1
|
O’Connor RE, Kretschmer R, Romanov MN, Griffin DK. A Bird's-Eye View of Chromosomic Evolution in the Class Aves. Cells 2024; 13:310. [PMID: 38391923 PMCID: PMC10886771 DOI: 10.3390/cells13040310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Birds (Aves) are the most speciose of terrestrial vertebrates, displaying Class-specific characteristics yet incredible external phenotypic diversity. Critical to agriculture and as model organisms, birds have adapted to many habitats. The only extant examples of dinosaurs, birds emerged ~150 mya and >10% are currently threatened with extinction. This review is a comprehensive overview of avian genome ("chromosomic") organization research based mostly on chromosome painting and BAC-based studies. We discuss traditional and contemporary tools for reliably generating chromosome-level assemblies and analyzing multiple species at a higher resolution and wider phylogenetic distance than previously possible. These results permit more detailed investigations into inter- and intrachromosomal rearrangements, providing unique insights into evolution and speciation mechanisms. The 'signature' avian karyotype likely arose ~250 mya and remained largely unchanged in most groups including extinct dinosaurs. Exceptions include Psittaciformes, Falconiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Cuculiformes, Suliformes, occasional Passeriformes, Ciconiiformes, and Pelecaniformes. The reasons for this remarkable conservation may be the greater diploid chromosome number generating variation (the driver of natural selection) through a greater possible combination of gametes and/or an increase in recombination rate. A deeper understanding of avian genomic structure permits the exploration of fundamental biological questions pertaining to the role of evolutionary breakpoint regions and homologous synteny blocks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E. O’Connor
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (R.E.O.); (M.N.R.)
| | - Rafael Kretschmer
- Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Campus Universitário Capão do Leão, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-900, RS, Brazil;
| | - Michael N. Romanov
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (R.E.O.); (M.N.R.)
- L. K. Ernst Federal Research Centre for Animal Husbandry, Dubrovitsy, 142132 Podolsk, Moscow Oblast, Russia
| | - Darren K. Griffin
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (R.E.O.); (M.N.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang J, Su W, Hu Y, Li S, O'Brien PCM, Ferguson-Smith MA, Yang F, Nie W. Comparative chromosome maps between the stone curlew and three ciconiiform species (the grey heron, little egret and crested ibis). BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:23. [PMID: 35240987 PMCID: PMC8892796 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-01979-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous cytogenetic studies show that the karyotypes of species in Ciconiiformes vary considerably, from 2n = 52 to 78. Their karyotypes include different numbers of small to minute bi-armed chromosomes that have evolved probably by fusions of two ancestral microchromosomes, besides macrochromosomes and dot-like microchromosomes. However, it is impossible to define the inter-species homologies of such small-sized bi-armed chromosomes based on chromosome morphology and banding characteristics. Although painting probes from the chicken (Gallus gallus, GGA) chromosomes 1–9 and Z have been widely used to investigate avian chromosome homologies, GGA microchromosome probes are rarely used in these studies because most GGA microchromosome probes generated by flow sorting often contain multiple GGA microchromosomes. In contrast, the stone curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus, BOE, Charadriiformes) has an atypical low diploid chromosome number (42) karyotype and only 4 pairs of dot-like microchromosomes; a set of chromosome-specific painting probes that cover all BOE chromosomes has been generated. To get a genome-wide view of evolutionary chromosomal rearrangements in different lineages of Ciconiiformes, we used BOE painting probes instead of GGA painting probes to analyze the karyotypes of three ciconiiform species belonging to two different families: the eastern grey heron (Ardea cinerea, ACI, 2n = 64, Ardeidae), the little egret (Egretta garzetta, EGA, 2n = 64, Ardeidae) and the crested ibis (Nipponia nippon, NNI, 2n = 68, Threskiornithidae). Results BOE painting probes display the same hybridization pattern on chromosomes of ACI and EGA, while a different hybridization pattern is observed on chromosomes of NNI. BOE autosome probes detected 21 conserved homologous segments and 5 fusions on the sixteen pairs of recognizable chromosomes of ACI and EGA, while 16 conserved homologous segments and 4 fusions were found on the twelve pairs of recognizable chromosomes of NNI. Only a portion of smaller bi-armed chromosomes in the karyotypes of the ciconiiform species could have evolved from fusions of ancestral microchromosomes. In particular BOE 5, which is the result of a fusion between two segments homologous to GGA 7 and 8 respectively, was retained also as either a single chromosome in ACI (ACI 5) and EGA (EGA 5) or had fused with a part of the BOE 10 equivalent in NNI (NNI 5). Conclusion Our painting results indicate that different chromosome rearrangements occur in different ciconiiform lineages. Some of the small-sized bi-armed chromosomes in ACI, EGA and NNI are derived from the fusions of two microchromosomes, indicating that microchromosome fusions play an important role in ciconiiform chromosome evolution. The fusion segment homologous to GGA 7 and 8 is a potential cytogenetic signature that unites Ardeidae and Threskiornithidae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinhuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiting Su
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengbin Li
- Key Laboratory of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China
| | - Patricia C M O'Brien
- Cambridge Resource Centre for Comparative Genomics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Malcolm A Ferguson-Smith
- Cambridge Resource Centre for Comparative Genomics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Fengtang Yang
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255049, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wenhui Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Galbraith JD, Kortschak RD, Suh A, Adelson DL. Genome Stability Is in the Eye of the Beholder: CR1 Retrotransposon Activity Varies Significantly across Avian Diversity. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:6433158. [PMID: 34894225 PMCID: PMC8665684 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab259] [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] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the sequencing of the zebra finch genome it has become clear that avian genomes, while largely stable in terms of chromosome number and gene synteny, are more dynamic at an intrachromosomal level. A multitude of intrachromosomal rearrangements and significant variation in transposable element (TE) content have been noted across the avian tree. TEs are a source of genome plasticity, because their high similarity enables chromosomal rearrangements through nonallelic homologous recombination, and they have potential for exaptation as regulatory and coding sequences. Previous studies have investigated the activity of the dominant TE in birds, chicken repeat 1 (CR1) retrotransposons, either focusing on their expansion within single orders, or comparing passerines with nonpasserines. Here, we comprehensively investigate and compare the activity of CR1 expansion across orders of birds, finding levels of CR1 activity vary significantly both between and within orders. We describe high levels of TE expansion in genera which have speciated in the last 10 Myr including kiwis, geese, and Amazon parrots; low levels of TE expansion in songbirds across their diversification, and near inactivity of TEs in the cassowary and emu for millions of years. CR1s have remained active over long periods of time across most orders of neognaths, with activity at any one time dominated by one or two families of CR1s. Our findings of higher TE activity in species-rich clades and dominant families of TEs within lineages mirror past findings in mammals and indicate that genome evolution in amniotes relies on universal TE-driven processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James D Galbraith
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Alexander Suh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom.,Department of Organismal Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC), Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - David L Adelson
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Xu N, Ding J, Que Z, Xu W, Ye W, Liu H. The mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic characteristics of the Thick-billed Green-Pigeon, Treron curvirostra: the first sequence for the genus. Zookeys 2021; 1041:167-182. [PMID: 34149293 PMCID: PMC8190031 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1041.60150] [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: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the genus Treron (Columbidae) are widely distributed in southern Asia and the Indo-Malayan Region but their relationships are poorly understood. Better knowledge of the systematic status of this genus may help studies of historical biogeography and taxonomy. The complete mitochondrial genome of T.curvirostra was characterized, a first for the genus. It is 17,414 base pairs in length, containing two rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), and one D-loop with a primary structure that is similar to that found in most members of Columbidae. Most PCGs start with the common ATG codon but are terminated by different codons. The highest value of the Ka/Ks ratio within 13 PCGs was found in ATP8 with 0.1937, suggesting that PCGs of the mitochondrial genome tend to be conservative in Columbidae. Moreover, the phylogenetic relationships within Columbidae, which was based on sequences of 13 PCGs, showed that (T.curvirostra + Hemiphaganovaeseelandiae) were clustered in one clade, suggesting a potentially close relationship between Treron and Hemiphaga. However, the monophyly of the subfamilies of Columbidae recognized by the Interagency Taxonomic Information System could not be corroborated. Hence, the position of the genus Treron in the classification of Columbidae may have to be revised.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nan Xu
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China
| | - Jiayu Ding
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China
| | - Ziting Que
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China
| | - Wei Xu
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China
| | - Wentao Ye
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China
| | - Hongyi Liu
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kretschmer R, de Souza MS, Furo IDO, Romanov MN, Gunski RJ, Garnero ADV, de Freitas TRO, de Oliveira EHC, O’Connor RE, Griffin DK. Interspecies Chromosome Mapping in Caprimulgiformes, Piciformes, Suliformes, and Trogoniformes (Aves): Cytogenomic Insight into Microchromosome Organization and Karyotype Evolution in Birds. Cells 2021; 10:cells10040826. [PMID: 33916942 PMCID: PMC8067558 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Interchromosomal rearrangements involving microchromosomes are rare events in birds. To date, they have been found mostly in Psittaciformes, Falconiformes, and Cuculiformes, although only a few orders have been analyzed. Hence, cytogenomic studies focusing on microchromosomes in species belonging to different bird orders are essential to shed more light on the avian chromosome and karyotype evolution. Based on this, we performed a comparative chromosome mapping for chicken microchromosomes 10 to 28 using interspecies BAC-based FISH hybridization in five species, representing four Neoaves orders (Caprimulgiformes, Piciformes, Suliformes, and Trogoniformes). Our results suggest that the ancestral microchromosomal syntenies are conserved in Pteroglossus inscriptus (Piciformes), Ramphastos tucanus tucanus (Piciformes), and Trogon surrucura surrucura (Trogoniformes). On the other hand, chromosome reorganization in Phalacrocorax brasilianus (Suliformes) and Hydropsalis torquata (Caprimulgiformes) included fusions involving both macro- and microchromosomes. Fissions in macrochromosomes were observed in P. brasilianus and H. torquata. Relevant hypothetical Neognathae and Neoaves ancestral karyotypes were reconstructed to trace these rearrangements. We found no interchromosomal rearrangement involving microchromosomes to be shared between avian orders where rearrangements were detected. Our findings suggest that convergent evolution involving microchromosomal change is a rare event in birds and may be appropriate in cytotaxonomic inferences in orders where these rearrangements occurred.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Kretschmer
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (R.K.); (M.N.R.); (R.E.O.)
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, 91509-900 Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil;
| | - Marcelo Santos de Souza
- Laboratório de Diversidade Genética Animal, Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel, 97300-162 Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; (M.S.d.S.); (R.J.G.); (A.d.V.G.)
| | - Ivanete de Oliveira Furo
- Laboratório de Reprodução Animal, LABRAC, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, UFRA, Parauapebas, 68515-000 Pará, Brazil;
| | - Michael N. Romanov
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (R.K.); (M.N.R.); (R.E.O.)
| | - Ricardo José Gunski
- Laboratório de Diversidade Genética Animal, Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel, 97300-162 Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; (M.S.d.S.); (R.J.G.); (A.d.V.G.)
| | - Analía del Valle Garnero
- Laboratório de Diversidade Genética Animal, Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel, 97300-162 Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; (M.S.d.S.); (R.J.G.); (A.d.V.G.)
| | | | - Edivaldo Herculano Corrêa de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Cultura de Tecidos e Citogenética, SAMAM, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ananindeua, 67030-000 Pará, Brazil;
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, 66075-110 Pará, Brazil
| | - Rebecca E. O’Connor
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (R.K.); (M.N.R.); (R.E.O.)
| | - Darren K. Griffin
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (R.K.); (M.N.R.); (R.E.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-1227-823022
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chromosomal Analysis in Crotophaga ani (Aves, Cuculiformes) Reveals Extensive Genomic Reorganization and an Unusual Z-Autosome Robertsonian Translocation. Cells 2020; 10:cells10010004. [PMID: 33375072 PMCID: PMC7822047 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Although cytogenetics studies in cuckoos (Aves, Cuculiformes) have demonstrated an interesting karyotype variation, such as variations in the chromosome morphology and diploid number, their chromosome organization and evolution, and relation with other birds are poorly understood. Hence, we combined conventional and molecular cytogenetic approaches to investigate chromosome homologies between chicken and the smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani). Our results demonstrate extensive chromosome reorganization in C. ani, with interchromosomal rearrangements involving macro and microchromosomes. Intrachromosomal rearrangements were observed in some macrochromosomes, including the Z chromosome. The most evolutionary notable finding was a Robertsonian translocation between the microchromosome 17 and the Z chromosome, a rare event in birds. Additionally, the simple short repeats (SSRs) tested here were preferentially accumulated in the microchromosomes and in the Z and W chromosomes, showing no relationship with the constitutive heterochromatin regions, except in the W chromosome. Taken together, our results suggest that the avian sex chromosome is more complex than previously postulated and revealed the role of microchromosomes in the avian sex chromosome evolution, especially cuckoos.
Collapse
|
7
|
Farré M, Ruiz-Herrera A. The Plasticity of Genome Architecture. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E1413. [PMID: 33260806 PMCID: PMC7760494 DOI: 10.3390/genes11121413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the origin of species and their adaptability to new environments is one of the main questions in biology [...].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Farré
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK;
| | - Aurora Ruiz-Herrera
- Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Cel.lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| |
Collapse
|