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Stuart KC, Johnson RN, Major RE, Atsawawaranunt K, Ewart KM, Rollins LA, Santure AW, Whibley A. The genome of a globally invasive passerine, the common myna, Acridotheres tristis. DNA Res 2024; 31:dsae005. [PMID: 38366840 PMCID: PMC10917472 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsae005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
In an era of global climate change, biodiversity conservation is receiving increased attention. Conservation efforts are greatly aided by genetic tools and approaches, which seek to understand patterns of genetic diversity and how they impact species health and their ability to persist under future climate regimes. Invasive species offer vital model systems in which to investigate questions regarding adaptive potential, with a particular focus on how changes in genetic diversity and effective population size interact with novel selection regimes. The common myna (Acridotheres tristis) is a globally invasive passerine and is an excellent model species for research both into the persistence of low-diversity populations and the mechanisms of biological invasion. To underpin research on the invasion genetics of this species, we present the genome assembly of the common myna. We describe the genomic landscape of this species, including genome wide allelic diversity, methylation, repeats, and recombination rate, as well as an examination of gene family evolution. Finally, we use demographic analysis to identify that some native regions underwent a dramatic population increase between the two most recent periods of glaciation, and reveal artefactual impacts of genetic bottlenecks on demographic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina C Stuart
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rebecca N Johnson
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Richard E Major
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Kyle M Ewart
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences,University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Lee A Rollins
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Anna W Santure
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand
| | - Annabel Whibley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand
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2
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Bours A, Pruisscher P, Bascón-Cardozo K, Odenthal-Hesse L, Liedvogel M. The blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) genome reveals a recent accumulation of LTR retrotransposons. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16471. [PMID: 37777595 PMCID: PMC10542752 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43090-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic elements that can move around the genome, and as such are a source of genomic variability. Based on their characteristics we can annotate TEs within the host genome and classify them into specific TE types and families. The increasing number of available high-quality genome references in recent years provides an excellent resource that will enhance the understanding of the role of recently active TEs on genetic variation and phenotypic evolution. Here we showcase the use of a high-quality TE annotation to understand the distinct effect of recent and ancient TE insertions on the evolution of genomic variation, within our study species the Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla). We investigate how these distinct TE categories are distributed along the genome and evaluate how their coverage across the genome is correlated with four genomic features: recombination rate, gene coverage, CpG island coverage and GC content. We found within the recent TE insertions an accumulation of LTRs previously not seen in birds. While the coverage of recent TE insertions was negatively correlated with both GC content and recombination rate, the correlation with recombination rate disappeared and turned positive for GC content when considering ancient TE insertions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bours
- MPRG Behavioural Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306, Plön, Germany.
| | - Peter Pruisscher
- MPRG Behavioural Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306, Plön, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karen Bascón-Cardozo
- MPRG Behavioural Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306, Plön, Germany
| | - Linda Odenthal-Hesse
- Department Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306, Plön, Germany
| | - Miriam Liedvogel
- MPRG Behavioural Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306, Plön, Germany.
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
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3
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Zhao P, Peng C, Fang L, Wang Z, Liu GE. Taming transposable elements in livestock and poultry: a review of their roles and applications. Genet Sel Evol 2023; 55:50. [PMID: 37479995 PMCID: PMC10362595 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-023-00821-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Livestock and poultry play a significant role in human nutrition by converting agricultural by-products into high-quality proteins. To meet the growing demand for safe animal protein, genetic improvement of livestock must be done sustainably while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Transposable elements (TE) are important components of livestock and poultry genomes, contributing to their genetic diversity, chromatin states, gene regulatory networks, and complex traits of economic value. However, compared to other species, research on TE in livestock and poultry is still in its early stages. In this review, we analyze 72 studies published in the past 20 years, summarize the TE composition in livestock and poultry genomes, and focus on their potential roles in functional genomics. We also discuss bioinformatic tools and strategies for integrating multi-omics data with TE, and explore future directions, feasibility, and challenges of TE research in livestock and poultry. In addition, we suggest strategies to apply TE in basic biological research and animal breeding. Our goal is to provide a new perspective on the importance of TE in livestock and poultry genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengju Zhao
- Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Hainan Sanya, 572000, China
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Peng
- Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Hainan Sanya, 572000, China
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingzhao Fang
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Zhengguang Wang
- Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Hainan Sanya, 572000, China.
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - George E Liu
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA.
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4
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Pezenti LF, Dionisio JF, Sosa-Gómez DR, de Souza RF, da Rosa R. Transposable elements in the transcriptome of the velvetbean caterpillar Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). Genome 2023. [DOI: 10.1139/gen-2022-0066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA sequences that possess the ability to move from one genomic location to another. These sequences contribute to a significant fraction of the genomes of most eukaryotes and can impact their architecture and regulation. In this paper, we present the first data related to the identification and characterization of TEs present in the transcriptome of Anticarsia gemmatalis. Approximately, 835 transcripts showed significant similarity to TEs and (or) characteristic domains. Retrotransposons accounted for 71.2% (595 sequences) of the identified elements, while DNA transposons were less abundant, with 240 annotations (28.8%). TEs were classified into 30 superfamilies, with SINE3/5S and Gypsy being the most abundant. Based on the sequences of TEs found in the transcriptome, we were able to locate conserved regions in the chromosomes of this species. The analysis of differential expression of TEs in susceptible and resistant strains, challenged and not challenged with Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt) from in silico analysis, indicated that exposure to Bt can regulate the transcription of mobile genetic elements in the velvetbean caterpillar. Thus, these data contribute significantly to the knowledge of the structure and composition of these elements in the genome of this species, and suggest the role of stress on their expression.
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Griffin DK, Larkin DM, O’Connor RE, Romanov MN. Dinosaurs: Comparative Cytogenomics of Their Reptile Cousins and Avian Descendants. Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010106. [PMID: 36611715 PMCID: PMC9817885 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Reptiles known as dinosaurs pervade scientific and popular culture, while interest in their genomics has increased since the 1990s. Birds (part of the crown group Reptilia) are living theropod dinosaurs. Chromosome-level genome assemblies cannot be made from long-extinct biological material, but dinosaur genome organization can be inferred through comparative genomics of related extant species. Most reptiles apart from crocodilians have both macro- and microchromosomes; comparative genomics involving molecular cytogenetics and bioinformatics has established chromosomal relationships between many species. The capacity of dinosaurs to survive multiple extinction events is now well established, and birds now have more species in comparison with any other terrestrial vertebrate. This may be due, in part, to their karyotypic features, including a distinctive karyotype of around n = 40 (~10 macro and 30 microchromosomes). Similarity in genome organization in distantly related species suggests that the common avian ancestor had a similar karyotype to e.g., the chicken/emu/zebra finch. The close karyotypic similarity to the soft-shelled turtle (n = 33) suggests that this basic pattern was mostly established before the Testudine-Archosaur divergence, ~255 MYA. That is, dinosaurs most likely had similar karyotypes and their extensive phenotypic variation may have been mediated by increased random chromosome segregation and genetic recombination, which is inherently higher in karyotypes with more and smaller chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren K. Griffin
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Denis M. Larkin
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London NW1 0TU, UK
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Warmuth VM, Weissensteiner MH, Wolf J. Ineffective silencing of transposable elements on an avian W Chromosome. Genome Res 2022; 32:671-681. [PMID: 35149543 PMCID: PMC8997356 DOI: 10.1101/gr.275465.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
One of the defining features of transposable elements (TEs) is their ability to move to new locations in the host genome. To minimise the potentially deleterious effects of de novo TE insertions, hosts have evolved several mechanisms to control TE activity, including recombination-mediated removal and epigenetic silencing; however, increasing evidence suggests that silencing of TEs is often incomplete. The crow family experienced a recent radiation of LTR retrotransposons (LTRs), offering an opportunity to gain insight into the regulatory control of young, potentially still active TEs. We quantified the abundance of TE-derived transcripts across several tissues in 15 Eurasian crows (Corvus (corone) spp.) raised under common garden conditions and find evidence for ineffective TE suppression on the female-specific W Chromosome. Using RNA-seq data, we show that ~ 9.5% of all transcribed TEs had considerably greater (average: 16-fold) transcript abundance in female crows, and that more than 85% of these female-biased TEs originated on the W Chromosome. After accounting for differences in TE density among chromosomal classes, W-linked TEs were significantly more highly expressed than TEs residing on other chromosomes, consistent with ineffective silencing on the former. Together, our results suggest that the crow W Chromosome acts as a source of transcriptionally active TEs, with possible negative fitness consequences for female birds analogous to Drosophila (an X/Y system), where overexpression of Y-linked TEs is associated with male-specific aging and fitness loss ('toxic Y').
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Termignoni-Garcia F, Kirchman JJ, Clark J, Edwards SV. Comparative Population Genomics of Cryptic Speciation and Adaptive Divergence in Bicknell's and Gray-Cheeked Thrushes (Aves: Catharus bicknelli and Catharus minimus). Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:evab255. [PMID: 34999784 PMCID: PMC8743040 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptic speciation may occur when reproductive isolation is recent or the accumulation of morphological differences between sister lineages is slowed by stabilizing selection preventing phenotypic differentiation. In North America, Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) and its sister species, the Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus), are parapatrically breeding migratory songbirds, distinguishable in nature only by subtle differences in song and coloration, and were recognized as distinct species only in the 1990s. Previous molecular studies have estimated that the species diverged approximately 120,000-420,000 YBP and found very low levels of introgression despite their similarity and sympatry in the spring (prebreeding) migration. To further clarify the history, genetic divergence, genomic structure, and adaptive processes in C. bicknelli and C. minimus, we sequenced and assembled high-coverage reference genomes of both species and resequenced genomes from population samples of C. bicknelli, C. minimus, and two individuals of the Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus). The genome of C. bicknelli exhibits markedly higher abundances of transposable elements compared with other Catharus and chicken. Demographic and admixture analyses confirm moderate genome-wide differentiation (Fst ≈ 0.10) and limited gene flow between C. bicknelli and C. minimus, but suggest a more recent divergence than estimates based on mtDNA. We find evidence of rapid evolution of the Z-chromosome and elevated divergence consistent with natural selection on genomic regions near genes involved with neuronal processes in C. bicknelli. These genomes are a useful resource for future investigations of speciation, migration, and adaptation in Catharus thrushes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Termignoni-Garcia
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Johnathan Clark
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Scott V Edwards
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Wang Y, Shen D, Ullah N, Diaby M, Gao B, Song C. Characterization and expression pattern of ZB and PS transposons in zebrafish. Gene Expr Patterns 2021; 42:119203. [PMID: 34481069 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2021.119203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Despite comprising much of the genome, transposons were once thought of as junk. However, transposons play many roles in the eukaryotic genome, such as providing new proteins as domesticated genes, expressing during germline-soma differentiation, function in DNA rearrangement in the offspring, and so on. We sought to describe the distribution and structural organization of the two autonomous transposons (ZB and PS) in the zebrafish genome and examine their expression patterns in embryos and adult tissues. The intact copy of ZB and PS was queried by BLAST on NCBI and ENSEMBL using default parameters. Of the copies with coverage and identity, more than 90 % were downloaded to do structural analysis. Spatial and temporal expression patterns were detected by qRT-PCR and Whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH). There are 19 intact copies of ZB, encoding 341 amino acid residues with DD34E catalytic domain and flanked by 201bp TIRs, and seven intact PS copies, containing 425 amino acid residues with DD35D catalytic domain flanked by 28bp TIRs, were detected in the genome of zebrafish respectively. Analysis of genomic insertions indicated that both ZB and PS transposons are prone to be retained in the intron and intergenic regions of the zebrafish genome. The sense and antisense transcripts of ZB and PS were detected during embryonic development stages and exhibited similar expression patterns. The difference is that the sense strand transcript of ZB was explicitly expressed in midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB) and otic vesicle (OV), and pharyngeal arches and pharyngeal pouches (PA&PP) at 48 hpf. In adult zebrafish, the expressions of ZB and PS in muscle and brain are much higher than in other tissues. Our study results indicate that ZB and PS transposons may be involved in the embryonic development and regulation of somatic cells of certain adult tissues, such as the brain and muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Dan Shen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Numan Ullah
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Mohamed Diaby
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Bo Gao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Chengyi Song
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
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9
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Shen D, Gao B, Miskey C, Chen C, Sang Y, Zong W, Wang S, Wang Y, Wang X, Ivics Z, Song C. Multiple Invasions of Visitor, a DD41D Family of Tc1/mariner Transposons, throughout the Evolution of Vertebrates. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 12:1060-1073. [PMID: 32602886 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the DD41D (named as Visitor, VS) family of Tc1/mariner transposons was discovered in Arthropods and Mollusca, the evolution profile of this family is still largely unknown. We found that VS is widespread in the animal kingdom, including 140 species of 18 orders in invertebrates and 30 species of 12 orders in vertebrates, and one land plant species. Our data revealed multiple horizontal transfer events in both invertebrates and vertebrates and invasion into multiple lineages of mammals, including Chiroptera (seven species), Dasyuromorphia/Marsupialia (one species), Didelphimorphia/Marsupialia (one species), Diprotodontia/Marsupialia (two species), and Primates (one species). Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship of VSs to DD37D/maT and DD34D/mariner and confirmed that VSs with the DD40D signature identified previously are not a distinct family but originated from DD41D/VS. Age analysis revealed that the most recent invasion of VSs was found in ray-finned fishes and a toad, followed by relatively young invasions in bats and marsupials, whereas VSs in mammals, jawless fishes, and lizards were mainly represented by ancient copies, suggesting old age. Phylogenetic analyses and comparison of pairwise distances between VSs and recombination-activating gene 1 (RAG1) support horizontal transfer events of VSs in vertebrates. The intact VSs from bats were nonfunctional as determined by the transposition activity assay. Some vertebrate lineages and species were identified as the hot hosts of Tc1/mariner transposons. Overall, our study presents the evolution profile of VSs and suggests that VSs play roles in diversifying and shaping the genomes of diverse animal lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Shen
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, China.,Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Bo Gao
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, China
| | - Csaba Miskey
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Cai Chen
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, China
| | - Yatong Sang
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, China
| | - Wencheng Zong
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, China
| | - Saisai Wang
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, China
| | - Yali Wang
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, China
| | - Zoltán Ivics
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Chengyi Song
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, China
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Gao B, Zong W, Miskey C, Ullah N, Diaby M, Chen C, Wang X, Ivics Z, Song C. Intruder (DD38E), a recently evolved sibling family of DD34E/Tc1 transposons in animals. Mob DNA 2020; 11:32. [PMID: 33303022 PMCID: PMC7731502 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-020-00227-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A family of Tc1/mariner transposons with a characteristic DD38E triad of catalytic amino acid residues, named Intruder (IT), was previously discovered in sturgeon genomes, but their evolutionary landscapes remain largely unknown. RESULTS Here, we comprehensively investigated the evolutionary profiles of ITs, and evaluated their cut-and-paste activities in cells. ITs exhibited a narrow taxonomic distribution pattern in the animal kingdom, with invasions into two invertebrate phyla (Arthropoda and Cnidaria) and three vertebrate lineages (Actinopterygii, Agnatha, and Anura): very similar to that of the DD36E/IC family. Some animal orders and species seem to be more hospitable to Tc1/mariner transposons, one order of Amphibia and seven Actinopterygian orders are the most common orders with horizontal transfer events and have been invaded by all four families (DD38E/IT, DD35E/TR, DD36E/IC and DD37E/TRT) of Tc1/mariner transposons, and eight Actinopterygii species were identified as the major hosts of these families. Intact ITs have a total length of 1.5-1.7 kb containing a transposase gene flanked by terminal inverted repeats (TIRs). The phylogenetic tree and sequence identity showed that IT transposases were most closely related to DD34E/Tc1. ITs have been involved in multiple events of horizontal transfer in vertebrates and have invaded most lineages recently (< 5 million years ago) based on insertion age analysis. Accordingly, ITs presented high average sequence identity (86-95%) across most vertebrate species, suggesting that some are putatively active. ITs can transpose in human HeLa cells, and the transposition efficiency of consensus TIRs was higher than that of the TIRs of natural isolates. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that DD38E/IT originated from DD34E/Tc1 and can be detected in two invertebrate phyla (Arthropoda and Cnidaria), and in three vertebrate lineages (Actinopterygii, Agnatha and Anura). IT has experienced multiple HT events in animals, dominated by recent amplifications in most species and has high identity among vertebrate taxa. Our reconstructed IT transposon vector designed according to the sequence from the "cat" genome showed high cut-and-paste activity. The data suggest that IT has been acquired recently and is active in many species. This study is meaningful for understanding the evolution of the Tc1/mariner superfamily members and their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Gao
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, 48 Wenhui East Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China.,Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul Ehrlich Institute, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | - Wencheng Zong
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, 48 Wenhui East Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Csaba Miskey
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul Ehrlich Institute, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | - Numan Ullah
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, 48 Wenhui East Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mohamed Diaby
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, 48 Wenhui East Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cai Chen
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, 48 Wenhui East Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, 48 Wenhui East Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zoltán Ivics
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul Ehrlich Institute, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | - Chengyi Song
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, 48 Wenhui East Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China.
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Abstract
The chicken model organism has advanced the areas of developmental biology, virology, immunology, oncology, epigenetic regulation of gene expression, conservation biology, and genomics of domestication. Further, the chicken model organism has aided in our understanding of human disease. Through the recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic tools, researchers have successfully identified sequences in the chicken genome that have human orthologs, improving mammalian genome annotation. In this review, we highlight the importance of chicken as an animal model in basic and pre-clinical research. We will present the importance of chicken in poultry epigenetics and in genomic studies that trace back to their ancestor, the last link between human and chicken in the tree of life. There are still many genes of unknown function in the chicken genome yet to be characterized. By taking advantage of recent sequencing technologies, it is possible to gain further insight into the chicken epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasnim H Beacon
- Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
| | - James R Davie
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
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12
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Wiley G, Miller MJ. A Highly Contiguous Genome for the Golden-Fronted Woodpecker ( Melanerpes aurifrons) via Hybrid Oxford Nanopore and Short Read Assembly. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2020; 10:1829-1836. [PMID: 32317270 PMCID: PMC7263694 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Woodpeckers are found in nearly every part of the world and have been important for studies of biogeography, phylogeography, and macroecology. Woodpecker hybrid zones are often studied to understand the dynamics of introgression between bird species. Notably, woodpeckers are gaining attention for their enriched levels of transposable elements (TEs) relative to most other birds. This enrichment of TEs may have substantial effects on molecular evolution. However, comparative studies of woodpecker genomes are hindered by the fact that no high-contiguity genome exists for any woodpecker species. Using hybrid assembly methods combining long-read Oxford Nanopore and short-read Illumina sequencing data, we generated a highly contiguous genome assembly for the Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons). The final assembly is 1.31 Gb and comprises 441 contigs plus a full mitochondrial genome. Half of the assembly is represented by 28 contigs (contig L50), each of these contigs is at least 16 Mb in size (contig N50). High recovery (92.6%) of bird-specific BUSCO genes suggests our assembly is both relatively complete and relatively accurate. Over a quarter (25.8%) of the genome consists of repetitive elements, with 287 Mb (21.9%) of those elements assignable to the CR1 superfamily of transposable elements, the highest proportion of CR1 repeats reported for any bird genome to date. Our assembly should improve comparative studies of molecular evolution and genomics in woodpeckers and allies. Additionally, the sequencing and bioinformatic resources used to generate this assembly were relatively low-cost and should provide a direction for development of high-quality genomes for studies of animal biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham Wiley
- Clinical Genomics Center, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and
| | - Matthew J Miller
- Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
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Walker JA, Jordan VE, Storer JM, Steely CJ, Gonzalez-Quiroga P, Beckstrom TO, Rewerts LC, St Romain CP, Rockwell CE, Rogers J, Jolly CJ, Konkel MK, Batzer MA. Alu insertion polymorphisms shared by Papio baboons and Theropithecus gelada reveal an intertwined common ancestry. Mob DNA 2019; 10:46. [PMID: 31788036 PMCID: PMC6880559 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-019-0187-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Baboons (genus Papio) and geladas (Theropithecus gelada) are now generally recognized as close phylogenetic relatives, though morphologically quite distinct and generally classified in separate genera. Primate specific Alu retrotransposons are well-established genomic markers for the study of phylogenetic and population genetic relationships. We previously reported a computational reconstruction of Papio phylogeny using large-scale whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis of Alu insertion polymorphisms. Recently, high coverage WGS was generated for Theropithecus gelada. The objective of this study was to apply the high-throughput "poly-Detect" method to computationally determine the number of Alu insertion polymorphisms shared by T. gelada and Papio, and vice versa, by each individual Papio species and T. gelada. Secondly, we performed locus-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays on a diverse DNA panel to complement the computational data. Results We identified 27,700 Alu insertions from T. gelada WGS that were also present among six Papio species, with nearly half (12,956) remaining unfixed among 12 Papio individuals. Similarly, each of the six Papio species had species-indicative Alu insertions that were also present in T. gelada. In general, P. kindae shared more insertion polymorphisms with T. gelada than did any of the other five Papio species. PCR-based genotype data provided additional support for the computational findings. Conclusions Our discovery that several thousand Alu insertion polymorphisms are shared by T. gelada and Papio baboons suggests a much more permeable reproductive barrier between the two genera then previously suspected. Their intertwined evolution likely involves a long history of admixture, gene flow and incomplete lineage sorting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerilyn A Walker
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803 USA
| | - Vallmer E Jordan
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803 USA
| | - Jessica M Storer
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803 USA
| | - Cody J Steely
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803 USA
| | - Paulina Gonzalez-Quiroga
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803 USA
| | - Thomas O Beckstrom
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803 USA
| | - Lydia C Rewerts
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803 USA
| | - Corey P St Romain
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803 USA
| | - Catherine E Rockwell
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803 USA
| | - Jeffrey Rogers
- 2Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030 USA.,3Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Clifford J Jolly
- 4Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY 10003 USA
| | - Miriam K Konkel
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803 USA.,Department of Genetics & Biochemistry, Clemson Center for Human Genetics, Clemson, SC 29634 USA
| | | | - Mark A Batzer
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803 USA
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Abstract
An unusual supernumerary chromosome has been reported for two related avian species, the zebra and Bengalese finches. This large, germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) is eliminated from somatic cells and spermatids and transmitted via oocytes only. Its origin, distribution among avian lineages, and function were mostly unknown so far. Using immunolocalization of key meiotic proteins, we found that GRCs of varying size and genetic content are present in all 16 songbird species investigated and absent from germline genomes of all eight examined bird species from other avian orders. Results of fluorescent in situ hybridization of microdissected GRC probes and their sequencing indicate that GRCs show little homology between songbird species and contain a variety of repetitive elements and unique sequences with paralogs in the somatic genome. Our data suggest that the GRC evolved in the common ancestor of all songbirds and underwent significant changes in the extant descendant lineages.
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Griffin DK, Larkin DM, O'Connor RE. Time lapse: A glimpse into prehistoric genomics. Eur J Med Genet 2019; 63:103640. [PMID: 30922926 PMCID: PMC7026692 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
For the purpose of this review, ‘time-lapse’ refers to the reconstruction of ancestral (in this case dinosaur) karyotypes using genome assemblies of extant species. Such reconstructions are only usually possible when genomes are assembled to ‘chromosome level’ i.e. a complete representation of all the sequences, correctly ordered contiguously on each of the chromosomes. Recent paleontological evidence is very clear that birds are living dinosaurs, the latest example of dinosaurs emerging from a catastrophic extinction event. Non-avian dinosaurs (ever present in the public imagination through art, and broadcast media) emerged some 240 million years ago and have displayed incredible phenotypic diversity. Here we report on our recent studies to infer the overall karyotype of the Theropod dinosaur lineage from extant avian chromosome level genome assemblies. Our work first focused on determining the likely karyotype of the avian ancestor (most likely a chicken-sized, two-legged, feathered, land dinosaur from the Jurassic period) finding karyotypic similarity to the chicken. We then took the work further to determine the likely karyotype of the bird-lizard ancestor and the chromosomal changes (chiefly translocations and inversions) that occurred between then and modern birds. A combination of bioinformatics and cross-species fluorescence in situ hybridization (zoo-FISH) uncovered a considerable number of translocations and fissions from a ‘lizard-like’ genome structure of 2n = 36–46 to one similar to that of soft-shelled turtles (2n = 66) from 275 to 255 million years ago (mya). Remarkable karyotypic similarities between some soft-shelled turtles and chicken suggests that there were few translocations from the bird-turtle ancestor (plus ∼7 fissions) through the dawn of the dinosaurs and pterosaurs, through the theropod linage and on to most to modern birds. In other words, an avian-like karyotype was in place about 240mya when the dinosaurs and pterosaurs first emerged. We mapped 49 chromosome inversions from then to the present day, uncovering some gene ontology enrichment in evolutionary breakpoint regions. This avian-like karyotype with its many (micro)chromosomes provides the basis for variation (the driver of natural selection) through increased random segregation and recombination. It may therefore contribute to the ability of dinosaurs to survive multiple extinction events, emerging each time as speciose and diverse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren K Griffin
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NJ, UK.
| | - Denis M Larkin
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, NW1 0TU, UK.
| | - Rebecca E O'Connor
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NJ, UK. R.O'
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O'Connor RE, Romanov MN, Kiazim LG, Barrett PM, Farré M, Damas J, Ferguson-Smith M, Valenzuela N, Larkin DM, Griffin DK. Reconstruction of the diapsid ancestral genome permits chromosome evolution tracing in avian and non-avian dinosaurs. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1883. [PMID: 29784931 PMCID: PMC5962605 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04267-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Genomic organisation of extinct lineages can be inferred from extant chromosome-level genome assemblies. Here, we apply bioinformatic and molecular cytogenetic approaches to determine the genomic structure of the diapsid common ancestor. We then infer the events that likely occurred along this lineage from theropod dinosaurs through to modern birds. Our results suggest that most elements of a typical ‘avian-like’ karyotype (40 chromosome pairs, including 30 microchromosomes) were in place before the divergence of turtles from birds ~255 mya. This genome organisation therefore predates the emergence of early dinosaurs and pterosaurs and the evolution of flight. Remaining largely unchanged interchromosomally through the dinosaur–theropod route that led to modern birds, intrachromosomal changes nonetheless reveal evolutionary breakpoint regions enriched for genes with ontology terms related to chromatin organisation and transcription. This genomic structure therefore appears highly stable yet contributes to a large degree of phenotypic diversity, as well as underpinning adaptive responses to major environmental disruptions via intrachromosomal repatterning. Ancient diapsids diverged into the lineages leading to turtles and birds over 250 million years ago. Here, the authors use genomic and molecular cytogenetic analyses of modern species to infer the genome structure of the diapsid common ancestor (DCA) and the changes occurring along the lineage to birds through theropod dinosaurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E O'Connor
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Michael N Romanov
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Lucas G Kiazim
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Paul M Barrett
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Marta Farré
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, NW1 0TU, UK
| | - Joana Damas
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, NW1 0TU, UK
| | | | - Nicole Valenzuela
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Iowa, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Denis M Larkin
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, NW1 0TU, UK
| | - Darren K Griffin
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NJ, UK.
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