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VanKuren NW, Chen J, Long M. Sexual conflict drive in the rapid evolution of new gametogenesis genes. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 159-160:27-37. [PMID: 38309142 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2024.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
The evolutionary forces underlying the rapid evolution in sequences and functions of new genes remain a mystery. Adaptation by natural selection explains the evolution of some new genes. However, many new genes perform sex-biased functions that have rapidly evolved over short evolutionary time scales, suggesting that new gene evolution may often be driven by conflicting selective pressures on males and females. It is well established that such sexual conflict (SC) plays a central role in maintaining phenotypic and genetic variation within populations, but the role of SC in driving new gene evolution remains essentially unknown. This review explores the connections between SC and new gene evolution through discussions of the concept of SC, the phenotypic and genetic signatures of SC in evolving populations, and the molecular mechanisms by which SC could drive the evolution of new genes. We synthesize recent work in this area with a discussion of the case of Apollo and Artemis, two extremely young genes (<200,000 years) in Drosophila melanogaster, which offered the first empirical insights into the evolutionary process by which SC could drive the evolution of new genes. These new duplicate genes exhibit the hallmarks of sexually antagonistic selection: rapid DNA and protein sequence evolution, essential sex-specific functions in gametogenesis, and complementary sex-biased expression patterns. Importantly, Apollo is essential for male fitness but detrimental to female fitness, while Artemis is essential for female fitness but detrimental to male fitness. These sexually antagonistic fitness effects and complementary changes to expression, sequence, and function suggest that these duplicates were selected for mitigating SC, but that SC has not been fully resolved. Finally, we propose Sexual Conflict Drive as a self-driven model to interpret the rapid evolution of new genes, explain the potential for SC and sexually antagonistic selection to contribute to long-term evolution, and suggest its utility for understanding the rapid evolution of new genes in gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas W VanKuren
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, United States.
| | - Jianhai Chen
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, United States
| | - Manyuan Long
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, United States.
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2
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Pan Q, Darras H, Keller L. LncRNA gene ANTSR coordinates complementary sex determination in the Argentine ant. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadp1532. [PMID: 38820161 PMCID: PMC11141628 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adp1532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Animals have evolved various sex determination systems. Here, we describe a newly found mechanism. A long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transduces complementary sex determination (CSD) signal in the invasive Argentine ant. In this haplodiploid species, we identified a 5-kilobase hyper-polymorphic region underlying CSD: Heterozygous embryos become females, while homozygous and hemizygous embryos become males. Heterozygosity at the CSD locus correlates with higher expression of ANTSR, a gene that overlaps with the CSD locus and specifies an lncRNA transcript. ANTSR knockdown in CSD heterozygotes leads to male development. Comparative analyses indicated that, in Hymenoptera, ANTSR is an ancient yet rapidly evolving gene. This study reveals an lncRNA involved in genetic sex determination, alongside a previously unknown regulatory mechanism underlying sex determination based on complementarity among noncoding alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaowei Pan
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hugo Darras
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Laurent Keller
- Social Evolution Unit, Cornuit 8, BP 855, Chesières, Switzerland
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3
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Melnikova L, Molodina V, Georgiev P, Golovnin A. Development of a New Model System to Study Long-Distance Interactions Supported by Architectural Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4617. [PMID: 38731837 PMCID: PMC11083095 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Chromatin architecture is critical for the temporal and tissue-specific activation of genes that determine eukaryotic development. The functional interaction between enhancers and promoters is controlled by insulators and tethering elements that support specific long-distance interactions. However, the mechanisms of the formation and maintenance of long-range interactions between genome regulatory elements remain poorly understood, primarily due to the lack of convenient model systems. Drosophila became the first model organism in which architectural proteins that determine the activity of insulators were described. In Drosophila, one of the best-studied DNA-binding architectural proteins, Su(Hw), forms a complex with Mod(mdg4)-67.2 and CP190 proteins. Using a combination of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and attP-dependent integration technologies, we created a model system in which the promoters and enhancers of two reporter genes are separated by 28 kb. In this case, enhancers effectively stimulate reporter gene promoters in cis and trans only in the presence of artificial Su(Hw) binding sites (SBS), in both constructs. The expression of the mutant Su(Hw) protein, which cannot interact with CP190, and the mutation inactivating Mod(mdg4)-67.2, lead to the complete loss or significant weakening of enhancer-promoter interactions, respectively. The results indicate that the new model system effectively identifies the role of individual subunits of architectural protein complexes in forming and maintaining specific long-distance interactions in the D. melanogaster model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa Melnikova
- Department of Drosophila Molecular Genetics, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov Street, Moscow 119334, Russia;
| | - Varvara Molodina
- Department of Drosophila Molecular Genetics, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov Street, Moscow 119334, Russia;
| | - Pavel Georgiev
- Department of the Control of Genetic Processes, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov Street, Moscow 119334, Russia;
| | - Anton Golovnin
- Department of Drosophila Molecular Genetics, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov Street, Moscow 119334, Russia;
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4
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Ordway AJ, Helt RN, Johnston RJ. Transcriptional priming and chromatin regulation during stochastic cell fate specification. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230046. [PMID: 38432315 PMCID: PMC10909510 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0046] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Stochastic cell fate specification, in which a cell chooses between two or more fates with a set probability, diversifies cell subtypes in development. Although this is a vital process across species, a common mechanism for these cell fate decisions remains elusive. This review examines two well-characterized stochastic cell fate decisions to identify commonalities between their developmental programmes. In the fly eye, two subtypes of R7 photoreceptors are specified by the stochastic ON/OFF expression of a transcription factor, spineless. In the mouse olfactory system, olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) randomly select to express one copy of an olfactory receptor (OR) gene out of a pool of 2800 alleles. Despite the differences in these sensory systems, both stochastic fate choices rely on the dynamic interplay between transcriptional priming, chromatin regulation and terminal gene expression. The coupling of transcription and chromatin modifications primes gene loci in undifferentiated neurons, enabling later expression during terminal differentiation. Here, we compare these mechanisms, examine broader implications for gene regulation during development and posit key challenges moving forward. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Causes and consequences of stochastic processes in development and disease'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison J. Ordway
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Rina N. Helt
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Robert J. Johnston
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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5
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Wuyun Q, Zhang Y, Yuan J, Zhang J, Ren C, Wang Q, Yan S, Liu W, Wang G. A classic screening marker does not affect antennal electrophysiology but strongly regulates reproductive behaviours in Bactrocera dorsalis. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 33:136-146. [PMID: 37877756 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12883] [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: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
The key phenotype white eye (white) has been used for decades to selectively remove females before release in sterile insect technique programs and as an effective screening marker in genetic engineering. Bactrocera dorsalis is a representative tephritid pest causing damage to more than 150 fruit crops. Yet, the function of white in important biological processes remains unclear in B. dorsalis. In this study, the impacts of the white gene on electrophysiology and reproductive behaviour in B. dorsalis were tested. The results indicated that knocking out Bdwhite disrupted eye pigmentation in adults, consistent with previous reports. Bdwhite did not affect the antennal electrophysiology response to 63 chemical components with various structures. However, reproductive behaviours in both males and females were significantly reduced in Bdwhite-/- . Both pre-copulatory and copulation behaviours were significantly reduced in Bdwhite-/- , and the effect was male-specific. Mutant females significantly delayed their oviposition towards γ-octalactone, and the peak of oviposition behaviour towards orange juice was lost. These results show that Bdwhite might not be an ideal screening marker in functional gene research aiming to identify molecular targets for behaviour-modifying chemicals. Instead, owing to its strong effect on B. dorsalis sexual behaviours, the downstream genes regulated by Bdwhite or the genes from white-linked areas could be alternate molecular targets that promote the development of better behavioural modifying chemical-based pest management techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- QiQige Wuyun
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Jinxi Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Cong Ren
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Shanchun Yan
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Institute of Agricultural Genome, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Branch of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Gene Data Analysis, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guirong Wang
- Institute of Agricultural Genome, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Branch of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Gene Data Analysis, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shenzhen, China
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6
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Lin Y, Li J, Gu Y, Jin L, Bai J, Zhang J, Wang Y, Liu P, Long K, He M, Li D, Liu C, Han Z, Zhang Y, Li X, Zeng B, Lu L, Kong F, Sun Y, Fan Y, Wang X, Wang T, Jiang A, Ma J, Shen L, Zhu L, Jiang Y, Tang G, Fan X, Liu Q, Li H, Wang J, Chen L, Ge L, Li X, Tang Q, Li M. Haplotype-resolved 3D chromatin architecture of the hybrid pig. Genome Res 2024; 34:310-325. [PMID: 38479837 PMCID: PMC10984390 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278101.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
In diploid mammals, allele-specific three-dimensional (3D) genome architecture may lead to imbalanced gene expression. Through ultradeep in situ Hi-C sequencing of three representative somatic tissues (liver, skeletal muscle, and brain) from hybrid pigs generated by reciprocal crosses of phenotypically and physiologically divergent Berkshire and Tibetan pigs, we uncover extensive chromatin reorganization between homologous chromosomes across multiple scales. Haplotype-based interrogation of multi-omic data revealed the tissue dependence of 3D chromatin conformation, suggesting that parent-of-origin-specific conformation may drive gene imprinting. We quantify the effects of genetic variations and histone modifications on allelic differences of long-range promoter-enhancer contacts, which likely contribute to the phenotypic differences between the parental pig breeds. We also observe the fine structure of somatically paired homologous chromosomes in the pig genome, which has a functional implication genome-wide. This work illustrates how allele-specific chromatin architecture facilitates concomitant shifts in allele-biased gene expression, as well as the possible consequential phenotypic changes in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China;
| | - Yiren Gu
- College of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China
| | - Long Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Jingyi Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Jiaman Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yujie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Pengliang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Keren Long
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Mengnan He
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Diyan Li
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
| | - Can Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Ziyin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Xiaokai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Bo Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Lu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Fanli Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Ying Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Institute of Geriatric Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Yongliang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Tao Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
| | - An'an Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Jideng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Linyuan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Li Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yanzhi Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Guoqing Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Xiaolan Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Qingyou Liu
- Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding Key Laboratory of Guangdong Province, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, China
| | - Hua Li
- Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding Key Laboratory of Guangdong Province, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, China
| | - Jinyong Wang
- Pig Industry Sciences Key Laboratory of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Pigs, Chongqing 402460, China
| | - Li Chen
- Pig Industry Sciences Key Laboratory of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Pigs, Chongqing 402460, China
| | - Liangpeng Ge
- Pig Industry Sciences Key Laboratory of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Pigs, Chongqing 402460, China
| | - Xuewei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Qianzi Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China;
| | - Mingzhou Li
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China;
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Messina O, Raynal F, Gurgo J, Fiche JB, Pancaldi V, Nollmann M. 3D chromatin interactions involving Drosophila insulators are infrequent but preferential and arise before TADs and transcription. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6678. [PMID: 37865700 PMCID: PMC10590426 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42485-y] [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: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals, insulators contribute to the regulation of loop extrusion to organize chromatin into topologically associating domains. In Drosophila the role of insulators in 3D genome organization is, however, under current debate. Here, we addressed this question by combining bioinformatics analysis and multiplexed chromatin imaging. We describe a class of Drosophila insulators enriched at regions forming preferential chromatin interactions genome-wide. Notably, most of these 3D interactions do not involve TAD borders. Multiplexed imaging shows that these interactions occur infrequently, and only rarely involve multiple genomic regions coalescing together in space in single cells. Finally, we show that non-border preferential 3D interactions enriched in this class of insulators are present before TADs and transcription during Drosophila development. Our results are inconsistent with insulators forming stable hubs in single cells, and instead suggest that they fine-tune existing 3D chromatin interactions, providing an additional regulatory layer for transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Messina
- Centre de Biologie Structurale, Univ Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5048, INSERM U1054, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | - Flavien Raynal
- CRCT, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Julian Gurgo
- Centre de Biologie Structurale, Univ Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5048, INSERM U1054, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Bernard Fiche
- Centre de Biologie Structurale, Univ Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5048, INSERM U1054, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | - Vera Pancaldi
- CRCT, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marcelo Nollmann
- Centre de Biologie Structurale, Univ Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5048, INSERM U1054, 34090, Montpellier, France.
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8
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Darolti I, Mank JE. Sex-biased gene expression at single-cell resolution: cause and consequence of sexual dimorphism. Evol Lett 2023; 7:148-156. [PMID: 37251587 PMCID: PMC10210449 DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrad013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene expression differences between males and females are thought to be key for the evolution of sexual dimorphism, and sex-biased genes are often used to study the molecular footprint of sex-specific selection. However, gene expression is often measured from complex aggregations of diverse cell types, making it difficult to distinguish between sex differences in expression that are due to regulatory rewiring within similar cell types and those that are simply a consequence of developmental differences in cell-type abundance. To determine the role of regulatory versus developmental differences underlying sex-biased gene expression, we use single-cell transcriptomic data from multiple somatic and reproductive tissues of male and female guppies, a species that exhibits extensive phenotypic sexual dimorphism. Our analysis of gene expression at single-cell resolution demonstrates that nonisometric scaling between the cell populations within each tissue and heterogeneity in cell-type abundance between the sexes can influence inferred patterns of sex-biased gene expression by increasing both the false-positive and false-negative rates. Moreover, we show that, at the bulk level, the subset of sex-biased genes that are the product of sex differences in cell-type abundance can significantly confound patterns of coding-sequence evolution. Taken together, our results offer a unique insight into the effects of allometry and cellular heterogeneity on perceived patterns of sex-biased gene expression and highlight the power of single-cell RNA-sequencing in distinguishing between sex-biased genes that are the result of regulatory change and those that stem from sex differences in cell-type abundance, and hence are a consequence rather than a cause of sexual dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iulia Darolti
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Judith E Mank
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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9
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Price PD, Parkus SM, Wright AE. Recent progress in understanding the genomic architecture of sexual conflict. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 80:102047. [PMID: 37163877 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Genomic conflict between the sexes over shared traits is widely assumed to be resolved through the evolution of sex-biased expression and the subsequent emergence of sexually dimorphic phenotypes. However, while there is support for a broad relationship between genome-wide patterns of expression level and sexual conflict, recent studies suggest that sex differences in the nature and strength of interactions between loci are instead key to conflict resolution. Furthermore, the advent of new technologies for measuring and perturbing expression means we now have much more power to detect genomic signatures of sexual conflict. Here, we review our current understanding of the genomic architecture of sexual conflict in the light of these new studies and highlight the potential for novel approaches to address outstanding knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter D Price
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. https://twitter.com/@PeterDPrice
| | - Sylvie M Parkus
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Alison E Wright
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom.
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10
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Chen P, Aravin AA. Genetic control of a sex-specific piRNA program. Curr Biol 2023; 33:1825-1835.e3. [PMID: 37059098 PMCID: PMC10431932 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Sexually dimorphic traits in morphologies are widely studied,1,2,3,4 but those in essential molecular pathways remain largely unexplored. Previous work showed substantial sex differences in Drosophila gonadal piRNAs,5 which guide PIWI proteins to silence selfish genetic elements, thereby safeguarding fertility.6,7,8 However, the genetic control mechanisms of piRNA sexual dimorphism remain unknown. Here, we showed that most sex differences in the piRNA program originate from the germ line rather than the gonadal somatic cells. Building on this, we dissected the contribution of sex chromosomes and cellular sexual identity toward the sex-specific germline piRNA program. We found that the presence of the Y chromosome is sufficient to recapitulate some aspects of the male piRNA program in a female cellular environment. Meanwhile, sexual identity controls the sexually divergent piRNA production from X-linked and autosomal loci, revealing a crucial input from sex determination into piRNA biogenesis. Sexual identity regulates piRNA biogenesis through Sxl, and this effect is mediated, in part, through chromatin proteins Phf7 and Kipferl. Together, our work delineated the genetic control of a sex-specific piRNA program, where sex chromosomes and sexual identity collectively sculpt an essential molecular trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiwei Chen
- California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| | - Alexei A Aravin
- California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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11
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Balasooriya GI, Spector DL. Allele pairing at Sun1-enriched domains at the nuclear periphery via T1A3 tandem DNA repeats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.07.536031. [PMID: 37066204 PMCID: PMC10104147 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.07.536031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal gene regulation is fundamental to the biology of diploid cells. Therefore, effective communication between two alleles and their geometry in the nucleus is important. However, the mechanism that fine-tunes the expression from each of the two alleles of an autosome is enigmatic. Establishing an allele-specific gene expression visualization system in living cells, we show that alleles of biallelically expressed Cth and Ttc4 genes are paired prior to acquiring monoallelic expression. We found that active alleles of monoallelic genes are preferentially localized at Sun1-enriched domains at the nuclear periphery. These peripherally localized active DNA loci are enriched with adenine-thymidine-rich tandem repeats that interact with Hnrnpd and reside in a Hi-C-defined A compartment within the B compartment. Our results demonstrate the biological significance of T 1 A 3 tandem repeat sequences in genome organization and how the regulation of gene expression, at the level of individual alleles, relates to their spatial arrangement.
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12
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Urban EA, Chernoff C, Layng KV, Han J, Anderson C, Konzman D, Johnston RJ. Activating and repressing gene expression between chromosomes during stochastic fate specification. Cell Rep 2023; 42:111910. [PMID: 36640351 PMCID: PMC9976292 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA elements act across long genomic distances to regulate gene expression. During transvection in Drosophila, DNA elements on one allele of a gene act between chromosomes to regulate expression of the other allele. Little is known about the biological roles and developmental regulation of transvection. Here, we study the stochastic expression of spineless (ss) in photoreceptors in the fly eye to understand transvection. We determine a biological role for transvection in regulating expression of naturally occurring ss alleles. We identify DNA elements required for activating and repressing transvection. Different enhancers participate in transvection at different times during development to promote gene expression and specify cell fates. Bringing a silencer element on a heterologous chromosome into proximity with the ss locus "reconstitutes" the gene, leading to repression. Our studies show that transvection regulates gene expression via distinct DNA elements at specific timepoints in development, with implications for genome organization and architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Urban
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Chaim Chernoff
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA,Present address: Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Kayla Viets Layng
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Jeong Han
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Caitlin Anderson
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Daniel Konzman
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Robert J. Johnston
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA,Lead contact,Correspondence:
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13
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Homologous chromosomes are stably conjoined for Drosophila male meiosis I by SUM, a multimerized protein assembly with modules for DNA-binding and for separase-mediated dissociation co-opted from cohesin. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010547. [DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
For meiosis I, homologous chromosomes must be paired into bivalents. Maintenance of homolog conjunction in bivalents until anaphase I depends on crossovers in canonical meiosis. However, instead of crossovers, an alternative system achieves homolog conjunction during the achiasmate male meiosis of Drosophila melanogaster. The proteins SNM, UNO and MNM are likely constituents of a physical linkage that conjoins homologs in D. melanogaster spermatocytes. Here, we report that SNM binds tightly to the C-terminal region of UNO. This interaction is homologous to that of the cohesin subunits stromalin/Scc3/STAG and α-kleisin, as revealed by sequence similarities, structure modeling and cross-link mass spectrometry. Importantly, purified SU_C, the heterodimeric complex of SNM and the C-terminal region of UNO, displayed DNA-binding in vitro. DNA-binding was severely impaired by mutational elimination of positively charged residues from the C-terminal helix of UNO. Phenotypic analyses in flies fully confirmed the physiological relevance of this basic helix for chromosome-binding and homolog conjunction during male meiosis. Beyond DNA, SU_C also bound MNM, one of many isoforms expressed from the complex mod(mdg4) locus. This binding of MNM to SU_C was mediated by the MNM-specific C-terminal region, while the purified N-terminal part common to all Mod(mdg4) isoforms multimerized into hexamers in vitro. Similarly, the UNO N-terminal domain formed tetramers in vitro. Thus, we suggest that multimerization confers to SUM, the assemblies composed of SNM, UNO and MNM, the capacity to conjoin homologous chromosomes stably by the resultant multivalent DNA-binding. Moreover, to permit homolog separation during anaphase I, SUM is dissociated by separase, since UNO, the α-kleisin-related protein, includes a separase cleavage site. In support of this proposal, we demonstrate that UNO cleavage by tobacco etch virus protease is sufficient to release homolog conjunction in vivo after mutational exchange of the separase cleavage site with that of the bio-orthogonal protease.
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14
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Fleck K, Raj R, Erceg J. The 3D genome landscape: Diverse chromosomal interactions and their functional implications. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:968145. [PMID: 36036013 PMCID: PMC9402908 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.968145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome organization includes contacts both within a single chromosome and between distinct chromosomes. Thus, regulatory organization in the nucleus may include interplay of these two types of chromosomal interactions with genome activity. Emerging advances in omics and single-cell imaging technologies have allowed new insights into chromosomal contacts, including those of homologs and sister chromatids, and their significance to genome function. In this review, we highlight recent studies in this field and discuss their impact on understanding the principles of chromosome organization and associated functional implications in diverse cellular processes. Specifically, we describe the contributions of intra-chromosomal, inter-homolog, and inter-sister chromatid contacts to genome organization and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Fleck
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Romir Raj
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Jelena Erceg
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States
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15
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Galouzis CC, Prud’homme B. Relevance and mechanisms of transvection. C R Biol 2021; 344:373-387. [DOI: 10.5802/crbiol.69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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16
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Mank JE, Rideout EJ. Developmental mechanisms of sex differences: from cells to organisms. Development 2021; 148:272484. [PMID: 34647574 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Male-female differences in many developmental mechanisms lead to the formation of two morphologically and physiologically distinct sexes. Although this is expected for traits with prominent differences between the sexes, such as the gonads, sex-specific processes also contribute to traits without obvious male-female differences, such as the intestine. Here, we review sex differences in developmental mechanisms that operate at several levels of biological complexity - molecular, cellular, organ and organismal - and discuss how these differences influence organ formation, function and whole-body physiology. Together, the examples we highlight show that one simple way to gain a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of animal development is to include both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith E Mank
- Department of Zoology, Biodiversity Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.,Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Elizabeth J Rideout
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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17
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van der Bijl W, Mank JE. Widespread cryptic variation in genetic architecture between the sexes. Evol Lett 2021; 5:359-369. [PMID: 34367661 PMCID: PMC8327960 DOI: 10.1002/evl3.245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of the genome is shared between the sexes, and it is expected that the genetic architecture of most traits is shared as well. This common architecture has been viewed as a major source of constraint on the evolution of sexual dimorphism (SD). SD is nonetheless common in nature, leading to assumptions that it results from differential regulation of shared genetic architecture. Here, we study the effect of thousands of gene knockout mutations on 202 mouse phenotypes to explore how regulatory variation affects SD. We show that many traits are dimorphic to some extent, and that a surprising proportion of knockouts have sex-specific phenotypic effects. Many traits, regardless whether they are monomorphic or dimorphic, harbor cryptic differences in genetic architecture between the sexes, resulting in sexually discordant phenotypic effects from sexually concordant regulatory changes. This provides an alternative route to dimorphism through sex-specific genetic architecture, rather than differential regulation of shared architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter van der Bijl
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Biodiversity Research CentreUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
| | - Judith E. Mank
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Biodiversity Research CentreUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- BiosciencesUniversity of ExeterPenryn CampusPenrynTR10 9FEUK
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18
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Sánchez-Ramírez S, Weiss JG, Thomas CG, Cutter AD. Widespread misregulation of inter-species hybrid transcriptomes due to sex-specific and sex-chromosome regulatory evolution. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009409. [PMID: 33667233 PMCID: PMC7968742 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
When gene regulatory networks diverge between species, their dysfunctional expression in inter-species hybrid individuals can create genetic incompatibilities that generate the developmental defects responsible for intrinsic post-zygotic reproductive isolation. Both cis- and trans-acting regulatory divergence can be hastened by directional selection through adaptation, sexual selection, and inter-sexual conflict, in addition to cryptic evolution under stabilizing selection. Dysfunctional sex-biased gene expression, in particular, may provide an important source of sexually-dimorphic genetic incompatibilities. Here, we characterize and compare male and female/hermaphrodite transcriptome profiles for sibling nematode species Caenorhabditis briggsae and C. nigoni, along with allele-specific expression in their F1 hybrids, to deconvolve features of expression divergence and regulatory dysfunction. Despite evidence of widespread stabilizing selection on gene expression, misexpression of sex-biased genes pervades F1 hybrids of both sexes. This finding implicates greater fragility of male genetic networks to produce dysfunctional organismal phenotypes. Spermatogenesis genes are especially prone to high divergence in both expression and coding sequences, consistent with a "faster male" model for Haldane's rule and elevated sterility of hybrid males. Moreover, underdominant expression pervades male-biased genes compared to female-biased and sex-neutral genes and an excess of cis-trans compensatory regulatory divergence for X-linked genes underscores a "large-X effect" for hybrid male expression dysfunction. Extensive regulatory divergence in sex determination pathway genes likely contributes to demasculinization of XX hybrids. The evolution of genetic incompatibilities due to regulatory versus coding sequence divergence, however, are expected to arise in an uncorrelated fashion. This study identifies important differences between the sexes in how regulatory networks diverge to contribute to sex-biases in how genetic incompatibilities manifest during the speciation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Sánchez-Ramírez
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- * E-mail: (SSR); (ADC)
| | - Jörg G. Weiss
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Cristel G. Thomas
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Asher D. Cutter
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- * E-mail: (SSR); (ADC)
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19
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Galouzis CC, Prud'homme B. Transvection regulates the sex-biased expression of a fly X-linked gene. Science 2021; 371:396-400. [PMID: 33479152 DOI: 10.1126/science.abc2745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in animals results from sex-biased gene expression patterns. These patterns are controlled by genetic sex determination hierarchies that establish the sex of an individual. Here we show that the male-biased wing expression pattern of the Drosophila biarmipes gene yellow, located on the X chromosome, is independent of the fly sex determination hierarchy. Instead, we find that a regulatory interaction between yellow alleles on homologous chromosomes (a process known as transvection) silences the activity of a yellow enhancer functioning in the wing. Therefore, this enhancer can be active in males (XY) but not in females (XX). This transvection-dependent enhancer silencing requires the yellow intron and the chromatin architecture protein Mod(mdg4). Our results suggest that transvection can contribute more generally to the sex-biased expression of X-linked genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charalampos Chrysovalantis Galouzis
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille (IBDM), Campus de Luminy Case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 9, France
| | - Benjamin Prud'homme
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille (IBDM), Campus de Luminy Case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 9, France.
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