charles University in Prague; Viničná 7 128 44 Prague Czech Republic
| | - Martina Johnson Pokorná
- Department of Ecology; Faculty of Science; Charles University in Prague; Viničná 7 128 44 Prague Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics; The Czech Academy of Sciences; Liběchov Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Moravec
- Department of Zoology; National Museum; Václavské nám. 68 115 79 Prague Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology; Faculty of Science; Charles University in Prague; Viničná 7 128 44 Prague Czech Republic
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Giovannotti M, Trifonov VA, Paoletti A, Kichigin IG, O’Brien PCM, Kasai F, Giovagnoli G, Ng BL, Ruggeri P, Cerioni PN, Splendiani A, Pereira JC, Olmo E, Rens W, Caputo Barucchi V, Ferguson-Smith MA. New insights into sex chromosome evolution in anole lizards (Reptilia, Dactyloidae). Chromosoma 2016; 126:245-260. [DOI: 10.1007/s00412-016-0585-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Revised: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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49
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Mammalian X homolog acts as sex chromosome in lacertid lizards. Heredity (Edinb) 2016; 117:8-13. [PMID: 26980341 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2016.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Among amniotes, squamate reptiles are especially variable in their mechanisms of sex determination; however, based largely on cytogenetic data, some lineages possess highly evolutionary stable sex chromosomes. The still very limited knowledge of the genetic content of squamate sex chromosomes precludes a reliable reconstruction of the evolutionary history of sex determination in this group and consequently in all amniotes. Female heterogamety with a degenerated W chromosome typifies the lizards of the family Lacertidae, the widely distributed Old World clade including several hundreds of species. From the liver transcriptome of the lacertid Takydromus sexlineatus female, we selected candidates for Z-specific genes as the loci lacking single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We validated the candidate genes through the comparison of the copy numbers in the female and male genomes of T. sexlineatus and another lacertid species, Lacerta agilis, by quantitative PCR that also proved to be a reliable technique for the molecular sexing of the studied species. We suggest that this novel approach is effective for the detection of Z-specific and X-specific genes in lineages with degenerated W, respectively Y chromosomes. The analyzed gene content of the Z chromosome revealed that lacertid sex chromosomes are not homologous with those of other reptiles including birds, but instead the genes have orthologs in the X-conserved region shared by viviparous mammals. It is possible that this part of the vertebrate genome was independently co-opted for the function of sex chromosomes in viviparous mammals and lacertids because of its content of genes involved in gonad differentiation.
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50
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Discovery of the youngest sex chromosomes reveals first case of convergent co-option of ancestral autosomes in turtles. Chromosoma 2016; 126:105-113. [DOI: 10.1007/s00412-016-0576-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Revised: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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