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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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Akashi H, Hasui D, Ueda K, Ishikawa M, Takeda M, Miyagawa S. Understanding the role of environmental temperature on sex determination through comparative studies in reptiles and amphibians. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 341:48-59. [PMID: 37905472 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2760] [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: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
In vertebrates, species exhibit phenotypic plasticity of sex determination that the sex can plastically be determined by the external environmental temperature through a mechanism, temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Temperature exerts influence over the direction of sexual differentiation pathways, resulting in distinct primary sex ratios in a temperature-dependent manner. This review provides a summary of the thermal sensitivities associated with sex determination in reptiles and amphibians, with a focus on the pattern of TSD, gonadal differentiation, temperature sensing, and the molecular basis underlying thermal sensitivity in sex determination. Comparative studies across diverse lineages offer valuable insights into comprehending the evolution of sex determination as a phenotypic plasticity. While evidence of molecular mechanisms governing sexual differentiation pathways continues to accumulate, the intracellular signaling linking temperature sensing and sexual differentiation pathways remains elusive. We emphasize that uncovering these links is a key for understanding species-specific thermal sensitivities in TSD and will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of ecosystem and biodiversity conservations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Akashi
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daiki Hasui
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kai Ueda
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Momoka Ishikawa
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Shinichi Miyagawa
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
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Luo H, Zhang Y, Liu F, Zhao Y, Peng J, Xu Y, Chen X, Huang Y, Ji C, Liu Q, He P, Feng P, Yang C, Wei P, Ma Z, Qin J, Zhou S, Dai S, Zhang Y, Zhao Z, Liu H, Zheng H, Zhang J, Lin Y, Chen X. The male and female genomes of golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) provide insights into the sex chromosome evolution and rapid growth. J Adv Res 2023:S2090-1232(23)00369-7. [PMID: 38043610 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) is economically significant important for offshore cage aquaculture in China and Southeast Asian countries. Lack of high-quality genomic data and accurate gene annotations greatly restricts its genetic breeding progress. OBJECTIVES To decode the mechanisms of sex determination and rapid growth in golden pompano and facilitate the sex- and growth-aimed genetic breeding. METHODS Genome assemblies of male and female golden pompano were generated using Illumina, PacBio, BioNano, genetic maps and Hi-C sequencing data. Genomic comparisons, whole genome re-sequencing of 202 F1 individuals, QTL mapping and gonadal transcriptomes were used to analyze the sex determining region, sex chromosome evolution, SNP loci, and growth candidate genes. Zebrafish model was used to investigate the functions of growth candidate gene. RESULTS Female (644.45 Mb) and male (652.12 Mb) genomes of golden pompano were assembled and annotated at the chromosome level. Both genomes are highly conserved and no new or highly differentiated sex chromosomes occur. A 3.5 Mb sex determining region on LG15 was identified, where Hsd17b1, Micall2 and Lmx1a were putative candidates for sex determination. Three SNP loci significantly linked to growth were pinpointed, and a growth-linked gene gpsstr1 was identified by locus BSNP1369 (G→C, 17489695, Chr23). Loss of sstr1a (homologue of gpsstr1) in zebrafish caused growth retardation. CONCLUSION This study provides insights into sex chromosome evolution, sex determination and rapid growth of golden pompano.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglin Luo
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China; Institute of Oncology, Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China
| | - Yongde Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Fuyan Liu
- Biomarker Technologies, Beijing, 101300, China; BGI-Beijing, Beijing, 102601, China
| | - Yongzhen Zhao
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Jinxia Peng
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Yuhui Xu
- Biomarker Technologies, Beijing, 101300, China
| | - Xiuli Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Yin Huang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China
| | | | - Qingyun Liu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Pingping He
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Pengfei Feng
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Chunling Yang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Pinyuan Wei
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Zhenhua Ma
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China
| | - Jianguang Qin
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
| | - Shengjie Zhou
- Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya, 572018, China
| | - Shiming Dai
- Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya, 572018, China
| | - Yaoyao Zhang
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Zhongquan Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | | | - Hongkun Zheng
- Biomarker Technologies, Beijing, 101300, China; Institute of Oncology, Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China.
| | - Jisen Zhang
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China; State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Biological Resources & Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.
| | - Yong Lin
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China.
| | - Xiaohan Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China.
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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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Chu Z, Wang Z, Zheng Y, Xia Y, Guo X. Sex-Linked Loci on the W Chromosome in the Multi-Ocellated Racerunner ( Eremias multiocellata) Confirm Genetic Sex-Determination Stability in Lacertid Lizards. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2180. [PMID: 37443978 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The multi-ocellated racerunner, Eremias multiocellata, was considered to have temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), as its sex ratio can be influenced at different temperatures. However, such an observation contrasts with recent findings that suggest TSD is less common than previously thought. Here, a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach was employed to identify sex-linked markers in the E. multiocellata, for which the mechanism choice of TSD or GSD is still controversial. We preliminarily identified 119 sex-linked markers based on sex-associated sex-specific sequences, 97% of which indicated female heterogamety. After eliminating the false positives, 38 sex-linked markers were recognized, all of which showed the ZW/ZZ system. Then, eight of the novel markers were verified by PCR amplification from 15 populations of E. multiocellata, which support the GSD in E. multiocellata without geographic variation. To test the conservation of sex chromosome in Eremias, the eight markers were further cross-tested by PCR amplification in 10 individuals of the Mongolian racerunner (Eremias argus), two of which exhibited cross-utility. The novel sex-linked markers could be mapped on the W chromosome of the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis). Our finding that the sex-linked markers are shared in closely related species, along with a conserved synteny of the W chromosome, further supports the homology and conservation of sex chromosomes in the lacertid lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangqing Chu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ziwen Wang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuchi Zheng
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yun Xia
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xianguang Guo
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
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Nemesházi E, Bókony V. HerpSexDet: the herpetological database of sex determination and sex reversal. Sci Data 2023; 10:377. [PMID: 37311775 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02268-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildlife exhibits various sex-determination systems where sex chromosomes and environmental temperatures may both contribute to individual sexual development. The causes and consequences of this variability are important questions for evolutionary ecology, especially in light of ongoing environmental change. Amphibians and reptiles are emerging as a key group for studying these questions, with new data accumulating acceleratingly. We collected empirical data from earlier databases, reviews and primary literature to create the most up-to-date database on herpetological sex determination. We named our database HerpSexDet, which currently features data on genetic and temperature-dependent sex determination as well as reports on sex reversal for a total of 192 amphibian and 697 reptile species. This dataset, which we will regularly update in the future, facilitates interspecific comparative studies on the evolution of sex determination and its consequences for species-specific traits such as life history and conservation status, and may also help guiding future research by identifying species or higher taxa that are potentially most enlightening for the study of environmentally driven sex reversal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edina Nemesházi
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstr. 1a, A-1160, Vienna, Austria.
- Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Hungária Krt. 21, H-1143, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó u. 15, H-1022, Budapest, Hungary.
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Müller S, Du K, Guiguen Y, Pichler M, Nakagawa S, Stöck M, Schartl M, Lamatsch DK. Massive expansion of sex-specific SNPs, transposon-related elements, and neocentromere formation shape the young W-chromosome from the mosquitofish Gambusia affinis. BMC Biol 2023; 21:109. [PMID: 37189152 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01607-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, is a model for sex chromosome organization and evolution of female heterogamety. We previously identified a G. affinis female-specific marker, orthologous to the aminomethyl transferase (amt) gene of the related platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus). Here, we have analyzed the structure and differentiation of the G. affinis W-chromosome, using a cytogenomics and bioinformatics approach. RESULTS The long arm of the G. affinis W-chromosome (Wq) is highly enriched in dispersed repetitive sequences, but neither heterochromatic nor epigenetically silenced by hypermethylation. In line with this, Wq sequences are highly transcribed, including an active nucleolus organizing region (NOR). Female-specific SNPs and evolutionary young transposable elements were highly enriched and dispersed along the W-chromosome long arm, suggesting constrained recombination. Wq copy number expanded elements also include female-specific transcribed sequences from the amt locus with homology to TE. Collectively, the G. affinis W-chromosome is actively differentiating by sex-specific copy number expansion of transcribed TE-related elements, but not (yet) by extensive sequence divergence or gene decay. CONCLUSIONS The G. affinis W-chromosome exhibits characteristic genomic properties of an evolutionary young sex chromosome. Strikingly, the observed sex-specific changes in the genomic landscape are confined to the W long arm, which is separated from the rest of the W-chromosome by a neocentromere acquired during sex chromosome evolution and may thus have become functionally insulated. In contrast, W short arm sequences were apparently shielded from repeat-driven differentiation, retained Z-chromosome like genomic features, and may have preserved pseudo-autosomal properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Müller
- Institute of Human Genetics, Munich University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
| | - Kang Du
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA
| | | | - Maria Pichler
- Universität Innsbruck, Research Department for Limnology, Mondsee, Mondsee, Austria
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthias Stöck
- Leibniz-Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Department of Ecophysiology and Aquaculture, Berlin, Germany
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima, 739-8526, Japan
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA
- Developmental Biochemistry, University of Würzburg, BiozentrumWürzburg, Germany
| | - Dunja K Lamatsch
- Universität Innsbruck, Research Department for Limnology, Mondsee, Mondsee, Austria.
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Wagner S, Whiteley SL, Castelli M, Patel HR, Deveson IW, Blackburn J, Holleley CE, Marshall Graves JA, Georges A. Gene expression of male pathway genes sox9 and amh during early sex differentiation in a reptile departs from the classical amniote model. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:243. [PMID: 37147622 PMCID: PMC10163765 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09334-0] [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: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex determination is the process whereby the bipotential embryonic gonads become committed to differentiate into testes or ovaries. In genetic sex determination (GSD), the sex determining trigger is encoded by a gene on the sex chromosomes, which activates a network of downstream genes; in mammals these include SOX9, AMH and DMRT1 in the male pathway, and FOXL2 in the female pathway. Although mammalian and avian GSD systems have been well studied, few data are available for reptilian GSD systems. RESULTS We conducted an unbiased transcriptome-wide analysis of gonad development throughout differentiation in central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) embryos with GSD. We found that sex differentiation of transcriptomic profiles occurs at a very early stage, before the gonad consolidates as a body distinct from the gonad-kidney complex. The male pathway genes dmrt1 and amh and the female pathway gene foxl2 play a key role in early sex differentiation in P. vitticeps, but the central player of the mammalian male trajectory, sox9, is not differentially expressed in P. vitticeps at the bipotential stage. The most striking difference from GSD systems of other amniotes is the high expression of the male pathway genes amh and sox9 in female gonads during development. We propose that a default male trajectory progresses if not repressed by a W-linked dominant gene that tips the balance of gene expression towards the female trajectory. Further, weighted gene expression correlation network analysis revealed novel candidates for male and female sex differentiation. CONCLUSION Our data reveal that interpretation of putative mechanisms of GSD in reptiles cannot solely depend on lessons drawn from mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Wagner
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
| | - Sarah L Whiteley
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
- Australian National Wildlife Collection CSIRO, National Research Collections Australia, Crace, ACT, Australia
| | - Meghan Castelli
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
- Australian National Wildlife Collection CSIRO, National Research Collections Australia, Crace, ACT, Australia
| | - Hardip R Patel
- Genome Sciences Department. John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Ira W Deveson
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - James Blackburn
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Clare E Holleley
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
- Australian National Wildlife Collection CSIRO, National Research Collections Australia, Crace, ACT, Australia
| | - Jennifer A Marshall Graves
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Arthur Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia.
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Sex-linked markers in an Australian frog Platyplectrum ornatum (Limnodynastidae) with a small genome and homomorphic sex chromosomes. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20934. [PMID: 36463309 PMCID: PMC9719524 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25105-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphibians have highly diverse sex-determining modes leading to a notable interest in vertebrate sex determination and sex chromosome evolution. The identification of sex-determining systems in amphibians, however, is often difficult as a vast majority consist of homomorphic sex chromosomes making them hard to distinguish. In this study, we used Diversity Array Technology sequencing (DArTseq) to identify the sex-determining system in the ornate burrowing frog from Australia, Platyplectrum ornatum. We applied DArTseq to 44 individuals, 19 males and 25 females, collected from two locations to develop sex-linked markers. Unexpectedly, these 44 individuals were classified into two distinct population clusters based on our SNP analyses, 36 individuals in cluster 1, and 8 individuals in cluster 2. We then performed sex-linkage analyses separately in each cluster. We identified 35 sex-linked markers from cluster 1, which were all associated with maleness. Therefore, P. ornatum cluster 1 is utilising a male heterogametic (XX/XY) sex-determining system. On the other hand, we identified 210 sex-linked markers from cluster 2, of which 89 were male specific, i.e., identifying XX/XY sex determining system and 111 were female specific, i.e., identifying ZZ/ZW sex determining system, suggesting existence of either male or female heterogametic sex determining system in cluster 2. We also performed cytogenetic analyses in 1 male and 1 female from cluster 1; however, we did not detect any visible differentiation between the X and Y sex chromosomes. We also mapped sex-linked markers from the two clusters against the P. ornatum genome and our comparative analysis indicated that the sex chromosomes in both clusters shared homologies to chromosome 10 (autosome) of Rana temporaria and ZWY sex chromosome of Xenopus tropicalis. Our preliminary data suggest that it is plausible that the cluster 2 has a potential to be either male or female heterogamety in sex determination, requiring further investigation.
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Goikoetxea A, Servili A, Houdelet C, Mouchel O, Hermet S, Clota F, Aerts J, Fernandino JI, Allal F, Vandeputte M, Blondeau-Bidet E, Geffroy B. Natural cortisol production is not linked to the sexual fate of European sea bass. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2022; 48:1117-1135. [PMID: 35917042 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-022-01104-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between cortisol and the determination of sexual fate in the commercially important European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). To test our hypothesis, we designed two temperature-based experiments (19 ℃, 21 ℃ and 23 ℃, experiment 1; 16 ℃ and 21 ℃, experiment 2) to assess the effects of these thermal treatments on European sea bass sex determination and differentiation. In the fish from the first experiment, we evaluated whether blood cortisol levels and expression of stress key regulatory genes were different between differentiating (149 to 183 dph) males and females. In the second experiment, we assessed whether cortisol accumulated in scales over time during the labile period for sex determination as well as the neuroanatomical localisation of brain cells expressing brain aromatase (cyp19a1b) and corticotropin-releasing factor (crf) differed between males and females undergoing molecular sex differentiation (117 to 124 dph). None of the gathered results allowed to detect differences between males and females regarding cortisol production and regulatory mechanisms. Altogether, our data provide strong physiological, molecular and histochemical evidence, indicating that in vivo cortisol regulation has no major effects on the sex of European sea bass.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arianna Servili
- Ifremer, IFREMER, Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, 29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Camille Houdelet
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - Olivier Mouchel
- Ifremer, IFREMER, Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, 29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Sophie Hermet
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Fréderic Clota
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Johan Aerts
- Stress Physiology Research Group, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ostend, Belgium
| | | | - François Allal
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - Marc Vandeputte
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Benjamin Geffroy
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
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11
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Katsumi T, Shams F, Yanagi H, Ohnishi T, Toda M, Lin SM, Mawaribuchi S, Shimizu N, Ezaz T, Miura I. Highly rapid and diverse sex chromosome evolution in the Odorrana frog species complex. Dev Growth Differ 2022; 64:279-289. [PMID: 35881001 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12800] [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: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Sex chromosomes in poikilothermal vertebrates are characterized by rapid and diverse evolution at the species or population level. Our previous study revealed that the Taiwanese frog Odorrana swinhoana (2n = 26) has a unique system of multiple sex chromosomes created by three sequential translocations among chromosomes 1, 3, and 7. To reveal the evolutionary history of sex chromosomes in the Odorrana species complex, we first identified the original, homomorphic sex chromosomes, prior to the occurrence of translocations, in the ancestral-type population of O. swinhoana. Then, we extended the investigation to a closely related Japanese species, Odorrana utsunomiyaorum, which is distributed on two small islands. We used a high-throughput nuclear genomic approach to analyze single-nucleotide polymorphisms and identify the sex-linked markers. Those isolated from the O. swinhoana ancestral-type population were found to be aligned to chromosome 1 and showed male heterogamety. In contrast, almost all the sex-linked markers isolated from O. utsunomiyaorum were heterozygous in females and homozygous in males and were aligned to chromosome 9. Morphologically, we confirmed chromosome 9 to be heteromorphic in females, showing a ZZ-ZW sex determination system, in which the W chromosomes were heterochromatinized in a stripe pattern along the chromosome axis. These results indicated that after divergence of the two species, the ancestral homomorphic sex chromosome 1 underwent highly rapid and diverse evolution, i.e., sequential translocations with two autosomes in O. swinhoana, and turnover to chromosome 9 in O. utsunomiyaorum, with a transition from XY to ZW heterogamety and change to heteromorphy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taito Katsumi
- School of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Foyez Shams
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Australia
| | - Hiroaki Yanagi
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Mamoru Toda
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Si-Min Lin
- School of Life Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shuuji Mawaribuchi
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Norio Shimizu
- Hiroshima University Museum, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Australia
| | - Ikuo Miura
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Australia.,Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
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12
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A Potential Role of the Translation Elongation Factor eef1a1 in Gonadal High-Temperature Perception in Chinese Tongue Sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12131603. [PMID: 35804501 PMCID: PMC9265046 DOI: 10.3390/ani12131603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The eukaryotic elongation factor 1 alpha (eef1a) gene is vital for protein translation by delivering aminoacylated tRNAs to the A/P site of the ribosome via the GTP-dependent reaction. Here, the Chinese tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) eef1a1 gene was identified, and its potential role in gonadal high-temperature perception was assessed. The full-length sequence of eef1a1 cDNA was 1809 base pair (bp) encoding a putative protein of 461 amino acids. The expression levels of eef1a1 in the ovary were significantly higher than that in the testis from 6 mpf to 3 ypf. Under high-temperature induction during sex differentiation, eef1a1 was significantly down-regulated in males, while the difference was not detected in females. Furthermore, the rapid response of eef1a1 to environmental high temperature was assessed in vitro. Our findings suggest that C. semilaevis eef1a1 might be essential for the molecular response regulatory network of external temperature affecting internal sex differentiation. Abstract The eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha (eef1a) gene has a well-defined role in protein synthesis. However, its role in external temperature perception and internal sex differentiation and development is still unclear. In this study, eef1a1 was identified and functionally analyzed in Chinese tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). The eef1a1 cDNA, 1809 bp in length, had a 1386 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encoded a 461 amino acid polypeptide containing one EF-1_alpha domain. eef1a1 expression levels were investigated across different tissues and during gonadal development. In the gonad, eef1a1 showed a sexually dimorphic expression pattern with a statistically higher expression level in the ovary than in the testis from 6 months postfertilization to 3 years postfertilization. Under high temperature (28 °C) treatment during C. semilaevis sex differentiation (from 30 days postfertilization to 3 months postfertilization), eef1a1 was statistically down-regulated in males, while the difference was not detected in females. In addition, the dual-luciferase assay exhibited that eef1a1 can respond to high temperature rapidly. Based on these results, C. semilaevis eef1a1 might have a dual role in the perception of external temperature changes and sex differentiation regulation.
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13
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Hill P, While GM, Burridge CP, Ezaz T, Munch KL, McVarish M, Wapstra E. Sex reversal explains some, but not all, climate-mediated sex ratio variation within a viviparous reptile. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220689. [PMID: 35642367 PMCID: PMC9156933 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary transitions in sex-determining systems have occurred frequently yet understanding how they occur remains a major challenge. In reptiles, transitions from genetic to temperature-dependent sex determination can occur if the gene products that determine sex evolve thermal sensitivity, resulting in sex-reversed individuals. However, evidence of sex reversal is limited to oviparous reptiles. Here we used thermal experiments to test whether sex reversal is responsible for differences in sex determination in a viviparous reptile, Carinascincus ocellatus, a species with XY sex chromosomes and population-specific sex ratio response to temperature. We show that sex reversal is occurring and that its frequency is related to temperature. Sex reversal was unidirectional (phenotypic males with XX genotype) and observed in both high- and low-elevation populations. We propose that XX-biased genotypic sex ratios could produce either male- or female-biased phenotypic sex ratios as observed in low-elevation C. ocellatus under variable rates of XX sex reversal. We discuss reasons why sex reversal may not influence sex ratios at high elevation. Our results suggest that the mechanism responsible for evolutionary transitions from genotypic to temperature-dependent sex determination is more complex than can be explained by a single process such as sex reversal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peta Hill
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Geoffrey M While
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Christopher P Burridge
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Kirke L Munch
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Mary McVarish
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Erik Wapstra
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
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14
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Lei L, Chen C, Zhu J, Wang Y, Liu X, Liu H, Geng L, Su J, Li W, Zhu X. Transcriptome analysis reveals key genes and pathways related to sex differentiation in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2022; 42:100986. [PMID: 35447559 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2022.100986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Most vertebrates exhibit sexual dimorphisms in size, colour, behaviour, physiology and many others. The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) male individuals reach a larger size than females which produce significant economic implications in aquaculture. However, the mechanisms of sex determination and plastic patterns of sex differentiation in P. sinensis remain unclear. Here, comparative transcriptome analysis on male and female embryonic gonads prior to gonad formation and stages mediated gonadal differentiation of P. sinensis were performed to characterize the potential sex-related genes and their molecular pathways in P. sinensis. A total of 6369 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from day 9 and day 16 and assigned to 626 GO pathways and 161 KEGG signalling pathways, including ovarian steroidogenesis pathway, steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways, and the GnRH signalling pathway (P < 0.05). Moreover, protein interaction network analyses revealed that Akr1c3, Sult2b1, Sts, Cyp3a, Cyp1b1, Sox30 and Lhx9 might be key candidate genes for sex differentiation in P. sinensis. These data provide a genomic rationale for the sex differentiation of P. sinensis and enrich the candidate gene pool for sex differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luo Lei
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214081, PR China; Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Chen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Junxian Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Yakun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Haiyang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Lulu Geng
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214081, PR China
| | - Junyu Su
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Wei Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China.
| | - Xinping Zhu
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214081, PR China; Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China.
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15
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Nemesházi E, Bókony V. Asymmetrical sex reversal: Does the type of heterogamety predict propensity for sex reversal? Bioessays 2022; 44:e2200039. [PMID: 35543235 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200039] [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: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Sex reversal, a mismatch between phenotypic and genetic sex, can be induced by chemical and thermal insults in ectotherms. Therefore, climate change and environmental pollution may increase sex-reversal frequency in wild populations, with wide-ranging implications for sex ratios, population dynamics, and the evolution of sex determination. We propose that reconsidering the half-century old theory "Witschi's rule" should facilitate understanding the differences between species in sex-reversal propensity and thereby predicting their vulnerability to anthropogenic environmental change. The idea is that sex reversal should be asymmetrical: more likely to occur in the homogametic sex, assuming that sex-reversed heterogametic individuals would produce new genotypes with reduced fitness. A review of the existing evidence shows that while sex reversal can be induced in both homogametic and heterogametic individuals, the latter seem to require stronger stimuli in several cases. We provide guidelines for future studies on sex reversal to facilitate data comparability and reliability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edina Nemesházi
- Conservation Genetics Research Group, Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Conservation Genetics Research Group, Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.,Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
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16
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Polygenic sex determination produces modular sex polymorphism in an African cichlid fish. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2118574119. [PMID: 35357968 PMCID: PMC9168840 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2118574119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
SignificanceSex differences in traits can occur when those traits are modified by genetic factors inherited on sex chromosomes. We investigated how sex differences emerge in a species with more than one set of sex chromosomes, measuring a variety of morphological, physiological, and behavioral traits. Rather than exhibiting sexual dimorphism associated with primary sex, the species has higher-order sexual polymorphism in secondary sexual characteristics or more than two phenotypic sexes. Variation in secondary sexual characteristics is modular, involving the interplay of sex-linked and sex-limited traits. Our findings provide implications for how sex determination systems and whole-organism fitness traits coevolve, including that significant creation or loss of variation in diverse traits can occur during transitions among sex chromosome systems.
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17
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Bouffet-Halle A, Yang W, Gardner MG, Whiting MJ, Wapstra E, Uller T, While GM. Characterisation and cross-amplification of sex-specific genetic markers in Australasian Egerniinae lizards and their implications for understanding the evolution of sex determination and social complexity. AUST J ZOOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1071/zo21023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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18
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Holborn MK, Einfeldt AL, Kess T, Duffy SJ, Messmer AM, Langille BL, Gauthier J, Bentzen P, Knutsen TM, Kent M, Boyce D, Bradbury IR. Reference genome of Lumpfish Cyclopterus lumpus Linnaeus provides evidence of male heterogametic sex determination through the AMH pathway. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:1427-1439. [PMID: 34859595 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Teleosts exhibit extensive diversity of sex determination (SD) systems and mechanisms, providing the opportunity to study the evolution of sex determination and sex chromosomes. Here we sequenced the genome of the Common Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus Linnaeus), a species of increasing importance to aquaculture, and identified the SD region and master SD locus using a 70K SNP array and tissue-specific expression data. The chromosome-level assembly identified 25 diploid chromosomes with a total size of 572.89 Mb, a scaffold N50 of 23.86 Mb, and genome annotation predicted 21,480 protein-coding genes. Genome wide association analysis located a highly sex-associated region on chromosome 13, suggesting that anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is the putative SD factor. Linkage disequilibrium and heterozygosity across chromosome 13 support a proto-XX/XY system, with an absence of widespread chromosome divergence between sexes. We identified three copies of AMH in the Lumpfish primary and alternate haplotype assemblies localized in the SD region. Comparison to sequences from other teleosts suggested a monophyletic relationship and conservation within the Cottioidei. One AMH copy showed similarity to AMH/AMHY in a related species and was also the only copy with expression in testis tissue, suggesting this copy may be the functional copy of AMH in Lumpfish. The two other copies arranged in tandem inverted duplication were highly similar, suggesting a recent duplication event. This study provides a resource for the study of early sex chromosome evolution and novel genomic resources that benefits Lumpfish conservation management and aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa K Holborn
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, NL, A1C 5X1, Canada
| | - Anthony L Einfeldt
- Marine Gene Probe Laboratory, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Tony Kess
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, NL, A1C 5X1, Canada
| | - Steve J Duffy
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, NL, A1C 5X1, Canada
| | - Amber M Messmer
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, NL, A1C 5X1, Canada
| | - Barbara L Langille
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, NL, A1C 5X1, Canada
| | - Johanne Gauthier
- Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Mont-Joli, QC, G5H 3Z4, Canada
| | - Paul Bentzen
- Marine Gene Probe Laboratory, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | | | - Matthew Kent
- Centre for Integrative Genetics, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Danny Boyce
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, A1C 5S7, Canada
| | - Ian R Bradbury
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, NL, A1C 5X1, Canada
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19
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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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20
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Kuhl H, Guiguen Y, Höhne C, Kreuz E, Du K, Klopp C, Lopez-Roques C, Yebra-Pimentel ES, Ciorpac M, Gessner J, Holostenco D, Kleiner W, Kohlmann K, Lamatsch DK, Prokopov D, Bestin A, Bonpunt E, Debeuf B, Haffray P, Morvezen R, Patrice P, Suciu R, Dirks R, Wuertz S, Kloas W, Schartl M, Stöck M. A 180 Myr-old female-specific genome region in sturgeon reveals the oldest known vertebrate sex determining system with undifferentiated sex chromosomes. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200089. [PMID: 34247507 PMCID: PMC8273502 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Several hypotheses explain the prevalence of undifferentiated sex chromosomes in poikilothermic vertebrates. Turnovers change the master sex determination gene, the sex chromosome or the sex determination system (e.g. XY to WZ). Jumping master genes stay main triggers but translocate to other chromosomes. Occasional recombination (e.g. in sex-reversed females) prevents sex chromosome degeneration. Recent research has uncovered conserved heteromorphic or even homomorphic sex chromosomes in several clades of non-avian and non-mammalian vertebrates. Sex determination in sturgeons (Acipenseridae) has been a long-standing basic biological question, linked to economical demands by the caviar-producing aquaculture. Here, we report the discovery of a sex-specific sequence from sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus). Using chromosome-scale assemblies and pool-sequencing, we first identified an approximately 16 kb female-specific region. We developed a PCR-genotyping test, yielding female-specific products in six species, spanning the entire phylogeny with the most divergent extant lineages (A. sturio, A. oxyrinchus versus A. ruthenus, Huso huso), stemming from an ancient tetraploidization. Similar results were obtained in two octoploid species (A. gueldenstaedtii, A. baerii). Conservation of a female-specific sequence for a long period, representing 180 Myr of sturgeon evolution, and across at least one polyploidization event, raises many interesting biological questions. We discuss a conserved undifferentiated sex chromosome system with a ZZ/ZW-mode of sex determination and potential alternatives. 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 I)’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiner Kuhl
- Department of Ecophysiology and Aquaculture, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301 and 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Christin Höhne
- Department of Ecophysiology and Aquaculture, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301 and 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva Kreuz
- Department of Ecophysiology and Aquaculture, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301 and 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kang Du
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.,The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - Christophe Klopp
- SIGENAE, Plate-forme Bio-informatique Genotoul, Mathématiques et Informatique Appliquées de Toulouse, INRAe, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | | | | | - Mitica Ciorpac
- Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development, Tulcea 820112, Romania.,Genetic Improvement Laboratory, Research Station for Cattle Breeding Dancu - Iasi (SCDCB Dancu), Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences 'Gheorghe Ionescu-Sisesti', Iasi-Ungheni Street, No. 9, Holboca, Iași county 707252, Romania
| | - Jörn Gessner
- Department of Ecophysiology and Aquaculture, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301 and 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniela Holostenco
- Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development, Tulcea 820112, Romania
| | - Wibke Kleiner
- Department of Ecophysiology and Aquaculture, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301 and 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Kohlmann
- Department of Ecophysiology and Aquaculture, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301 and 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dunja K Lamatsch
- Research Department for Limnology, University of Innsbruck, A-5310 Mondsee, Austria
| | - Dmitry Prokopov
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Anastasia Bestin
- SYSAAF, Station INRAE-LPGP, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
| | | | - Bastien Debeuf
- SCEA Sturgeon, 29 rue du Carillon, 17240 Saint Fort sur Gironde, France
| | - Pierrick Haffray
- SYSAAF, Station INRAE-LPGP, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
| | - Romain Morvezen
- SYSAAF, Station INRAE-LPGP, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
| | - Pierre Patrice
- SYSAAF, Station INRAE-LPGP, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
| | - Radu Suciu
- Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development, Tulcea 820112, Romania
| | - Ron Dirks
- Future Genomics Technologies B.V., Sylviusweg 74, 2333 BD, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sven Wuertz
- Department of Ecophysiology and Aquaculture, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301 and 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Werner Kloas
- Department of Ecophysiology and Aquaculture, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301 and 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.,The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - Matthias Stöck
- Department of Ecophysiology and Aquaculture, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301 and 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
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21
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Piferrer F. Epigenetic mechanisms in sex determination and in the evolutionary transitions between sexual systems. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200110. [PMID: 34247505 PMCID: PMC8273503 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothesis that epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression regulation have two main roles in vertebrate sex is presented. First, and within a given generation, by contributing to the acquisition and maintenance of (i) the male or female function once during the lifetime in individuals of gonochoristic species; and (ii) the male and female function in the same individual, either at the same time in simultaneous hermaphrodites, or first as one sex and then as the other in sequential hermaphrodites. Second, if environmental conditions change, epigenetic mechanisms may have also a role across generations, by providing the necessary phenotypic plasticity to facilitate the transition: (i) from one sexual system to another, or (ii) from one sex-determining mechanism to another. Furthermore, if the environmental change lasts enough time, epimutations could facilitate assimilation into genetic changes that stabilize the new sexual system or sex-determining mechanism. Examples supporting these assertions are presented, caveats or difficulties and knowledge gaps identified, and possible ways to test this hypothesis suggested. 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 I)’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesc Piferrer
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Passeig Marítim, 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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22
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Xue L, Gao Y, Wu M, Tian T, Fan H, Huang Y, Huang Z, Li D, Xu L. Telomere-to-telomere assembly of a fish Y chromosome reveals the origin of a young sex chromosome pair. Genome Biol 2021; 22:203. [PMID: 34253240 PMCID: PMC8273981 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02430-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The origin of sex chromosomes requires the establishment of recombination suppression between the proto-sex chromosomes. In many fish species, the sex chromosome pair is homomorphic with a recent origin, providing species for studying how and why recombination suppression evolved in the initial stages of sex chromosome differentiation, but this requires accurate sequence assembly of the X and Y (or Z and W) chromosomes, which may be difficult if they are recently diverged. RESULTS Here we produce a haplotype-resolved genome assembly of zig-zag eel (Mastacembelus armatus), an aquaculture fish, at the chromosomal scale. The diploid assembly is nearly gap-free, and in most chromosomes, we resolve the centromeric and subtelomeric heterochromatic sequences. In particular, the Y chromosome, including its highly repetitive short arm, has zero gaps. Using resequencing data, we identify a ~7 Mb fully sex-linked region (SLR), spanning the sex chromosome centromere and almost entirely embedded in the pericentromeric heterochromatin. The SLRs on the X and Y chromosomes are almost identical in sequence and gene content, but both are repetitive and heterochromatic, consistent with zero or low recombination. We further identify an HMG-domain containing gene HMGN6 in the SLR as a candidate sex-determining gene that is expressed at the onset of testis development. CONCLUSIONS Our study supports the idea that preexisting regions of low recombination, such as pericentromeric regions, can give rise to SLR in the absence of structural variations between the proto-sex chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingzhan Xue
- College of Fisheries, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.,Aquaculture and Genetic Breeding Laboratory, Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yu Gao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Plateau Fishery Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Meiying Wu
- Aquaculture and Genetic Breeding Laboratory, Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Tian Tian
- Aquaculture and Genetic Breeding Laboratory, Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Haiping Fan
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yongji Huang
- Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Zhen Huang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neural Biology & Southern Center for Biomedical Research, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China. .,Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, Fuzhou, 350117, Fujian, China.
| | - Dapeng Li
- College of Fisheries, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China. .,Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, China.
| | - Luohao Xu
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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23
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Impact of Repetitive DNA Elements on Snake Genome Biology and Evolution. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071707. [PMID: 34359877 PMCID: PMC8303610 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071707] [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: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The distinctive biology and unique evolutionary features of snakes make them fascinating model systems to elucidate how genomes evolve and how variation at the genomic level is interlinked with phenotypic-level evolution. Similar to other eukaryotic genomes, large proportions of snake genomes contain repetitive DNA, including transposable elements (TEs) and satellite repeats. The importance of repetitive DNA and its structural and functional role in the snake genome, remain unclear. This review highlights the major types of repeats and their proportions in snake genomes, reflecting the high diversity and composition of snake repeats. We present snakes as an emerging and important model system for the study of repetitive DNA under the impact of sex and microchromosome evolution. We assemble evidence to show that certain repetitive elements in snakes are transcriptionally active and demonstrate highly dynamic lineage-specific patterns as repeat sequences. We hypothesize that particular TEs can trigger different genomic mechanisms that might contribute to driving adaptive evolution in snakes. Finally, we review emerging approaches that may be used to study the expression of repetitive elements in complex genomes, such as snakes. The specific aspects presented here will stimulate further discussion on the role of genomic repeats in shaping snake evolution.
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24
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Schwanz LE, Georges A. Sexual Development and the Environment: Conclusions from 40 Years of Theory. Sex Dev 2021; 15:7-22. [PMID: 34130303 DOI: 10.1159/000515221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we consider the insight that has been gained through theoretical examination of environmental sex determination (ESD) and thermolability - how theory has progressed our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary dynamics associated with ESD, the transitional pathways between different modes of sex determination, and the underlying mechanisms. Following decades of theory on the adaptive benefits of ESD, several hypotheses seem promising. These hypotheses focus on the importance of differential fitness (sex-specific effects of temperature on fitness) in generating selection for ESD, but highlight alternative ways differential fitness arises: seasonal impacts on growth, sex-specific ages of maturation, and sex-biased dispersal. ESD has the potential to generate biased sex ratios quite easily, leading to complex feedbacks between the ecology and evolution of ESD. Frequency-dependent selection on sex acts on ESD-related traits, driving local adaptation or plasticity to restore equilibrium sex ratio. However, migration and overlapping generations ("mixing") diminish local adaptation and leave each cohort/population with the potential for biased sex ratios. Incorporating mechanism into ecology and evolution models reveals similarities between different sex-determining systems. Dosage and gene regulatory network models of sexual development are beginning to shed light on how temperature sensitivity and thresholds may arise. The unavoidable temperature sensitivity in sex-determining systems inherent to these models suggests that evolutionary transitions between genotypic sex determination (GSD) and temperature-dependent sex determination, and between different forms of GSD, are simple and elegant. Theoretical models are often best-served by considering a single piece of a puzzle; however, there is much to gain from reflecting on all of the pieces together in one integrative picture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa E Schwanz
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Arthur Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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25
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Liker A, Bókony V, Pipoly I, Lemaître JF, Gaillard JM, Székely T, Freckleton RP. Evolution of large males is associated with female-skewed adult sex ratios in amniotes. Evolution 2021; 75:1636-1649. [PMID: 34021590 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14273] [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] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Body size often differs between the sexes (leading to sexual size dimorphism, SSD), as a consequence of differential responses by males and females to selection pressures. Adult sex ratio (ASR, the proportion of males in the adult population) should influence SSD because ASR relates to both the number of competitors and available mates, which shape the intensity of mating competition and thereby promotes SSD evolution. However, whether ASR correlates with SSD variation among species has not been yet tested across a broad range of taxa. Using phylogenetic comparative analyses of 462 amniotes (i.e., reptiles, birds, and mammals), we fill this knowledge gap by showing that male bias in SSD increases with increasingly female-skewed ASRs in both mammals and birds. This relationship is not explained by the higher mortality of the larger sex because SSD is not associated with sex differences in either juvenile or adult mortality. Phylogenetic path analysis indicates that higher mortality in one sex leads to skewed ASR, which in turn may generate selection for SSD biased toward the rare sex. Taken together, our findings provide evidence that skewed ASRs in amniote populations can result in the rarer sex evolving large size to capitalize on enhanced mating opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Liker
- MTA-PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, H-8210, Hungary.,Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Center for Natural Sciences, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, H-8210, Hungary
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, H-1022, Hungary
| | - Ivett Pipoly
- MTA-PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, H-8210, Hungary.,Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Center for Natural Sciences, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, H-8210, Hungary
| | - Jean-Francois Lemaître
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR 5558, Villeurbanne, F-69622, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR 5558, Villeurbanne, F-69622, France
| | - Tamás Székely
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom.,Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, H-4032, Hungary
| | - Robert P Freckleton
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Alfred Denny Building, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom
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26
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Yu L, Zhao S, Meng F, Shi Y, Xu C. Dispersal and mating patterns determine the fate of naturally dispersed populations: evidence from Bombina orientalis. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:111. [PMID: 34098874 PMCID: PMC8182911 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01844-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In contrast to the explosive increase of a population following biological invasion, natural dispersal, i.e., when a population disperses from its original range into a new range, is a passive process that is affected by resources, the environment, and other factors. Natural dispersal is also negatively impacted by genetic drift and the founder effect. Although the fates of naturally dispersed populations are unknown, they can adapt evolutionarily over time to the new environment. Can naturally dispersed populations evolve beneficial adaptive strategies to offset these negative effects to maintain their population in a stable state? Results The current study addressed this question by focusing on the toad Bombina orientalis, the population of which underwent natural dispersal following the Last Glacial Maximum in Northeast Asia. Population genetic approaches were used to determine the genetic structure, dispersal pattern, and mating system of the population of B. orientalis in northeast China (Northern population). The results showed that this northern population of B. orientalis is a typical naturally dispersed population, in which the stable genetic structure and high level of genetic diversity of the population have been maintained through the long-distance biased dispersal behavior of males and the pattern of promiscuity within the population. Conclusions Our findings suggest that naturally dispersed populations can evolve effective adaptive strategies to maintain a stable population. Different species may have different strategies. The relevance of these maintenance mechanisms for naturally dispersed populations provide a new perspective for further understanding the processes of speciation and evolution. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-021-01844-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Yu
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Shuai Zhao
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Fanbing Meng
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Yanshuang Shi
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Chunzhu Xu
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, China.
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27
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Schneider RG, Ferro JM, Reinko IN, Boeris JM, Cardozo DE, Baldo D. Sex chromosomes in the Vizcacheras' White-lipped frog, Leptodactylus bufonius (Anura, Leptodactylidae). AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2021; 93:e20190426. [PMID: 34105608 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202120190426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytogenetic analyses were performed on specimens of Leptodactylus bufonius from different localities in Argentina. Mitotic chromosomes were studied with Giemsa and differential staining techniques (Ag-NOR, C-banding, and CMA3/DAPI) and fluorescence in situ hybridization with the 18S DNAr probe. All specimens showed karyotypes with 2n = 2x = 22 and FN = 44. Secondary constrictions were present in the long arm of chromosome pair 8, coincident with Ag-NOR and hybridization signals of the 18S DNAr probe. The C-banding technique evidenced an important amount of heterochromatin with a sex-linked pericentromeric band in the short arm of chromosome pair 4. This heterochromatic band was heteromorphic in males but present in both homologues of females, and it was CMA3 positive (DAPI negative) at fluorescence staining. The occurrence of heteromorphic XY sex chromosomes in L. bufonius is the second known case in Leptodactylus and the fifth within the speciose family Leptodactylidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosio G Schneider
- Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva "Claudio Juan Bidau", Instituto de Biología Subtropical (CONICET-UNaM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Félix de Azara 1552, 6to Piso, CPA N3300LQF, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Juan M Ferro
- Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva "Claudio Juan Bidau", Instituto de Biología Subtropical (CONICET-UNaM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Félix de Azara 1552, 6to Piso, CPA N3300LQF, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Ivana N Reinko
- Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva "Claudio Juan Bidau", Instituto de Biología Subtropical (CONICET-UNaM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Félix de Azara 1552, 6to Piso, CPA N3300LQF, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Juan M Boeris
- Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva "Claudio Juan Bidau", Instituto de Biología Subtropical (CONICET-UNaM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Félix de Azara 1552, 6to Piso, CPA N3300LQF, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Darío E Cardozo
- Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva "Claudio Juan Bidau", Instituto de Biología Subtropical (CONICET-UNaM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Félix de Azara 1552, 6to Piso, CPA N3300LQF, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Diego Baldo
- Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva "Claudio Juan Bidau", Instituto de Biología Subtropical (CONICET-UNaM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Félix de Azara 1552, 6to Piso, CPA N3300LQF, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
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28
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Vining B, Ming Z, Bagheri-Fam S, Harley V. Diverse Regulation but Conserved Function: SOX9 in Vertebrate Sex Determination. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12040486. [PMID: 33810596 PMCID: PMC8066042 DOI: 10.3390/genes12040486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex determination occurs early during embryogenesis among vertebrates. It involves the differentiation of the bipotential gonad to ovaries or testes by a fascinating diversity of molecular switches. In most mammals, the switch is SRY (sex determining region Y); in other vertebrates it could be one of a variety of genes including Dmrt1 or dmy. Downstream of the switch gene, SOX9 upregulation is a central event in testes development, controlled by gonad-specific enhancers across the 2 Mb SOX9 locus. SOX9 is a ‘hub’ gene of gonadal development, regulated positively in males and negatively in females. Despite this diversity, SOX9 protein sequence and function among vertebrates remains highly conserved. This article explores the cellular, morphological, and genetic mechanisms initiated by SOX9 for male gonad differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Vining
- Sex Development Laboratory, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia; (B.V.); (Z.M.); (S.B.-F.)
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Zhenhua Ming
- Sex Development Laboratory, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia; (B.V.); (Z.M.); (S.B.-F.)
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Stefan Bagheri-Fam
- Sex Development Laboratory, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia; (B.V.); (Z.M.); (S.B.-F.)
| | - Vincent Harley
- Sex Development Laboratory, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia; (B.V.); (Z.M.); (S.B.-F.)
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-3-8572-2527
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29
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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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30
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Lamichhaney S, Catullo R, Keogh JS, Clulow S, Edwards SV, Ezaz T. A bird-like genome from a frog: Mechanisms of genome size reduction in the ornate burrowing frog, Platyplectrum ornatum. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2011649118. [PMID: 33836564 PMCID: PMC7980411 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2011649118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The diversity of genome sizes across the tree of life is of key interest in evolutionary biology. Various correlates of variation in genome size, such as accumulation of transposable elements (TEs) or rate of DNA gain and loss, are well known, but the underlying molecular mechanisms driving or constraining genome size are poorly understood. Here, we study one of the smallest genomes among frogs characterized thus far, that of the ornate burrowing frog (Platyplectrum ornatum) from Australia, and compare it to other published frog and vertebrate genomes to examine the forces driving reduction in genome size. At ∼1.06 gigabases (Gb), the P. ornatum genome is like that of birds, revealing four major mechanisms underlying TE dynamics: reduced abundance of all major classes of TEs; increased net deletion bias in TEs; drastic reduction in intron lengths; and expansion via gene duplication of the repertoire of TE-suppressing Piwi genes, accompanied by increased expression of Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA)-based TE-silencing pathway genes in germline cells. Transcriptomes from multiple tissues in both sexes corroborate these results and provide insight into sex-differentiation pathways in Platyplectrum Genome skimming of two closely related frog species (Lechriodus fletcheri and Limnodynastes fletcheri) confirms a reduction in TEs as a major driver of genome reduction in Platyplectrum and supports a macroevolutionary scenario of small genome size in frogs driven by convergence in life history, especially rapid tadpole development and tadpole diet. The P. ornatum genome offers a model for future comparative studies on mechanisms of genome size reduction in amphibians and vertebrates generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeet Lamichhaney
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Renee Catullo
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia 2601
- Australian National Insect Collection and Future Science Platform Environomics, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Acton, ACT, Australia 2601
| | - J Scott Keogh
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia 2601
| | - Simon Clulow
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia 2109
| | - Scott V Edwards
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138;
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia 2617
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31
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Castelli MA, Georges A, Cherryh C, Rosauer DF, Sarre SD, Contador‐Kelsall I, Holleley CE. Evolving thermal thresholds explain the distribution of temperature sex reversal in an Australian dragon lizard. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Meghan A. Castelli
- Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
- Australian National Wildlife CollectionCSIRO National Research Collections Australia Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Arthur Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Caitlin Cherryh
- Australian National Wildlife CollectionCSIRO National Research Collections Australia Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
- Department of Ecology and Evolution Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Dan F. Rosauer
- Department of Ecology and Evolution Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Stephen D. Sarre
- Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Isabella Contador‐Kelsall
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences University of Wollongong Wollongong New South Wales Australia
| | - Clare E. Holleley
- Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
- Australian National Wildlife CollectionCSIRO National Research Collections Australia Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
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32
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Nagahama Y, Chakraborty T, Paul-Prasanth B, Ohta K, Nakamura M. Sex determination, gonadal sex differentiation, and plasticity in vertebrate species. Physiol Rev 2020; 101:1237-1308. [PMID: 33180655 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00044.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A diverse array of sex determination (SD) mechanisms, encompassing environmental to genetic, have been found to exist among vertebrates, covering a spectrum from fixed SD mechanisms (mammals) to functional sex change in fishes (sequential hermaphroditic fishes). A major landmark in vertebrate SD was the discovery of the SRY gene in 1990. Since that time, many attempts to clone an SRY ortholog from nonmammalian vertebrates remained unsuccessful, until 2002, when DMY/dmrt1by was discovered as the SD gene of a small fish, medaka. Surprisingly, however, DMY/dmrt1by was found in only 2 species among more than 20 species of medaka, suggesting a large diversity of SD genes among vertebrates. Considerable progress has been made over the last 3 decades, such that it is now possible to formulate reasonable paradigms of how SD and gonadal sex differentiation may work in some model vertebrate species. This review outlines our current understanding of vertebrate SD and gonadal sex differentiation, with a focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved. An impressive number of genes and factors have been discovered that play important roles in testicular and ovarian differentiation. An antagonism between the male and female pathway genes exists in gonads during both sex differentiation and, surprisingly, even as adults, suggesting that, in addition to sex-changing fishes, gonochoristic vertebrates including mice maintain some degree of gonadal sexual plasticity into adulthood. Importantly, a review of various SD mechanisms among vertebrates suggests that this is the ideal biological event that can make us understand the evolutionary conundrums underlying speciation and species diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Nagahama
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.,South Ehime Fisheries Research Center, Ehime University, Ainan, Japan.,Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Tapas Chakraborty
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.,South Ehime Fisheries Research Center, Ehime University, Ainan, Japan.,Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukouka, Japan.,Karatsu Satellite of Aqua-Bioresource Innovation Center, Kyushu University, Karatsu, Japan
| | - Bindhu Paul-Prasanth
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.,Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidapeetham, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Kohei Ohta
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukouka, Japan
| | - Masaru Nakamura
- Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.,Research Center, Okinawa Churashima Foundation, Okinawa, Japan
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33
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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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Koomgun T, Laopichienpong N, Singchat W, Panthum T, Phatcharakullawarawat R, Kraichak E, Sillapaprayoon S, Ahmad SF, Muangmai N, Peyachoknagul S, Duengkae P, Ezaz T, Srikulnath K. Genome Complexity Reduction High-Throughput Genome Sequencing of Green Iguana ( Iguana iguana) Reveal a Paradigm Shift in Understanding Sex-Chromosomal Linkages on Homomorphic X and Y Sex Chromosomes. Front Genet 2020; 11:556267. [PMID: 33193634 PMCID: PMC7606854 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.556267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of lizards classified in the superfamily Iguanoidea have an XX/XY sex-determination system in which sex-chromosomal linkage shows homology with chicken (Gallus gallus) chromosome 15 (GGA15). However, the genomics of sex chromosomes remain largely unexplored owing to the presence of homomorphic sex chromosomes in majority of the species. Recent advances in high-throughput genome complexity reduction sequencing provide an effective approach to the identification of sex-specific loci with both single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and restriction fragment presence/absence (PA), and a better understanding of sex chromosome dynamics in Iguanoidea. In this study, we applied Diversity Arrays Technology (DArTseqTM) in 29 phenotypic sex assignments (14 males and 15 females) of green iguana (Iguana iguana). We confirmed a male heterogametic (XX/XY) sex determination mode in this species, identifying 29 perfectly sex-linked SNP/PA loci and 164 moderately sex-linked SNP/PA loci, providing evidence probably indicative of XY recombination. Three loci from among the perfectly sex-linked SNP/PA loci showed partial homology with several amniote sex chromosomal linkages. The results support the hypothesis of an ancestral super-sex chromosome with overlaps of partial sex-chromosomal linkages. However, only one locus among the moderately sex-linked loci showed homology with GGA15, which suggests that the specific region homologous to GGA15 was located outside the non-recombination region but in close proximity to this region of the sex chromosome in green iguana. Therefore, the location of GGA15 might be further from the putative sex-determination locus in green iguana. This is a paradigm shift in understanding linkages on homomorphic X and Y sex chromosomes. The DArTseq platform provides an easy-to-use strategy for future research on the evolution of sex chromosomes in Iguanoidea, particularly for non-model species with homomorphic or highly cryptic sex chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tassika Koomgun
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nararat Laopichienpong
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Worapong Singchat
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thitipong Panthum
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Siwapech Sillapaprayoon
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Syed Farhan Ahmad
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Narongrit Muangmai
- Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Surin Peyachoknagul
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Prateep Duengkae
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Kornsorn Srikulnath
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National Research University, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology, Bangkok, Thailand.,Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima, Japan.,Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
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35
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Andere AA, Pimsler ML, Tarone AM, Picard CJ. The genomes of a monogenic fly: views of primitive sex chromosomes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15728. [PMID: 32978490 PMCID: PMC7519133 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72880-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of male and female offspring is often determined by the presence of specific sex chromosomes which control sex-specific expression, and sex chromosomes evolve through reduced recombination and specialized gene content. Here we present the genomes of Chrysomya rufifacies, a monogenic blow fly (females produce female or male offspring, exclusively) by separately sequencing and assembling each type of female and the male. The genomes (> 25X coverage) do not appear to have any sex-linked Muller F elements (typical for many Diptera) and exhibit little differentiation between groups supporting the morphological assessments of C. rufifacies homomorphic chromosomes. Males in this species are associated with a unimodal coverage distribution while females exhibit bimodal coverage distributions, suggesting a potential difference in genomic architecture. The presence of the individual-sex draft genomes herein provides new clues regarding the origination and evolution of the diverse sex-determining mechanisms observed within Diptera. Additional genomic analysis of sex chromosomes and sex-determining genes of other blow flies will allow a refined evolutionary understanding of how flies with a typical X/Y heterogametic amphogeny (male and female offspring in similar ratios) sex determination systems evolved into one with a dominant factor that results in single sex progeny in a chromosomally monomorphic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne A. Andere
- Department of Biology, Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Meaghan L. Pimsler
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL USA
| | - Aaron M. Tarone
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX USA
| | - Christine J. Picard
- Department of Biology, Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN USA
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36
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Nemesházi E, Gál Z, Ujhegyi N, Verebélyi V, Mikó Z, Üveges B, Lefler KK, Jeffries DL, Hoffmann OI, Bókony V. Novel genetic sex markers reveal high frequency of sex reversal in wild populations of the agile frog (Rana dalmatina) associated with anthropogenic land use. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:3607-3621. [PMID: 32799395 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Populations of ectothermic vertebrates are vulnerable to environmental pollution and climate change because certain chemicals and extreme temperatures can cause sex reversal during early ontogeny (i.e. genetically female individuals develop male phenotype or vice versa), which may distort population sex ratios. However, we have troublingly little information on sex reversals in natural populations, due to unavailability of genetic sex markers. Here, we developed a genetic sexing method based on sex-linked single nucleotide polymorphism loci to study the prevalence and fitness consequences of sex reversal in agile frogs (Rana dalmatina). Out of 125 juveniles raised in laboratory without exposure to sex-reversing stimuli, 6 showed male phenotype but female genotype according to our markers. These individuals exhibited several signs of poor physiological condition, suggesting stress-induced sex reversal and inferior fitness prospects. Among 162 adults from 11 wild populations in North-Central Hungary, 20% of phenotypic males had female genotype according to our markers. These individuals occurred more frequently in areas of anthropogenic land use; this association was attributable to agriculture and less strongly to urban land use. Female-to-male sex-reversed adults had similar body mass as normal males. We recorded no events of male-to-female sex reversal either in the laboratory or in the wild. These results support recent suspicions that sex reversal is widespread in nature, and suggest that human-induced environmental changes may contribute to its pervasiveness. Furthermore, our findings indicate that sex reversal is associated with stress and poor health in early life, but sex-reversed individuals surviving to adulthood may participate in breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edina Nemesházi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Gál
- NARIC Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Ujhegyi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Viktória Verebélyi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsanett Mikó
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bálint Üveges
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kinga Katalin Lefler
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Institute for Conservation of Natural Resources, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Daniel Lee Jeffries
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Veronika Bókony
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
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37
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Liu X, Zhu Y, Wang Y, Li W, Hong X, Zhu X, Xu H. Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the sexual dimorphic expression profiles of mRNAs and non-coding RNAs in the Asian yellow pond turtle (Meauremys mutica). Gene 2020; 750:144756. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.144756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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38
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Viana PF, Ezaz T, de Bello Cioffi M, Liehr T, Al-Rikabi A, Goll LG, Rocha AM, Feldberg E. Landscape of snake' sex chromosomes evolution spanning 85 MYR reveals ancestry of sequences despite distinct evolutionary trajectories. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12499. [PMID: 32719365 PMCID: PMC7385105 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69349-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Most of snakes exhibit a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system, with different stages of degeneration. However, undifferentiated sex chromosomes and unique Y sex-linked markers, suggest that an XY system has also evolved in ancestral lineages. Comparative cytogenetic mappings revealed that several genes share ancestry among X, Y and Z chromosomes, implying that XY and ZW may have undergone transitions during serpent's evolution. In this study, we performed a comparative cytogenetic analysis to identify homologies of sex chromosomes across ancestral (Henophidia) and more recent (Caenophidia) snakes. Our analysis suggests that, despite ~ 85 myr of independent evolution, henophidians and caenophidians retained conserved synteny over much of their genomes. However, our findings allowed us to discover that ancestral and recent lineages of snakes do not share the same sex chromosome and followed distinct pathways for sex chromosomes evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrik F Viana
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo 2936, Petrópolis, Manaus, AM, 69067-375, Brazil.
| | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, ACT 12, Canberra, 2616, Australia
| | - Marcelo de Bello Cioffi
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.,Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Liehr
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Ahmed Al-Rikabi
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Leonardo G Goll
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo 2936, Petrópolis, Manaus, AM, 69067-375, Brazil
| | - Anderson M Rocha
- Faculdade Cathedral, Laboratório de Zoologia Aplicada de Vertebrados Terrestres E Aquáticos, Av. Luis Canuto Chaves 293, Boa Vista, RR, Brazil
| | - Eliana Feldberg
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo 2936, Petrópolis, Manaus, AM, 69067-375, Brazil
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39
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Do sex chromosomes of snakes, monitor lizards, and iguanian lizards result from multiple fission of an “ancestral amniote super-sex chromosome”? Chromosome Res 2020; 28:209-228. [DOI: 10.1007/s10577-020-09631-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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40
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Abstract
AbstractSex ratios can differ from an expected equal proportion of males and females, carrying substantial implications for our understanding of how mating systems evolve. Typically, macro-evolutionary studies have been conducted without assessing how deviations from an equal sex ratio could be explained by sex-biased mortality or dispersal. Our understanding of sex ratio evolution independent of these confounds, in addition to any putative links between skewed sex ratios and other factors (e.g. life history), therefore remains largely unexplored. Here, we conducted an exploratory study investigating differences in sex ratios across closely related species while controlling for extrinsic mortality. We also tested two factors, non-overlapping/overlapping generations and the social environment, which have both been hypothesised to affect sex ratios. Specifically, we raised 15 species of killifish, which have either overlapping or discrete generations, under both solitary and social treatments. We found substantial divergences in sex ratios across closely related species, which exhibited both male and female biases. In conjunction with a low phylogenetic signal, our results suggest that sex ratios can evolve rapidly in this group. However, we found no evidence that overlapping generations or the social environment affected sex biases, suggesting that other factors drive the rapid evolution of sex ratios in killifishes.
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41
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Jones MEH, Pistevos JCA, Cooper N, Lappin AK, Georges A, Hutchinson MN, Holleley CE. Reproductive phenotype predicts adult bite-force performance in sex-reversed dragons (Pogona vitticeps). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2020; 333:252-263. [PMID: 32061035 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Sex-related differences in morphology and behavior are well documented, but the relative contributions of genes and environment to these traits are less well understood. Species that undergo sex reversal, such as the central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), offer an opportunity to better understand sexually dimorphic traits because sexual phenotypes can exist on different chromosomal backgrounds. Reproductively female dragons with a discordant sex chromosome complement (sex reversed), at least as juveniles, exhibit traits in common with males (e.g., longer tails and greater boldness). However, the impact of sex reversal on sexually dimorphic traits in adult dragons is unknown. Here, we investigate the effect of sex reversal on bite-force performance, which may be important in resource acquisition (e.g., mates and/or food). We measured body size, head size, and bite force of the three sexual phenotypes in a colony of captive animals. Among adults, we found that males (ZZm) bite more forcefully than either chromosomally concordant females (ZWf) or sex-reversed females (ZZf), and this difference is associated with having relatively larger head dimensions. Therefore, adult sex-reversed females, despite apparently exhibiting male traits as juveniles, do not develop the larger head and enhanced bite force of adult male bearded dragons. This pattern is further illustrated in the full sample by a lack of positive allometry of bite force in sex-reversed females that is observed in males. The results reveal a close association between reproductive phenotype and bite force performance, regardless of sex chromosome complement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc E H Jones
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Vertebrates, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer C A Pistevos
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement CRIOBE - USR 3278: PSL Université Paris: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Papetoai, Moorea, Polynésie Française
| | - Natalie Cooper
- Vertebrates, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | | | - Arthur Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Mark N Hutchinson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Vertebrates, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Clare E Holleley
- Institute for Applied Ecology, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,Australian National Wildlife Collection, National Research Collections Australia CSIRO, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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42
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Schwanz LE, Georges A, Holleley CE, Sarre SD. Climate change, sex reversal and lability of sex‐determining systems. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:270-281. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa E. Schwanz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences UNSW Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Arthur Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Clare E. Holleley
- Australian National Wildlife Collection CSIRO National Research Collections Australia Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Stephen D. Sarre
- Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra Canberra ACT Australia
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Van Dyke JU, Thompson MB, Burridge CP, Castelli MA, Clulow S, Dissanayake DSB, Dong CM, Doody JS, Edwards DL, Ezaz T, Friesen CR, Gardner MG, Georges A, Higgie M, Hill PL, Holleley CE, Hoops D, Hoskin CJ, Merry DL, Riley JL, Wapstra E, While GM, Whiteley SL, Whiting MJ, Zozaya SM, Whittington CM. Australian lizards are outstanding models for reproductive biology research. AUST J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/zo21017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Australian lizards are a diverse group distributed across the continent and inhabiting a wide range of environments. Together, they exhibit a remarkable diversity of reproductive morphologies, physiologies, and behaviours that is broadly representative of vertebrates in general. Many reproductive traits exhibited by Australian lizards have evolved independently in multiple lizard lineages, including sociality, complex signalling and mating systems, viviparity, and temperature-dependent sex determination. Australian lizards are thus outstanding model organisms for testing hypotheses about how reproductive traits function and evolve, and they provide an important basis of comparison with other animals that exhibit similar traits. We review how research on Australian lizard reproduction has contributed to answering broader evolutionary and ecological questions that apply to animals in general. We focus on reproductive traits, processes, and strategies that are important areas of current research, including behaviours and signalling involved in courtship; mechanisms involved in mating, egg production, and sperm competition; nesting and gestation; sex determination; and finally, birth in viviparous species. We use our review to identify important questions that emerge from an understanding of this body of research when considered holistically. Finally, we identify additional research questions within each topic that Australian lizards are well suited for reproductive biologists to address.
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Wang Q, Liu K, Feng B, Zhang Z, Wang R, Tang L, Li W, Li Q, Piferrer F, Shao C. Transcriptome of Gonads From High Temperature Induced Sex Reversal During Sex Determination and Differentiation in Chinese Tongue Sole, Cynoglossus semilaevis. Front Genet 2019; 10:1128. [PMID: 31824559 PMCID: PMC6882949 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The sex of Chinese tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) is determined by both genetic sex determination (GSD) and environmental sex determination (ESD), making it an ideal model to study the relationship between sex-determination and temperature. In the present study, transcriptomes of undifferentiated gonads from genetic females and males, as well as differentiated gonads from males, females, and pseudomales under high and normal temperature treatments were generated for comparative transcriptomic analysis. A mean of 68.24 M high-quality clean reads was obtained for each library. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between different sexes and environmental treatments were identified, revealing that the heat shock protein gene family was involved in the high temperature induced sex reversal. The Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways that were enriched in pseudomale and genetic female comparison included neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cortisol synthesis and secretion, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Furthermore, weighted gene co-expression network analyses were conducted on all samples, and two modules were positive correlated with pseudomale under high temperature. An illustrated protein-protein interaction map of the module identified a hub gene, hsc70. These findings provide insights into the genetic network that is involved in sex determination and sexual differentiation, and improve our understanding of genes involved in sex reversal under high temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wang
- Key Lab of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
| | - Kaiqiang Liu
- Key Lab of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
| | - Bo Feng
- Key Lab of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China.,College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhihua Zhang
- Key Lab of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China.,College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Renkai Wang
- Key Lab of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
| | - Lili Tang
- Key Lab of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
| | - Wensheng Li
- Laizhou Mingbo Aquatic Co., Ltd., Laizhou, China
| | - Qiye Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Francesc Piferrer
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Changwei Shao
- Key Lab of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
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45
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Sopniewski J, Shams F, Scheele BC, Kefford BJ, Ezaz T. Identifying sex-linked markers in Litoria aurea: a novel approach to understanding sex chromosome evolution in an amphibian. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16591. [PMID: 31719585 PMCID: PMC6851140 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52970-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Few taxa exhibit the variability of sex-determining modes as amphibians. However, due to the presence of homomorphic sex chromosomes in many species, this phenomenon has been difficult to study. The Australian frog, Litoria aurea, has been relatively well studied over the past 20 years due to widespread declines largely attributable to chytrid fungus. However, it has been subject to few molecular studies and its mode of sex determination remained unknown. We applied DArTseq™ to develop sex-linked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and restriction fragment presence/absence (PA) markers in 44 phenotypically sexed L. aurea individuals from the Molonglo River in NSW, Australia. We conclusively identified a male heterogametic (XX-XY) sex determination mode in this species, identifying 11 perfectly sex-linked SNP and six strongly sex-linked PA markers. We identified a further 47 moderately sex-linked SNP loci, likely serving as evidence indicative of XY recombination. Furthermore, within these 47 loci, a group of nine males were found to have a feminised Y chromosome that significantly differed to all other males. We postulate ancestral sex-reversal as a means for the evolution of this now pseudoautosomal region on the Y chromosome. Our findings present new evidence for the ‘fountain of youth’ hypothesis for the retention of homomorphic sex chromosomes in amphibians and describe a novel approach for the study of sex chromosome evolution in amphibia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarrod Sopniewski
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce 2617, Canberra, Australia.
| | - Foyez Shams
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce 2617, Canberra, Australia
| | - Benjamin C Scheele
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Ben J Kefford
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce 2617, Canberra, Australia
| | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce 2617, Canberra, Australia.
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46
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Ortega-Recalde O, Goikoetxea A, Hore TA, Todd EV, Gemmell NJ. The Genetics and Epigenetics of Sex Change in Fish. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2019; 8:47-69. [PMID: 31525067 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-021419-083634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Fish show extraordinary sexual plasticity, changing sex naturally as part of their life cycle or reversing sex because of environmental stressors. This plasticity shows that sexual fate is not an irreversible process but the result of an ongoing tug-of-war for supremacy between male and female signaling networks. The behavioral, gonadal, and morphological changes involved in this process are well described, yet the molecular events that underpin those changes remain poorly understood. Epigenetic modifications emerge as a critical link between environmental stimuli, the onset of sex change, and subsequent maintenance of sexual phenotype. Here we synthesize current knowledge of sex change, focusing on the genetic and epigenetic processes that are likely involved in the initiation and regulation of sex change. We anticipate that better understanding of sex change in fish will shed new light on sex determination and development in vertebrates and on how environmental perturbations affect sexual fate.
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Liu J, Liu X, Jin C, Du X, He Y, Zhang Q. Transcriptome Profiling Insights the Feature of Sex Reversal Induced by High Temperature in Tongue Sole Cynoglossus semilaevis. Front Genet 2019; 10:522. [PMID: 31191622 PMCID: PMC6548826 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex reversal induced by temperature change is a common feature in fish. Usually, the sex ratio shift occurs when temperature deviates too much from normal during embryogenesis or sex differentiation stages. Despite decades of work, the mechanism of how temperature functions during early development and sex reversal remains mysterious. In this study, we used Chinese tongue sole as a model to identify features from gonad transcriptomic and epigenetic mechanisms involved in temperature induced masculinization. Some of genetic females reversed to pseudomales after high temperature treatment which caused the sex ratio imbalance. RNA-seq data showed that the expression profiles of females and males were significantly different, and set of genes showed sexually dimorphic expression. The general transcriptomic feature of pesudomales was similar with males, but the genes involved in spermatogenesis and energy metabolism were differentially expressed. In gonads, the methylation level of cyp19a1a promoter was higher in females than in males and pseudomales. Furthermore, high-temperature treatment increased the cyp19a1a promoter methylation levels of females. We observed a significant negative correlation between methylation levels and expression of cyp19ala. In vitro study showed that CpG within the cAMP response element (CRE) of the cyp19a1a promoter was hypermethylated, and DNA methylation decreased the basal and forskolin-induced activities of cyp19a1a promoter. These results suggested that epigenetic change, i.e., DNA methylation, which regulate the expression of cyp19a1a might be the mechanism for the temperature induced masculinization in tongue sole. It may be a common mechanism in teleost that can be induced sex reversal by temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaobing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Chaofan Jin
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xinxin Du
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yan He
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Quanqi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
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48
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Bókony V, Milne G, Pipoly I, Székely T, Liker A. Sex ratios and bimaturism differ between temperature-dependent and genetic sex-determination systems in reptiles. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:57. [PMID: 30777013 PMCID: PMC6378719 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1386-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex-determining systems may profoundly influence the ecology, behaviour and demography of animals, yet these relationships are poorly understood. Here we investigate whether species with temperature-dependent (TSD) and genetic sex determination (GSD) differ in key demographic traits, using data from 181 species representing all major phylogenetic lineages of extant reptiles. RESULTS We show that species with TSD exhibit significantly higher within-species variance in sex ratios than GSD species in three major life stages: birth or hatching, juvenility and adulthood. In contrast, sex differences in adult mortality rates do not differ between GSD and TSD species. However, TSD species exhibit significantly greater sex differences in maturation ages than GSD species. CONCLUSION These results support the recent theoretical model that evolution of TSD is facilitated by sex-specific fitness benefits of developmental temperatures due to bimaturism. Our findings suggest that different sex-determination systems are associated with different demographic characteristics that may influence population viability and social evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Bókony
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022 Hungary
| | - Gregory Milne
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY UK
| | - Ivett Pipoly
- MTA-PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Pf. 158, Veszprém, 8201 Hungary
| | - Tamás Székely
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY UK
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen, 4032 Hungary
| | - András Liker
- MTA-PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Pf. 158, Veszprém, 8201 Hungary
- Department of Limnology, University of Pannonia, Pf. 158, Veszprém, 8201 Hungary
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49
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Lambert MR, Tran T, Kilian A, Ezaz T, Skelly DK. Molecular evidence for sex reversal in wild populations of green frogs ( Rana clamitans). PeerJ 2019; 7:e6449. [PMID: 30775188 PMCID: PMC6369831 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In vertebrates, sex determination occurs along a continuum from strictly genotypic (GSD), where sex is entirely guided by genes, to strictly environmental (ESD), where rearing conditions, like temperature, determine phenotypic sex. Along this continuum are taxa which have combined genetic and environmental contributions to sex determination (GSD + EE), where some individuals experience environmental effects which cause them to sex reverse and develop their phenotypic sex opposite their genotypic sex. Amphibians are often assumed to be strictly GSD with sex reversal typically considered abnormal. Despite calls to understand the relative natural and anthropogenic causes of amphibian sex reversal, sex reversal has not been closely studied across populations of any wild amphibian, particularly in contrasting environmental conditions. Here, we use sex-linked molecular markers to discover sex reversal in wild populations of green frogs (Rana clamitans) inhabiting ponds in either undeveloped, forested landscapes or in suburban neighborhoods. Our work here begins to suggest that sex reversal may be common within and across green frog populations, occurring in 12 of 16 populations and with frequencies of 2–16% of individuals sampled within populations. Additionally, our results also suggest that intersex phenotypic males and sex reversal are not correlated with each other and are also not correlated with suburban land use. While sex reversal and intersex are often considered aberrant responses to human activities and associated pollution, we found no such associations here. Our data perhaps begin to suggest that, relative to what is often suggested, sex reversal may be a relatively natural process in amphibians. Future research should focus on assessing interactions between genes and the environment to understand the molecular and exogenous basis of sex determination in green frogs and in other amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max R Lambert
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Tien Tran
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
| | - David K Skelly
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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50
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Natri HM, Merilä J, Shikano T. The evolution of sex determination associated with a chromosomal inversion. Nat Commun 2019; 10:145. [PMID: 30635564 PMCID: PMC6329827 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08014-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex determination is a fundamentally important and highly diversified biological process, yet the mechanisms behind the origin of this diversity are mostly unknown. Here we suggest that the evolution of sex determination systems can be driven by a chromosomal inversion. We show that an XY system evolved recently in particular nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) populations, which arose from ancient hybridization between two divergent lineages. Our phylogenetic and genetic mapping analyses indicate that the XY system is formed in a large inversion that is associated with hybrid sterility between the divergent lineages. We suggest that a new male-determining gene evolved in the inversion in response to selection against impaired male fertility in a hybridized population. Given that inversions are often associated with hybrid incompatibility in animals and plants, they might frequently contribute to the diversification of sex determination systems. Turnovers in sex determination systems occur quite frequently, yet the evolutionary drivers of these turnovers are not well understood. Here, the authors study the sex determination systems in sticklebacks and propose chromosomal inversions as a possible driver of the evolution of sex determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heini M Natri
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Merilä
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Takahito Shikano
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland. .,Institute for Research Initiatives, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan.
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