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Piwczyński M, Granjon L, Trzeciak P, Carlos Brito J, Oana Popa M, Daba Dinka M, Johnston NP, Boratyński Z. Unraveling phylogenetic relationships and species boundaries in the arid adapted Gerbillus rodents (Muridae: Gerbillinae) by RAD-seq data. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 189:107913. [PMID: 37659480 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Gerbillus is one of the most speciose genera among rodents, with ca. 51 recognized species. Previous attempts to reconstruct the evolutionary history of Gerbillus mainly relied on the mitochondrial cyt-b marker as a source of phylogenetic information. In this study, we utilize RAD-seq genomic data from 37 specimens representing 11 species to reconstruct the phylogenetic tree for Gerbillus, applying concatenation and coalescence methods. We identified four highly supported clades corresponding to the traditionally recognized subgenera: Dipodillus, Gerbillus, Hendecapleura and Monodia. Only two uncertain branches were detected in the resulting trees, with one leading to diversification of the main lineages in the genus, recognized by quartet sampling analysis as uncertain due to possible introgression. We also examined species boundaries for four pairs of sister taxa, including potentially new species from Morocco, using SNAPP. The results strongly supported a speciation model in which all taxa are treated as separate species. The dating analyses confirmed the Plio-Pleistocene diversification of the genus, with the uncertain branch coinciding with the beginning of aridification of the Sahara at the the Plio-Pleistocene boundary. This study aligns well with the earlier analyses based on the cyt-b marker, reaffirming its suitability as an adequate marker for estimating genetic diversity in Gerbillus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Piwczyński
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, PL-87-100 Toruń, Poland.
| | - Laurent Granjon
- CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Paulina Trzeciak
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, PL-87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - José Carlos Brito
- CIBIO-InBio, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Madalina Oana Popa
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, PL-87-100 Toruń, Poland; "Stejarul" Research Centre for Biological Sciences, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Alexandru cel Bun 6, RO-610004, Piatra Neamţ, Romania
| | - Mergi Daba Dinka
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, PL-87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Nikolas P Johnston
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
| | - Zbyszek Boratyński
- CIBIO-InBio, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
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Kavalco KF, Pasa R. Chromosomal Radiation: A model to explain karyotypic diversity in cryptic species. Genet Mol Biol 2023; 46:e20230116. [PMID: 37815421 PMCID: PMC10563172 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2023-0116] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a concept that explains the pattern of occurrence of widely distributed organisms with large chromosomal diversity, large or small molecular divergence, and the insufficiency or absence of morphological identity. Our model is based on cytogenetic studies associated with molecular and biological data and can be applied to any lineage of sister species, chronospecies, or cryptic species. Through the evaluation of the karyotypic macrostructure, as the physical location of genes e satellites DNAs, in addition to phylogenetic reconstructions from mitochondrial and nuclear genes, per example, we have observed morphologically indistinguishable individuals presenting different locally fixed karyomorphs with phylogeographic discontinuity. The biological process behind this pattern is seen in many groups of cryptic species, in which variation lies mainly in the organization of their genomes but not necessarily in the ecosystems they inhabit or in their external morphology. It's similar to the processes behind other events observed in the distribution of lineages. In this work, we explore the hypothesis of a process analogous to ecological-evolutionary radiation, which we called Chromosomal Radiation. Chromosomal Radiation can be adaptive or non-adaptive and applied to different groups of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Frehner Kavalco
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Genética Ecológica e Evolutiva (LaGEEvo), Campus Rio Paranaíba, Rio Paranaíba, MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Bioinformática e Genômica, Campus Rio Paranaíba, Rio Paranaíba, MG, Brazil
| | - Rubens Pasa
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Genética Ecológica e Evolutiva (LaGEEvo), Campus Rio Paranaíba, Rio Paranaíba, MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Bioinformática e Genômica, Campus Rio Paranaíba, Rio Paranaíba, MG, Brazil
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Uno Y, Matsubara K, Inoue J, Inazawa J, Shinohara A, Koshimoto C, Ichiyanagi K, Matsuda Y. Diversity and Evolution of Highly Repetitive DNA Sequences Constituting Chromosome Site-Specific Heterochromatin in Two Gerbillinae Species. Cytogenet Genome Res 2023; 163:42-51. [PMID: 37708873 DOI: 10.1159/000533716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Constitutive heterochromatin, consisting of repetitive sequences, diverges very rapidly; therefore, its nucleotide sequences and chromosomal distributions are often largely different, even between closely related species. The chromosome C-banding patterns of two Gerbillinae species, Meriones unguiculatus and Gerbillus perpallidus, vary greatly, even though they belong to the same subfamily. To understand the evolution of C-positive heterochromatin in these species, we isolated highly repetitive sequences, determined their nucleotide sequences, and characterized them using chromosomal and filter hybridization. We obtained a centromeric repeat (MUN-HaeIII) and a chromosome 13-specific repeat (MUN-EcoRI) from M. unguiculatus. We also isolated a centromeric/pericentromeric repeat (GPE-MBD) and an interspersed-type repeat that was predominantly amplified in the X and Y chromosomes (GPE-EcoRI) from G. perpallidus. GPE-MBD was found to contain a 17-bp motif that is essential for binding to the centromere-associated protein CENP-B. This indicates that it may play a role in the formation of a specified structure and/or function of centromeres. The nucleotide sequences of the three sequence families, except GPE-EcoRI, were conserved only in Gerbillinae. GPE-EcoRI was derived from the long interspersed nuclear elements 1 retrotransposon and showed sequence homology throughout Muridae and Cricetidae species, indicating that the repeat sequence occurred at least in the common ancestor of Muridae and Cricetidae. Due to a lack of assembly data of highly repetitive sequences constituting heterochromatin in whole-genome sequences of vertebrate species published to date, the knowledge obtained in this study provides useful information for a deep understanding of the evolution of repetitive sequences in not only rodents but also in mammals.
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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 Environmental Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan
| | - Jun Inoue
- Department of Molecular Cytogenetics, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
- Bioresource Research Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Johji Inazawa
- Department of Molecular Cytogenetics, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
- Bioresource Research Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akio Shinohara
- Department of Biotechnology, Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Chihiro Koshimoto
- Department of Biotechnology, Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Kenji Ichiyanagi
- Department of Animal Sciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yoichi Matsuda
- Department of Animal Sciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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Ayarza E, Cavada G, Arévalo T, Molina A, Berríos S. Quantitative analysis of Robertsonian chromosomes inherited by descendants from multiple Rb heterozygotes of Mus m. Domesticus. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1050556. [PMID: 36506103 PMCID: PMC9732535 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1050556] [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: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Robertsonian translocation is the most common chromosomal rearrangement in mammals, and represents the type of chromosomal change that most effectively contributes to speciation in natural populations. Rb translocations involve double-strand DNA breaks at the centromere level in two telocentric chromosomes, followed by repair ligation of the respective long arms, creating a metacentric Rb chromosome. Many different chromosomal races have been described in Mus musculus domesticus that show reduced chromosome numbers due to the presence of Rb metacentric chromosomes. The crossroads between ancestral telocentrics and the new metacentric chromosomes should be resolved in the meiotic cells of the heterozygote individuals, which form trivalents. The preferential segregation of metacentric chromosomes to the egg during female meiosis I has been proposed to favor their fixation and eventual conversion of a telocentric karyotype to a metacentric karyotype. This biased segregation, a form of meiotic drive, explains the karyotype changes in mammalian species that have accumulated Rb fusions. We studied and compared the number of Rb chromosomes inherited by the offspring of multiple Rb heterozygous of M. domesticus in reciprocal crosses. We did not find that the Rb chromosomes were inherited preferentially with respect to the telocentric chromosomes; therefore, we found no evidence for the meiotic drive, nor was there a random distribution of Rb chromosomes inherited by the descendants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana Ayarza
- Departamento de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gabriel Cavada
- Instituto de Salud Poblacional, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tamara Arévalo
- Programa Genética Humana, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alam Molina
- Programa Genética Humana, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Soledad Berríos
- Programa Genética Humana, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile,*Correspondence: Soledad Berríos,
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Hamidatou Khati W, Souilem O, Al Mutery AF, Derbouz Rouibate A, Benhafri N, Issad SM. Advances in research on the biology of the desert rodent Gerbillus tarabuli: a review. Lab Anim 2022; 56:319-330. [PMID: 35216536 DOI: 10.1177/00236772211069775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Selection of the appropriate species and strain of laboratory animals are among the scientist's major concerns. Tarabul's gerbil (Gerbillus tarabuli) is a small, seasonally breeding, desert rodent native to Africa. Despite its unique biological features, which make it an ideal model candidate for biomedical research, only a few reports have used it in research. Hence, the present review aims to provide more data about this species, covering all aspects of its biology, such as taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, ecology, wildlife biology, molecular biology, physiology, neurobiology, genetics, reproduction, development, evolutionary biology, and conservation biology, and covers current progress in exploration of G. tarabuli, discussing its valuable characteristics, which are widely useful for research in various fields. This review paper is destined for biologists, scientists, mammologists, zoologists, academics, and students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wissam Hamidatou Khati
- Arid Area Research Laboratory, Biological Sciences Faculty, University of Sciences and Technology of Houari Boumediene (USTHB), Algeria
| | - Ouajdi Souilem
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, National School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Abdullah Fahad Al Mutery
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Human Genetics and Stem Cells Research Group, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Molecular Genetics Research Laboratory, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Amina Derbouz Rouibate
- Laboratory of Organism's Biology and Physiology, Neurobiology Team, Biological Sciences Faculty, USTHB, Algeria
| | - Nadir Benhafri
- Laboratory of Organism's Biology and Physiology, Neurobiology Team, Biological Sciences Faculty, USTHB, Algeria
| | - Salem Mamoun Issad
- Laboratory of Organism's Biology and Physiology, Neurobiology Team, Biological Sciences Faculty, USTHB, Algeria
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Angus RB, Sadílek D, Shaarawi F, Dollimore H, Liu HC, Seidel M, Sýkora V, Fikáček M. Karyotypes of water scavenger beetles (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae): new data and review of published records. Zool J Linn Soc 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
This study summarizes available data on karyotypes of water scavenger beetles (Coleoptera: Hydrophiloidea: Hydrophilidae), based on newly acquired data of 23 genera and 64 species. We combine these data with previously published data, which we review. In total, karyotypes are available for 33 genera and 95 species, covering all subfamilies and tribes. Available data indicate that most groups of the Hydrophilidae are diploid and sexually reproducing, with XY (♂) and XX (♀) sex chromosomes; the Y chromosome is always minute and does not recombine with X during meiosis. Exceptions are known in Anacaena, with parthenogenetic diploid or triploid populations in some species and sex chromosomes fused with autosomes in others. The diploid number of chromosomes is 2n = 18 in the subfamilies Acidocerinae, Chaetarthriinae, Enochrinae and Hydrophilinae. Variations are known in species of Anacaena and Berosus (both usually with 2n = 18) and in Hydrochara and Hydrophilus with an increased number of chromosomes (2n = 30). The number of chromosomes is increased in the subfamily Cylominae (2n = 24–30) and in all subclades of the subfamily Sphaeridiinae (2n = 22–32). We summarize protocols for obtaining chromosome slides used for this study and provide step-by-step guidelines to facilitate future cytogenetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert B Angus
- Department of Life Sciences (Insects), Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - David Sadílek
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Fatma Shaarawi
- Department of Entomology, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Hsing-Che Liu
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Chaoyang University of TechnologyTaichung City, Taiwan
| | - Matthias Seidel
- Centrum für Naturkunde, University of Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King Platz, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Vít Sýkora
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Fikáček
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná, Praha, Czech Republic
- Department of Entomology, National Museum, Cirkusová, Praha, Czech Republic
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Cell Biology of Cheating—Transmission of Centromeres and Other Selfish Elements Through Asymmetric Meiosis. CENTROMERES AND KINETOCHORES 2017; 56:377-396. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-58592-5_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Ndiaye A, Chevret P, Dobigny G, Granjon L. Evolutionary systematics and biogeography of the arid habitat-adapted rodent genus Gerbillus
(Rodentia, Muridae): a mostly Plio-Pleistocene African history. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arame Ndiaye
- BIOPASS; CBGP Campus de Bel-Air (UCAD/ISRA/CBGP), IRD; Dakar Sénégal
- Département de Biologie Animale; Faculté des Sciences et Techniques; Université Cheikh Anta Diop; Dakar Sénégal
| | - Pascale Chevret
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive - UMR CNRS 5558; Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1; Villeurbanne Cedex France
| | - Gauthier Dobigny
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement; Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (CBGP, INRA/IRD/SUPAGRO/CIRAD); Montferrier-sur-Lez Cedex France
| | - Laurent Granjon
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement; Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (CBGP, INRA/IRD/SUPAGRO/CIRAD); Montferrier-sur-Lez Cedex France
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Ndiaye A, Tatard C, Stanley W, Granjon L. Taxonomic hypotheses regarding the genus Gerbillus (Rodentia, Muridae, Gerbillinae) based on molecular analyses of museum specimens. Zookeys 2016:145-55. [PMID: 27047247 PMCID: PMC4797206 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.566.7317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Methodological improvements now allow routine analyses of highly degraded DNA samples as found in museum specimens. Using these methods could be useful in studying such groups as rodents of the genus Gerbillus for which i) the taxonomy is still highly debated, ii) collection of fresh specimens may prove difficult. Here we address precise taxonomic questions using a small portion of the cytochrome b gene obtained from 45 dry skin/skull museum samples (from 1913 to 1974) originating from two African and three Asian countries. The specimens were labelled Gerbillusgerbillus, Gerbillusandersoni, Gerbillusnanus, Gerbillusamoenus, Gerbillusperpallidus and Gerbilluspyramidum, and molecular results mostly confirmed these assignations. The close relationship between Gerbillusnanus (Asian origin) and Gerbillusamoenus (African origin) confirmed that they represent vicariant sibling species which differentiated in allopatry on either side of the Red Sea. In the closely related Gerbillusperpallidus and Gerbilluspyramidum, specimens considered as belonging to one Gerbilluspyramidum subspecies (Gerbilluspyramidumfloweri) appeared closer to Gerbillusperpallidus suggesting that they (Gerbilluspyramidumfloweri and Gerbillusperpallidus) may represent a unique species, distributed on both sides of the Nile River, for which the correct name should be Gerbillusfloweri. Furthermore, the three other Gerbilluspyramidum subspecies grouped together with no apparent genetic structure suggesting that they may not yet represent genetically differentiated lineages. This study confirms the importance of using these methods on museum samples, which can open new perspectives in this particular group as well as in other groups of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arame Ndiaye
- Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, BP 5005, Senegal; BIOPASS (IRD-CBGP/ISRA/UCAD), Campus de Bel-Air, BP 1386, CP 18524 Dakar, Senegal
| | - Caroline Tatard
- UMR CBGP (INRA⁄IRD⁄CIRAD⁄Montpellier SupAgro), Campus International de Baillarguet, CS 30016, 34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez cedex, France
| | - William Stanley
- Science and Education, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605, U.S.A
| | - Laurent Granjon
- UMR CBGP (INRA⁄IRD⁄CIRAD⁄Montpellier SupAgro), Campus International de Baillarguet, CS 30016, 34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez cedex, France
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10
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Dobigny G, Britton-Davidian J, Robinson TJ. Chromosomal polymorphism in mammals: an evolutionary perspective. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2015; 92:1-21. [PMID: 26234165 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Revised: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Although chromosome rearrangements (CRs) are central to studies of genome evolution, our understanding of the evolutionary consequences of the early stages of karyotypic differentiation (i.e. polymorphism), especially the non-meiotic impacts, is surprisingly limited. We review the available data on chromosomal polymorphisms in mammals so as to identify taxa that hold promise for developing a more comprehensive understanding of chromosomal change. In doing so, we address several key questions: (i) to what extent are mammalian karyotypes polymorphic, and what types of rearrangements are principally involved? (ii) Are some mammalian lineages more prone to chromosomal polymorphism than others? More specifically, do (karyotypically) polymorphic mammalian species belong to lineages that are also characterized by past, extensive karyotype repatterning? (iii) How long can chromosomal polymorphisms persist in mammals? We discuss the evolutionary implications of these questions and propose several research avenues that may shed light on the role of chromosome change in the diversification of mammalian populations and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gauthier Dobigny
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (UMR IRD-INRA-Cirad-Montpellier SupAgro), Campus International de Baillarguet, CS30016, 34988, Montferrier-sur-Lez, France
| | - Janice Britton-Davidian
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Cc065, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Terence J Robinson
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7062, South Africa
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Chmátal L, Gabriel SI, Mitsainas GP, Martínez-Vargas J, Ventura J, Searle JB, Schultz RM, Lampson MA. Centromere strength provides the cell biological basis for meiotic drive and karyotype evolution in mice. Curr Biol 2014; 24:2295-300. [PMID: 25242031 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Revised: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian karyotypes (number and structure of chromosomes) can vary dramatically over short evolutionary time frames. There are examples of massive karyotype conversion, from mostly telocentric (centromere terminal) to mostly metacentric (centromere internal), in 10(2)-10(5) years. These changes typically reflect rapid fixation of Robertsonian (Rb) fusions, a common chromosomal rearrangement that joins two telocentric chromosomes at their centromeres to create one metacentric. Fixation of Rb fusions can be explained by meiotic drive: biased chromosome segregation during female meiosis in violation of Mendel's first law. However, there is no mechanistic explanation of why fusions would preferentially segregate to the egg in some populations, leading to fixation and karyotype change, while other populations preferentially eliminate the fusions and maintain a telocentric karyotype. Here we show, using both laboratory models and wild mice, that differences in centromere strength predict the direction of drive. Stronger centromeres, manifested by increased kinetochore protein levels and altered interactions with spindle microtubules, are preferentially retained in the egg. We find that fusions preferentially segregate to the polar body in laboratory mouse strains when the fusion centromeres are weaker than those of telocentrics. Conversely, fusion centromeres are stronger relative to telocentrics in natural house mouse populations that have changed karyotype by accumulating metacentric fusions. Our findings suggest that natural variation in centromere strength explains how the direction of drive can switch between populations. They also provide a cell biological basis of centromere drive and karyotype evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukáš Chmátal
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 433 South University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sofia I Gabriel
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Rua Ernesto Vasconcelos, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - George P Mitsainas
- Section of Animal Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Jessica Martínez-Vargas
- Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Jacint Ventura
- Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Jeremy B Searle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, E139 Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Richard M Schultz
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 433 South University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Michael A Lampson
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 433 South University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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12
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Zappes IA, Portella AS, Lessa GM. Description of Karyotype of Kerodon acrobata, an endemic rodent in Brazilian Cerrado. BRAZ J BIOL 2014; 74:251-6. [DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.23512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2012] [Accepted: 01/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Kerodon acrobata is a caviidae rodent endemic from Brazilian Cerrado. It was described only in 1997 and the data about it is very scarce. The aim of this work was to characterize the karyotype of K. acrobata. Giemsa staining, nucleolar organizer region (NOR) banding, C-positive heterochromatin banding and DAPI fluorescence were used in N metaphases of a specimen collected in Asa Branca Farm, in Aurora do Tocantins municipality, Tocantins state, Brazil. K. acrobata showed the same diploid number, fundamental number and chromosome morphology as Kerodon rupestris. But its NOR location and heterochromatin distribution patterns indicated a unique cytogenetic profile when compared to its sister species, emphasizing the evolutionary uniqueness of this relatively new and unknown species. This record also extends the distribution of this species northward.
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Affiliation(s)
- IA Zappes
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brasil
| | | | - GM Lessa
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brasil
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Knight LI, Ng BL, Cheng W, Fu B, Yang F, Rambau RV. Tracking chromosome evolution in southern African gerbils using flow-sorted chromosome paints. Cytogenet Genome Res 2013; 139:267-75. [PMID: 23652816 PMCID: PMC3721133 DOI: 10.1159/000350696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Desmodillus and Gerbilliscus (formerly Tatera) comprise a monophyletic group of gerbils (subfamily Gerbillinae) which last shared an ancestor approximately 8 million years ago; diploid chromosome number variation among the species ranges from 2n = 36 to 2n = 50. In an attempt to shed more light on chromosome evolution and speciation in these rodents, we compared the karyotypes of 7 species, representing 3 genera, based on homology data revealed by chromosome painting with probes derived from flow-sorted chromosomes of the hairy footed gerbil, Gerbillurus paeba (2n = 36). The fluorescent in situ hybridization data revealed remarkable genome conservation: these species share a high proportion of conserved chromosomes, and differences are due to 10 Robertsonian (Rb) rearrangements (3 autapomorphies, 3 synapomorphies and 4 hemiplasies/homoplasies). Our data suggest that chromosome evolution in Desmodillus occurred at a rate of ~1.25 rearrangements per million years (Myr), and that the rate among Gerbilliscus over a time period spanning 8 Myr is also ~1.25 rearrangements/Myr. The recently diverged Gerbillurus (G. tytonis and G. paeba) share an identical karyotype, while Gerbilliscus kempi, G. afra and G. leucogaster differ by 6 Rb rearrangements (a rate of ~1 rearrangement/Myr). Thus, our data suggests a very slow rate of chromosomal evolution in Southern African gerbils.
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Affiliation(s)
- L I Knight
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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14
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Romanenko SA, Volobouev V. Non-Sciuromorph rodent karyotypes in evolution. Cytogenet Genome Res 2012; 137:233-45. [PMID: 22699115 DOI: 10.1159/000339294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents are, taxonomically, the most species-rich mammalian order. They display a series of special genomic features including the highest karyotypic diversity, frequent occurrence of complex intraspecies chromosome variability, and a variety of unusual chromosomal sex determination mechanisms not encountered in other mammalian taxa. Rodents also have an abundance of cytochemically heterogeneous heterochromatin. There are also instances of extremely rapid karyotype reorganization and speciation not accompanied by significant genetic differentiation. All these peculiarities make it clear that a detailed study of rodent genomic evolution is indispensable to understand the mode and tempo of mammalian evolution. The aim of this review is to update the data obtained by classical and molecular cytogenetics as well as comparative genomics in order to outline the range of old and emerging problems that remain to be resolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Romanenko
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia.
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15
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Abramov AV, Aniskin VM, Rozhnov VV. Karyotypes of two rare rodents, Hapalomys delacouri and Typhlomys cinereus (Mammalia, Rodentia), from Vietnam. Zookeys 2012:41-9. [PMID: 22328851 PMCID: PMC3272621 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.164.1785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2011] [Accepted: 12/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Karyotypes of Hapalomys delacouri (Rodentia, Muridae) and Typhlomys cinereus (Rodentia, Platacanthomyidae) from Vietnam are described for the first time. The diploid karyotype of Hapalomys delacouri is 38 (NFa=48), consisting of six pairs of bi-armed and 12 pairs of acrocentric autosomes decreasing in size; plus a large metacentric X chromosome and Y chromosome, also metacentric, that is equal in size to the largest pair of acrocentric autosomes. The newly described karyotype differs significantly from that reported for Hapalomys delacouri from northern Thailand. The latter record very likely represents a different species of Hapalomys, possibly the taxon Hapalomys pasquieri described from north-central Laos.The diploid karyotype of Typhlomys cinereus is 38 (NF=48), consisting of five pairs of meta- to submetacentric and 14 pairs of acrocentric chromosomes varying in size from large to small; sex chromosomes were not defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei V Abramov
- Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab. 1, Saint-Petersburg 199034, Russia
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16
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Ndiaye A, Bâ K, Aniskin V, Benazzou T, Chevret P, Konečný A, Sembène M, Tatard C, Kergoat GJ, Granjon L. Evolutionary systematics and biogeography of endemic gerbils (Rodentia, Muridae) from Morocco: an integrative approach. ZOOL SCR 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-6409.2011.00501.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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17
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18
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Pagès M, Corbet G, Orth A, Volobouev V, Michaux J, Catzeflis F. Morphological, chromosomal, and genic differences between sympatricRattus rattusandRattus sataraein South India. J Mammal 2011. [DOI: 10.1644/10-mamm-a-033.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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19
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Solano E, Gilbert C, Richards L, Taylor PJ, Soarimalala V, Engelbrecht A, Goodman SM, Robinson TJ. First karyotypic descriptions of Malagasy rodents (Nesomyinae, Muridae) reveal variation at multiple taxonomic levels. J Zool (1987) 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00820.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Solano
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa
| | - C. Gilbert
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa
- Department of Biology, University of Texas, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - L. Richards
- School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu‐Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - P. J. Taylor
- Department of Ecology & Resource Management, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | | | - A. Engelbrecht
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa
| | - S. M. Goodman
- Association Vahatra, Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Department of Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - T. J. Robinson
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa
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20
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Hima K, Thiam M, Catalan J, Gauthier P, Duplantier JM, Piry S, Sembène M, Britton-Davidian J, Granjon L, Dobigny G. Extensive Robertsonian polymorphism in the African rodent Gerbillus nigeriae: geographic aspects and meiotic data. J Zool (1987) 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00803.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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21
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Abiadh A, Colangelo P, Capanna E, Lamine-Cheniti T, Chetoui M. Morphometric analysis of six Gerbillus species (Rodentia, Gerbillinae) from Tunisia. C R Biol 2010; 333:680-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2010.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2010] [Revised: 07/21/2010] [Accepted: 07/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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22
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Ito M, Jiang W, Sato JJ, Zhen Q, Jiao W, Goto K, Sato H, Ishiwata K, Oku Y, Chai JJ, Kamiya H. Molecular phylogeny of the subfamily Gerbillinae (Muridae, Rodentia) with emphasis on species living in the Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region of China and based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase subunit II genes. Zoolog Sci 2010; 27:269-78. [PMID: 20192696 DOI: 10.2108/zsj.27.269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Rodents belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae and living in the Xinjiang-Uygur autonomous region of China were collected in field surveys between 2001 and 2003. We found four Meriones species, including M. chengi M. liycus, M. meridianus, and M. tamariscinus, as well as related species from different genera, Rhombomys opimus and Brachiones przewaliskii For phylogenetic analyses of these gerbilline species, DNA sequences of parts of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COII) genes were examined with the neighbor Joining, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference methods. Our phylogenetic analyses suggest that the genus Meriones is not monophyletic and place M. tamaricinus as the sister taxon to a clade comprising Brachiones, Psammomys, Rhombomys, and the other Meriones species. The remaining Meriones species separate into three lineages: M. meridianus (including M. chengi), Meriones unguiculatus, and a clade that includes multiple Meriones species originating from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The phylogenetic relationships among the genera Brachines, Meriones, Psammomys, and Rhombomys remain ambiguous, probably due to the saturation of mutations that occurs in fast-evolving mitochondrial DNA. In addition, intraspecific variation was observed for M. meridianus, and this mostly correlated with collection localities, i.e., the northern and southern parts of the Xinjiang region. This variation corresponded to interspecific levels of divergence among other lineages of Meriones. Interestingly, no differences were observed in either the Cytb or COII gene sequences isolated from M. chengi collected from the Turfan Basin in the north and those from M. meridianus in the south, suggesting that M. chengi may be a synonym of M. meridianus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamoru Ito
- Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Kawasaki 216-0001, Japan.
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23
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Abiadh A, Chetoui M, Lamine-Cheniti T, Capanna E, Colangelo P. Molecular phylogenetics of the genus Gerbillus (Rodentia, Gerbillinae): Implications for systematics, taxonomy and chromosomal evolution. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2010; 56:513-8. [PMID: 20412863 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2010.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2009] [Revised: 12/25/2009] [Accepted: 04/12/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Although gerbils forms an important component of the mammalian fauna of arid and semi-arid area, the taxonomic and phylogenetic relationship within the species of the genus Gerbillus are still ambiguous. The present paper introduces findings based on the whole cytochrome b (1140 bp) mitochondrial genes of seven species (Gerbillus campestris, G. latastei, G. nanus, G. tarabuli, G. gerbillus, G. simoni and G. nigeriae) six of which are present in Tunisia. Our results show that all the Gerbillus species are monophyletic. Moreover, molecular phylogeny rejects the genus rank for the taxon Dipodillus. Gebillus nanus, a species belonging to the subgenus Hendecapleura, early diverged from the other species which are divided into two clades: the subgenus Dipodillus, including G. campestris and G. simoni and the subgenus Gerbillus including G. gerbillus, G. nigeriae, G. tarabuli and G. latastei. These results are congruent with morphological and karyological evidences. According to molecular clock, the appearance of the genus Gerbillus coincides with the Miocene-Pliocene expansion of African arid biomes. Extensive intraspecific chromosomal changes evolved in a relatively narrow lapse of time, like in the case of G. latastei, allowing the fixations of different chromosomal variants due to pericentric inversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Awatef Abiadh
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, FST Départment Biologie, Campus Universitaire, 2092 El Manar Tunis, Tunisia.
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FALEH ABDERRAOUFBEN, COSSON JEANFRANCOIS, TATARD CAROLINE, OTHMEN ABDELWAHEBBEN, SAID KHALED, GRANJON LAURENT. Are there two cryptic species of the lesser jerboa Jaculus jaculus (Rodentia: Dipodidae) in Tunisia? Evidence from molecular, morphometric, and cytogenetic data. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2010.01374.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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25
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Tracking genome organization in rodents by Zoo-FISH. Chromosome Res 2008; 16:261-74. [PMID: 18266061 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-007-1191-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2007] [Revised: 11/20/2007] [Accepted: 11/20/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The number of rodent species examined by modern comparative genomic approaches, particularly chromosome painting, is limited. The use of human whole-chromosome painting probes to detect regions of homology in the karyotypes of the rodent index species, the mouse and rat, has been hindered by the highly rearranged nature of their genomes. In contrast, recent studies have demonstrated that non-murid rodents display more conserved genomes, underscoring their suitability for comparative genomic and higher-order systematic studies. Here we provide the first comparative chromosome maps between human and representative rodents of three major rodent lineages Castoridae, Pedetidae and Dipodidae. A comprehensive analysis of these data and those published for Sciuridae show (1) that Castoridae, Pedetidae and Dipodidae form a monophyletic group, and (2) that the European beaver Castor fiber (Castoridae) and the birch mouse Sicista betulina (Dipodidae) are sister species to the exclusion of the springhare Pedetes capensis (Pedetidae), thus resolving an enduring trifurcation in rodent higher-level systematics. Our results together with published data on the Sciuridae allow the formulation of a putative rodent ancestral karyotype (2n = 50) that is thought to comprise the following 26 human chromosomal segments and/or segmental associations: HSA1pq, 1q/10p, 2pq, 2q, 3a, 3b/19p, 3c/21, 4b, 5, 6, 7a, 7b/16p, 8p/4a/8p, 8q, 9/11, 10q, 12a/22a, 12b/22b, 13, 14/15, 16q/19q, 17, 18, 20, X and Y. These findings provide insights into the likely composition of the ancestral rodent karyotype and an improved understanding of placental genome evolution.
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26
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Romanenko SA, Volobouev VT, Perelman PL, Lebedev VS, Serdukova NA, Trifonov VA, Biltueva LS, Nie W, O'Brien PCM, Bulatova NS, Ferguson-Smith MA, Yang F, Graphodatsky AS. Karyotype evolution and phylogenetic relationships of hamsters (Cricetidae, Muroidea, Rodentia) inferred from chromosomal painting and banding comparison. Chromosome Res 2007; 15:283-97. [PMID: 17333534 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-007-1124-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2006] [Revised: 01/08/2007] [Accepted: 01/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The evolutionary success of rodents of the superfamily Muroidea makes this taxon the most interesting for evolution studies, including study at the chromosomal level. Chromosome-specific painting probes from the Chinese hamster and the Syrian (golden) hamster were used to delimit homologous chromosomal segments among 15 hamster species from eight genera: Allocricetulus, Calomyscus, Cricetulus, Cricetus, Mesocricetus, Peromyscus, Phodopus and Tscherskia (Cricetidae, Muroidea, Rodentia). Based on results of chromosome painting and G-banding, comparative maps between 20 rodent species have been established. The integrated maps demonstrate a high level of karyotype conservation among species in the Cricetus group (Cricetus, Cricetulus, Allocricetulus) with Tscherskia as its sister group. Species within the genera Mesocricetus and Phodopus also show a high degree of chromosomal conservation. Our results substantiate many of the conclusions suggested by other data and strengthen the topology of the Muroidea phylogenetic tree through the inclusion of genome-wide chromosome rearrangements. The derivation of the muroids karyotypes from the putative ancestral state involved centric fusions, fissions, addition of heterochromatic arms and a great number of inversions. Our results provide further insights into the karyotype relationships of all species investigated.
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27
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Volobouev V, Aniskin VM, Sicard B, Dobigny G, Granjon L. Systematics and phylogeny of West African gerbils of the genus Gerbilliscus (Muridae: Gerbillinae) inferred from comparative G- and C-banding chromosomal analyses. Cytogenet Genome Res 2007; 116:269-81. [PMID: 17431325 DOI: 10.1159/000100411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2006] [Accepted: 12/15/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative analysis of the G- and C-banding patterns in six morphologically similar species of the genus Gerbilliscus(G. gambianus, G. guineae, G. kempi, Gerbilliscus sp., G. robustus and G. leucogaster) and one belonging to the genus Gerbillurus (G. tytonis) from 27 West, East and South African localities was carried out. Our study revealed that 17 rearrangements comprising seven fissions, five translocations and five inversions occurred in the evolution of this group, with 1-13 rearrangements differentiating the various species. In addition the unusually large sex chromosomes appear to be species-specific as judged by size and morphology reflecting structural rearrangements as well as the variable presence of a large amount of C-heterochromatin found in each species at a particular chromosomal location. These karyotypic features allow us to recognize five distinct species in West Africa (compared to the two recognized in recent taxonomic lists) and to roughly delimit their geographical distributions. The pattern of phylogenetic relationships inferred from a cladistic analysis of the chromosomal data is in good agreement with recent molecular phylogenetic studies that recognize a West African species group within the genus Gerbilliscus, and the monophyly of both Gerbilliscus and Gerbillurus.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Volobouev
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR 5202 Origine, Structure et Evolution de la Biodiversité, Paris, France.
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