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Alves Barcellos S, Kretschmer R, Santos de Souza M, Tura V, Pozzobon LC, Ochotorena de Freitas TR, Griffin DK, O'Connor R, Gunski RJ, Del Valle Garnero A. Understanding microchromosomal organization and evolution in four representative woodpeckers (Picidae, Piciformes) through BAC-FISH analysis. Genome 2024. [PMID: 38742652 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2023-0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The genome organization of woodpeckers has several distinctive features e.g., an uncommon accumulation of repetitive sequences, enlarged Z chromosomes, and atypical diploid numbers. Despite the large diversity of species, there is a paucity of detailed cytogenomic studies for this group and we thus aimed to rectify this. Genome organization patterns and hence evolutionary change in the microchromosome formation of four species (Colaptes campestris, Veniliornis spilogaster, Melanerpes candidus, and Picumnus nebulosus) was established through fluorescence in situ hybridization using bacterial artificial chromosomes originally derived from Gallus gallus and Taeniopygia guttata. Findings suggest that P. nebulosus (2n = 110), which was described for the first time, had the most basal karyotype among species of Picidae studied here, and probably arose as a result of fissions of avian ancestral macrochromosomes. We defined a new chromosomal number for V. spilogaster (2n = 88) and demonstrated microchromosomal rearrangements involving C. campestris plus a single, unique hitherto undescribed rearrangement in V. spilogaster. This comprised an inversion after a fusion involving the ancestral microchromosome 12 (homologous to chicken microchromosome 12). We also determined that the low diploid number of M. candidus is related to microchromosome fusions. Woodpeckers thus exhibit significantly rearranged karyotypes compared to the putative ancestral karyotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suziane Alves Barcellos
- Laboratório de Diversidade Genética Animal, Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel 97300-162, RS, Brazil
| | - Rafael Kretschmer
- Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-900, RS, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Santos de Souza
- Laboratório de Diversidade Genética Animal, Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel 97300-162, RS, Brazil
| | - Victoria Tura
- Laboratório de Diversidade Genética Animal, Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel 97300-162, RS, Brazil
| | - Luciano Cesar Pozzobon
- Departamento de Genética, Laboratório de Citogenética e Evolução, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91509-900, RS, Brazil
| | - Thales Renato Ochotorena de Freitas
- Departamento de Genética, Laboratório de Citogenética e Evolução, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91509-900, RS, Brazil
| | - Darren K Griffin
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Rebecca O'Connor
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Ricardo José Gunski
- Laboratório de Diversidade Genética Animal, Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel 97300-162, RS, Brazil
| | - Analía Del Valle Garnero
- Laboratório de Diversidade Genética Animal, Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel 97300-162, RS, Brazil
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2
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Wu S, Dou T, Yuan S, Yan S, Xu Z, Liu Y, Jian Z, Zhao J, Zhao R, Zi X, Gu D, Liu L, Li Q, Wu DD, Jia J, Ge C, Su Z, Wang K. Annotations of four high-quality indigenous chicken genomes identify more than one thousand missing genes in subtelomeric regions and micro-chromosomes with high G/C contents. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:430. [PMID: 38693501 PMCID: PMC11061957 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10316-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although multiple chicken genomes have been assembled and annotated, the numbers of protein-coding genes in chicken genomes and their variation among breeds are still uncertain due to the low quality of these genome assemblies and limited resources used in their gene annotations. To fill these gaps, we recently assembled genomes of four indigenous chicken breeds with distinct traits at chromosome-level. In this study, we annotated genes in each of these assembled genomes using a combination of RNA-seq- and homology-based approaches. RESULTS We identified varying numbers (17,497-17,718) of protein-coding genes in the four indigenous chicken genomes, while recovering 51 of the 274 "missing" genes in birds in general, and 36 of the 174 "missing" genes in chickens in particular. Intriguingly, based on deeply sequenced RNA-seq data collected in multiple tissues in the four breeds, we found 571 ~ 627 protein-coding genes in each genome, which were missing in the annotations of the reference chicken genomes (GRCg6a and GRCg7b/w). After removing redundancy, we ended up with a total of 1,420 newly annotated genes (NAGs). The NAGs tend to be found in subtelomeric regions of macro-chromosomes (chr1 to chr5, plus chrZ) and middle chromosomes (chr6 to chr13, plus chrW), as well as in micro-chromosomes (chr14 to chr39) and unplaced contigs, where G/C contents are high. Moreover, the NAGs have elevated quadruplexes G frequencies, while both G/C contents and quadruplexes G frequencies in their surrounding regions are also high. The NAGs showed tissue-specific expression, and we were able to verify 39 (92.9%) of 42 randomly selected ones in various tissues of the four chicken breeds using RT-qPCR experiments. Most of the NAGs were also encoded in the reference chicken genomes, thus, these genomes might harbor more genes than previously thought. CONCLUSION The NAGs are widely distributed in wild, indigenous and commercial chickens, and they might play critical roles in chicken physiology. Counting these new genes, chicken genomes harbor more genes than originally thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwen Wu
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Tengfei Dou
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Sisi Yuan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Shixiong Yan
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhiqiang Xu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zonghui Jian
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jingying Zhao
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Rouhan Zhao
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiannian Zi
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Dahai Gu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lixian Liu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Qihua Li
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Dong-Dong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Junjing Jia
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Changrong Ge
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhengchang Su
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Kun Wang
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
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3
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Mezzasalma M, Macirella R, Odierna G, Brunelli E. Karyotype Diversification and Chromosome Rearrangements in Squamate Reptiles. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:371. [PMID: 38540430 PMCID: PMC10970613 DOI: 10.3390/genes15030371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Karyotype diversification represents an important, yet poorly understood, driver of evolution. Squamate reptiles are characterized by a high taxonomic diversity which is reflected at the karyotype level in terms of general structure, chromosome number and morphology, and insurgence of differentiated simple or multiple-sex-chromosome systems with either male or female heterogamety. The potential of squamate reptiles as unique model organisms in evolutionary cytogenetics has been recognised in recent years in several studies, which have provided novel insights into the chromosome evolutionary dynamics of different taxonomic groups. Here, we review and summarize the resulting complex, but promising, general picture from a systematic perspective, mapping some of the main squamate karyological characteristics onto their phylogenetic relationships. We highlight how all the major categories of balanced chromosome rearrangements contributed to the karyotype evolution in different taxonomic groups. We show that distinct karyotype evolutionary trends may occur, and coexist, with different frequencies in different clades. Finally, in light of the known squamate chromosome diversity and recent research advances, we discuss traditional and novel hypotheses on karyotype evolution and propose a scenario of circular karyotype evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Mezzasalma
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, 87036 Rende, Italy; (R.M.); (E.B.)
| | - Rachele Macirella
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, 87036 Rende, Italy; (R.M.); (E.B.)
| | - Gaetano Odierna
- Independent Researcher, Via Michelangelo 123, 81031 Aversa, Italy;
| | - Elvira Brunelli
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, 87036 Rende, Italy; (R.M.); (E.B.)
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4
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Fornaini NR, Černohorská H, do Vale Martins L, Knytl M. Cytogenetic Analysis of the Fish Genus Carassius Indicates Divergence, Fission, and Segmental Duplication as Drivers of Tandem Repeat and Microchromosome Evolution. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae028. [PMID: 38340334 PMCID: PMC11079324 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae028] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Fishes of the genus Carassius are useful experimental vertebrate models for the study of evolutionary biology and cytogenetics. Carassius demonstrates diverse biological characteristics, such as variation in ploidy levels and chromosome numbers, and presence of microchromosomes. Those Carassius polyploids with ≥150 chromosomes have microchromosomes, but the origin of microchromosomes, especially in European populations, is unknown. We used cytogenetics to study evolution of tandem repeats (U1 and U2 small nuclear DNAs and H3 histone) and microchromosomes in Carassius from the Czech Republic. We tested the hypotheses whether the number of tandem repeats was affected by polyploidization or divergence between species and what mechanism drives evolution of microchromosomes. Tandem repeats were found in tetraploid and hexaploid Carassius gibelio, and tetraploid Carassius auratus and Carassius carassius in conserved numbers, with the exception of U1 small nuclear DNA in C. auratus. This conservation indicates reduction and/or loss in the number of copies per locus in hexaploids and may have occurred by divergence rather than polyploidization. To study the evolution of microchromosomes, we used the whole microchromosome painting probe from hexaploid C. gibelio and hybridized it to tetraploid and hexaploid C. gibelio, and tetraploid C. auratus and C. carassius. Our results revealed variation in the number of microchromosomes in hexaploids and indicated that the evolution of the Carassius karyotype is governed by macrochromosome fissions followed by segmental duplication in pericentromeric areas. These are potential mechanisms responsible for the presence of microchromosomes in Carassius hexaploids. Differential efficacy of one or both of these mechanisms in different tetraploids could ensure variability in chromosome number in polyploids in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola R Fornaini
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 12843, Czech Republic
| | - Halina Černohorská
- Genetics and Reproductive Biotechnologies, CEITEC—Veterinary Research Institute, Brno 62100, Czech Republic
| | | | - Martin Knytl
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 12843, Czech Republic
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S4K1, Canada
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5
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Hoge C, de Manuel M, Mahgoub M, Okami N, Fuller Z, Banerjee S, Baker Z, McNulty M, Andolfatto P, Macfarlan TS, Schumer M, Tzika AC, Przeworski M. Patterns of recombination in snakes reveal a tug-of-war between PRDM9 and promoter-like features. Science 2024; 383:eadj7026. [PMID: 38386752 DOI: 10.1126/science.adj7026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
In some mammals, notably humans, recombination occurs almost exclusively where the protein PRDM9 binds, whereas in vertebrates lacking an intact PRDM9, such as birds and canids, recombination rates are elevated near promoter-like features. To determine whether PRDM9 directs recombination in nonmammalian vertebrates, we focused on an exemplar species with a single, intact PRDM9 ortholog, the corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus). Analyzing historical recombination rates along the genome and crossovers in pedigrees, we found evidence that PRDM9 specifies the location of recombination events, but we also detected a separable effect of promoter-like features. These findings reveal that the uses of PRDM9 and promoter-like features need not be mutually exclusive and instead reflect a tug-of-war that is more even in some species than others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Hoge
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marc de Manuel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mohamed Mahgoub
- The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Naima Okami
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zachary Fuller
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shreya Banerjee
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Zachary Baker
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Morgan McNulty
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter Andolfatto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Todd S Macfarlan
- The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Molly Schumer
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Athanasia C Tzika
- Laboratory of Artificial & Natural Evolution (LANE), Department of Genetics & Evolution, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Molly Przeworski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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6
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O’Connor RE, Kretschmer R, Romanov MN, Griffin DK. A Bird's-Eye View of Chromosomic Evolution in the Class Aves. Cells 2024; 13:310. [PMID: 38391923 PMCID: PMC10886771 DOI: 10.3390/cells13040310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Birds (Aves) are the most speciose of terrestrial vertebrates, displaying Class-specific characteristics yet incredible external phenotypic diversity. Critical to agriculture and as model organisms, birds have adapted to many habitats. The only extant examples of dinosaurs, birds emerged ~150 mya and >10% are currently threatened with extinction. This review is a comprehensive overview of avian genome ("chromosomic") organization research based mostly on chromosome painting and BAC-based studies. We discuss traditional and contemporary tools for reliably generating chromosome-level assemblies and analyzing multiple species at a higher resolution and wider phylogenetic distance than previously possible. These results permit more detailed investigations into inter- and intrachromosomal rearrangements, providing unique insights into evolution and speciation mechanisms. The 'signature' avian karyotype likely arose ~250 mya and remained largely unchanged in most groups including extinct dinosaurs. Exceptions include Psittaciformes, Falconiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Cuculiformes, Suliformes, occasional Passeriformes, Ciconiiformes, and Pelecaniformes. The reasons for this remarkable conservation may be the greater diploid chromosome number generating variation (the driver of natural selection) through a greater possible combination of gametes and/or an increase in recombination rate. A deeper understanding of avian genomic structure permits the exploration of fundamental biological questions pertaining to the role of evolutionary breakpoint regions and homologous synteny blocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E. O’Connor
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (R.E.O.); (M.N.R.)
| | - Rafael Kretschmer
- Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Campus Universitário Capão do Leão, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-900, RS, Brazil;
| | - Michael N. Romanov
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (R.E.O.); (M.N.R.)
- L. K. Ernst Federal Research Centre for Animal Husbandry, Dubrovitsy, 142132 Podolsk, Moscow Oblast, Russia
| | - Darren K. Griffin
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (R.E.O.); (M.N.R.)
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7
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Weghorst F, Torres Marcén M, Faridi G, Lee YCG, Cramer KS. Deep Conservation and Unexpected Evolutionary History of Neighboring lncRNAs MALAT1 and NEAT1. J Mol Evol 2024; 92:30-41. [PMID: 38189925 PMCID: PMC10869381 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-023-10151-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have begun to receive overdue attention for their regulatory roles in gene expression and other cellular processes. Although most lncRNAs are lowly expressed and tissue-specific, notable exceptions include MALAT1 and its genomic neighbor NEAT1, two highly and ubiquitously expressed oncogenes with roles in transcriptional regulation and RNA splicing. Previous studies have suggested that NEAT1 is found only in mammals, while MALAT1 is present in all gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates) except birds. Here we show that these assertions are incomplete, likely due to the challenges associated with properly identifying these two lncRNAs. Using phylogenetic analysis and structure-aware annotation of publicly available genomic and RNA-seq coverage data, we show that NEAT1 is a common feature of tetrapod genomes except birds and squamates. Conversely, we identify MALAT1 in representative species of all major gnathostome clades, including birds. Our in-depth examination of MALAT1, NEAT1, and their genomic context in a wide range of vertebrate species allows us to reconstruct the series of events that led to the formation of the locus containing these genes in taxa from cartilaginous fish to mammals. This evolutionary history includes the independent loss of NEAT1 in birds and squamates, since NEAT1 is found in the closest living relatives of both clades (crocodilians and tuataras, respectively). These data clarify the origins and relationships of MALAT1 and NEAT1 and highlight an opportunity to study the change and continuity in lncRNA structure and function over deep evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Forrest Weghorst
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Martí Torres Marcén
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Garrison Faridi
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Yuh Chwen G Lee
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Karina S Cramer
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, USA.
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8
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Davalos-Dehullu E, Baty SM, Fisher RN, Scott PA, Dolby GA, Munguia-Vega A, Cortez D. Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of the Blacktail Brush Lizard, Urosaurus nigricaudus, Reveals Dosage Compensation in an Endemic Lizard. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad210. [PMID: 38056449 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Urosaurus nigricaudus is a phrynosomatid lizard endemic to the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. This work presents a chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation from a male individual. We used PacBio long reads and HiRise scaffolding to generate a high-quality genomic assembly of 1.87 Gb distributed in 327 scaffolds, with an N50 of 279 Mb and an L50 of 3. Approximately 98.4% of the genome is contained in 14 scaffolds, with 6 large scaffolds (334-127 Mb) representing macrochromosomes and 8 small scaffolds (63-22 Mb) representing microchromosomes. Using standard gene modeling and transcriptomic data, we predicted 17,902 protein-coding genes on the genome. The repeat content is characterized by a large proportion of long interspersed nuclear elements that are relatively old. Synteny analysis revealed some microchromosomes with high repeat content are more prone to rearrangements but that both macro- and microchromosomes are well conserved across reptiles. We identified scaffold 14 as the X chromosome. This microchromosome presents perfect dosage compensation where the single X of males has the same expression levels as two X chromosomes in females. Finally, we estimated the effective population size for U. nigricaudus was extremely low, which may reflect a reduction in polymorphism related to it becoming a peninsular endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Davalos-Dehullu
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Programa de Biología de Sistemas, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Baja GeoGenomics Consortium
| | - Sarah M Baty
- Baja GeoGenomics Consortium
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Robert N Fisher
- Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Peter A Scott
- Natural Sciences Collegium, Eckerd College, St Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Greer A Dolby
- Baja GeoGenomics Consortium
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama USA
| | - Adrian Munguia-Vega
- Baja GeoGenomics Consortium
- Conservation Genetics Laboratory, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Applied Genomics Lab, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - Diego Cortez
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Programa de Biología de Sistemas, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Baja GeoGenomics Consortium
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9
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Sales-Oliveira V, Altmanová M, Gvoždík V, Kretschmer R, Ezaz T, Liehr T, Padutsch N, Badjedjea G, Utsunomia R, Tanomtong A, Cioffi M. Cross-species chromosome painting and repetitive DNA mapping illuminate the karyotype evolution in true crocodiles (Crocodylidae). Chromosoma 2023; 132:289-303. [PMID: 37493806 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-023-00806-6] [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: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Crocodilians have maintained very similar karyotype structures and diploid chromosome numbers for around 100 million years, with only minor variations in collinearity. Why this karyotype structure has largely stayed unaltered for so long is unclear. In this study, we analyzed the karyotypes of six species belonging to the genera Crocodylus and Osteolaemus (Crocodylidae, true crocodiles), among which the Congolian endemic O. osborni was included and investigated. We utilized various techniques (differential staining, fluorescence in situ hybridization with repetitive DNA and rDNA probes, whole chromosome painting, and comparative genomic hybridization) to better understand how crocodile chromosomes evolved. We studied representatives of three of the four main diploid chromosome numbers found in crocodiles (2n = 30/32/38). Our data provided new information about the species studied, including the identification of four major chromosomal rearrangements that occurred during the karyotype diversification process in crocodiles. These changes led to the current diploid chromosome numbers of 2n = 30 (fusion) and 2n = 38 (fissions), derived from the ancestral state of 2n = 32. The conserved cytogenetic tendency in crocodilians, where extant species keep near-ancestral state, contrasts with the more dynamic karyotype evolution seen in other major reptile groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Sales-Oliveira
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marie Altmanová
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 27721, Liběchov, Czech Republic
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12844, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Gvoždík
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology, National Museum of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Rafael Kretschmer
- Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - Thomas Liehr
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Niklas Padutsch
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Gabriel Badjedjea
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Biodiversity Monitoring Center, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Alongklod Tanomtong
- Department of Biology Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Muang, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Marcelo Cioffi
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
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10
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Naveira H, Rojo V, Gómez-Seoane I, Ferguson-Smith MA, Pereira JC, Martínez-Lage A. Chromosome evolution in Iberolacerta, a genus that deviates from the standard karyotype formula of Lacertidae. Genetica 2023; 151:267-279. [PMID: 37656321 PMCID: PMC10654178 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-023-00194-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes the preparation of flow-sorted chromosome paints from the Iberian Rock lizard Iberolacerta monticola, exemplifying their subsequent use in cross-species comparisons of chromosome painting. We carried out comparative analyses of chromosome evolution in the congeneric species I. galani and I. bonnali, as well as in two other species of Lacertini (Lacerta schreiberi and Timon lepidus) whose sex chromosomes were also studied through comparative genomic hybridization. Most species of Lacertini possess a diplod number of 2n = 38, with 36 acrocentric macrochromosomes and 2 microchromosomes. However, the nine species included in the genus Iberolacerta do not possess microchromosomes. Furthermore, very conspicuous differences from the standard Lacertini karyotype were observed in the three Pyrenean species of this genus, which included several biarmed metacentrics and a Z1Z2W multiple sex-chromosome system. With the possible exception of L. schreiberi, all the species of the family Lacertidae described to date appear to share homologous Z chromosomes, which date back to the last common ancestor of the whole group. We provide conclusive evidence that L. schreiberi should no longer be considered an exception to this rule, and demonstrate that the loss of microchromosomes in Iberolacerta was produced by their fusion to a middle-sized chromosome. Furthermore, we show that the multiple sex-chromosome system of the Pyrenean species of Iberolacerta originated from the fusion of the ancestral W chromosome with one of the shortest autosomes, and provide additional evidence of the fast evolution of DNA sequences linked to the W chromosome in Lacertini.
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Affiliation(s)
- Horacio Naveira
- Grupo de Investigación en Bioloxía Evolutiva, Departamento de Bioloxía, Facultade de Ciencias, CICA, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.
| | | | - Iván Gómez-Seoane
- Grupo de Investigación en Terapia Celular y Medicina Regenerativa, INIBIC, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Malcolm A Ferguson-Smith
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge Resource Centre for Comparative Genomics, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jorge C Pereira
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, AL 4AnimalS, Vila Real, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Andrés Martínez-Lage
- Grupo de Investigación en Bioloxía Evolutiva, Departamento de Bioloxía, Facultade de Ciencias, CICA, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
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11
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Rasoarahona R, Wattanadilokchatkun P, Panthum T, Jaisamut K, Lisachov A, Thong T, Singchat W, Ahmad SF, Han K, Kraichak E, Muangmai N, Koga A, Duengkae P, Antunes A, Srikulnath K. MicrosatNavigator: exploring nonrandom distribution and lineage-specificity of microsatellite repeat motifs on vertebrate sex chromosomes across 186 whole genomes. Chromosome Res 2023; 31:29. [PMID: 37775555 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-023-09738-4] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Microsatellites are short tandem DNA repeats, ubiquitous in genomes. They are believed to be under selection pressure, considering their high distribution and abundance beyond chance or random accumulation. However, limited analysis of microsatellites in single taxonomic groups makes it challenging to understand their evolutionary significance across taxonomic boundaries. Despite abundant genomic information, microsatellites have been studied in limited contexts and within a few species, warranting an unbiased examination of their genome-wide distribution in distinct versus closely related-clades. Large-scale comparisons have revealed relevant trends, especially in vertebrates. Here, "MicrosatNavigator", a new tool that allows quick and reliable investigation of perfect microsatellites in DNA sequences, was developed. This tool can identify microsatellites across the entire genome sequences. Using this tool, microsatellite repeat motifs were identified in the genome sequences of 186 vertebrates. A significant positive correlation was noted between the abundance, density, length, and GC bias of microsatellites and specific lineages. The (AC)n motif is the most prevalent in vertebrate genomes, showing distinct patterns in closely related species. Longer microsatellites were observed on sex chromosomes in birds and mammals but not on autosomes. Microsatellites on sex chromosomes of non-fish vertebrates have the lowest GC content, whereas high-GC microsatellites (≥ 50 M% GC) are preferred in bony and cartilaginous fishes. Thus, similar selective forces and mutational processes may constrain GC-rich microsatellites to different clades. These findings should facilitate investigations into the roles of microsatellites in sex chromosome differentiation and provide candidate microsatellites for functional analysis across the vertebrate evolutionary spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Rasoarahona
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Sciences for Industry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Pish Wattanadilokchatkun
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Thitipong Panthum
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Kitipong Jaisamut
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Artem Lisachov
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Thanyapat Thong
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Worapong Singchat
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Syed Farhan Ahmad
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Kyudong Han
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, College of Science & Technology, Dankook University, Cheonan, 31116, Republic of Korea
- Center for Bio-Medical Engineering Core Facility, Dankook University, Cheonan, 31116, Republic of Korea
| | - Ekaphan Kraichak
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Narongrit Muangmai
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Akihiko Koga
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Prateep Duengkae
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Agostinho Antunes
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros Do Porto de Leixes, Av. General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, S/N, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Kornsorn Srikulnath
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
- Sciences for Industry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
- Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National Research University-Kasetsart University, Kasetsart University, (CASTNAR, NRU-KU, Thailand), Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
- Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology (AG-BIO/PERDO-CHE), Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
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12
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Yamaguchi K, Uno Y, Kadota M, Nishimura O, Nozu R, Murakumo K, Matsumoto R, Sato K, Kuraku S. Elasmobranch genome sequencing reveals evolutionary trends of vertebrate karyotype organization. Genome Res 2023; 33:1527-1540. [PMID: 37591668 PMCID: PMC10620051 DOI: 10.1101/gr.276840.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Genomic studies of vertebrate chromosome evolution have long been hindered by the scarcity of chromosome-scale DNA sequences of some key taxa. One of those limiting taxa has been the elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), which harbor species often with numerous chromosomes and enlarged genomes. Here, we report the chromosome-scale genome assembly for the zebra shark Stegostoma tigrinum, an endangered species that has a relatively small genome among sharks (3.71 Gb), as well as for the whale shark Rhincodon typus Our analysis using a male-female comparison identified an X Chromosome, the first genomically characterized shark sex chromosome. The X Chromosome harbors the Hox C cluster whose intact linkage has not been shown for an elasmobranch fish. The sequenced shark genomes show a gradualism of chromosome length with remarkable length-dependent characteristics-shorter chromosomes tend to have higher GC content, gene density, synonymous substitution rate, and simple tandem repeat content as well as smaller gene length and lower interspersed repeat content. We challenge the traditional binary classification of karyotypes as with and without so-called microchromosomes. Even without microchromosomes, the length-dependent characteristics persist widely in nonmammalian vertebrates. Our investigation of elasmobranch karyotypes underpins their unique characteristics and provides clues for understanding how vertebrate karyotypes accommodate intragenomic heterogeneity to realize a complex readout. It also paves the way to dissecting more genomes with variable sizes to be sequenced at high quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuaki Yamaguchi
- Laboratory for Phyloinformatics, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), 650-0047, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Uno
- Laboratory for Phyloinformatics, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), 650-0047, Kobe, Japan
| | - Mitsutaka Kadota
- Laboratory for Phyloinformatics, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), 650-0047, Kobe, Japan
| | - Osamu Nishimura
- Laboratory for Phyloinformatics, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), 650-0047, Kobe, Japan
| | - Ryo Nozu
- Okinawa Churashima Research Center, Okinawa Churashima Foundation, 905-0206, Okinawa, Japan
| | | | | | - Keiichi Sato
- Okinawa Churashima Research Center, Okinawa Churashima Foundation, 905-0206, Okinawa, Japan
- Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, 905-0206, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Shigehiro Kuraku
- Laboratory for Phyloinformatics, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), 650-0047, Kobe, Japan;
- Molecular Life History Laboratory, Department of Genomics and Evolutionary Biology, National Institute of Genetics, 411-8540, Mishima, Japan
- Department of Genetics, Sokendai (Graduate University for Advanced Studies), 411-8540, Mishima, Japan
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13
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Pinto BJ, Gamble T, Smith CH, Wilson MA. A lizard is never late: Squamate genomics as a recent catalyst for understanding sex chromosome and microchromosome evolution. J Hered 2023; 114:445-458. [PMID: 37018459 PMCID: PMC10445521 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esad023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2011, the first high-quality genome assembly of a squamate reptile (lizard or snake) was published for the green anole. Dozens of genome assemblies were subsequently published over the next decade, yet these assemblies were largely inadequate for answering fundamental questions regarding genome evolution in squamates due to their lack of contiguity or annotation. As the "genomics age" was beginning to hit its stride in many organismal study systems, progress in squamates was largely stagnant following the publication of the green anole genome. In fact, zero high-quality (chromosome-level) squamate genomes were published between the years 2012 and 2017. However, since 2018, an exponential increase in high-quality genome assemblies has materialized with 24 additional high-quality genomes published for species across the squamate tree of life. As the field of squamate genomics is rapidly evolving, we provide a systematic review from an evolutionary genomics perspective. We collated a near-complete list of publicly available squamate genome assemblies from more than half-a-dozen international and third-party repositories and systematically evaluated them with regard to their overall quality, phylogenetic breadth, and usefulness for continuing to provide accurate and efficient insights into genome evolution across squamate reptiles. This review both highlights and catalogs the currently available genomic resources in squamates and their ability to address broader questions in vertebrates, specifically sex chromosome and microchromosome evolution, while addressing why squamates may have received less historical focus and has caused their progress in genomics to lag behind peer taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan J Pinto
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Department of Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Tony Gamble
- Department of Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, United States
| | - Chase H Smith
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Melissa A Wilson
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Biodesign Institute, Tempe, AZ, United States
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14
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Hoge C, de Manuel M, Mahgoub M, Okami N, Fuller Z, Banerjee S, Baker Z, McNulty M, Andolfatto P, Macfarlan TS, Schumer M, Tzika AC, Przeworski M. Patterns of recombination in snakes reveal a tug of war between PRDM9 and promoter-like features. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.11.548536. [PMID: 37502971 PMCID: PMC10369914 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.11.548536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
In vertebrates, there are two known mechanisms by which meiotic recombination is directed to the genome: in humans, mice, and other mammals, recombination occurs almost exclusively where the protein PRDM9 binds, while in species lacking an intact PRDM9, such as birds and canids, recombination rates are elevated near promoter-like features. To test if PRDM9 also directs recombination in non-mammalian vertebrates, we focused on an exemplar species, the corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus). Unlike birds, this species possesses a single, intact PRDM9 ortholog. By inferring historical recombination rates along the genome from patterns of linkage disequilibrium and identifying crossovers in pedigrees, we found that PRDM9 specifies the location of recombination events outside of mammals. However, we also detected an independent effect of promoter-like features on recombination, which is more pronounced on macro- than microchromosomes. Thus, our findings reveal that the uses of PRDM9 and promoter-like features are not mutually-exclusive, and instead reflect a tug of war, which varies in strength along the genome and is more lopsided in some species than others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Hoge
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, Columbia University
| | | | - Mohamed Mahgoub
- The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Naima Okami
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, Columbia University
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Todd S Macfarlan
- The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Molly Schumer
- Dept. of Biology, Stanford University
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Athanasia C Tzika
- Laboratory of Artificial & Natural Evolution (LANE), Department of Genetics & Evolution, University of Geneva
| | - Molly Przeworski
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, Columbia University
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA
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15
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Olmo E. Reptile Evolution and Genetics: An Overview. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1924. [PMID: 37370434 PMCID: PMC10295626 DOI: 10.3390/ani13121924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of evolution has been indissolubly linked to the study of heredity since its inception [1]. [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Ettore Olmo
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche via Brecce Bianche Ancona, 60121 Ancona, Italy
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16
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Pinto BJ, Gamble T, Smith CH, Wilson MA. A lizard is never late: squamate genomics as a recent catalyst for understanding sex chromosome and microchromosome evolution. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.20.524006. [PMID: 37034614 PMCID: PMC10081179 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.20.524006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In 2011, the first high-quality genome assembly of a squamate reptile (lizard or snake) was published for the green anole. Dozens of genome assemblies were subsequently published over the next decade, yet these assemblies were largely inadequate for answering fundamental questions regarding genome evolution in squamates due to their lack of contiguity or annotation. As the "genomics age" was beginning to hit its stride in many organismal study systems, progress in squamates was largely stagnant following the publication of the green anole genome. In fact, zero high-quality (chromosome-level) squamate genomes were published between the years 2012-2017. However, since 2018, an exponential increase in high-quality genome assemblies has materialized with 24 additional high-quality genomes published for species across the squamate tree of life. As the field of squamate genomics is rapidly evolving, we provide a systematic review from an evolutionary genomics perspective. We collated a near-complete list of publicly available squamate genome assemblies from more than half-a-dozen international and third-party repositories and systematically evaluated them with regard to their overall quality, phylogenetic breadth, and usefulness for continuing to provide accurate and efficient insights into genome evolution across squamate reptiles. This review both highlights and catalogs the currently available genomic resources in squamates and their ability to address broader questions in vertebrates, specifically sex chromosome and microchromosome evolution, while addressing why squamates may have received less historical focus and has caused their progress in genomics to lag behind peer taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan J Pinto
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ USA
- Department of Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI USA
| | - Tony Gamble
- Department of Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee WI USA
- Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN USA
| | - Chase H Smith
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Melissa A Wilson
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ USA
- Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Biodesign Institute, Tempe, AZ USA
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17
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Genome Evolution and the Future of Phylogenomics of Non-Avian Reptiles. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13030471. [PMID: 36766360 PMCID: PMC9913427 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-avian reptiles comprise a large proportion of amniote vertebrate diversity, with squamate reptiles-lizards and snakes-recently overtaking birds as the most species-rich tetrapod radiation. Despite displaying an extraordinary diversity of phenotypic and genomic traits, genomic resources in non-avian reptiles have accumulated more slowly than they have in mammals and birds, the remaining amniotes. Here we review the remarkable natural history of non-avian reptiles, with a focus on the physical traits, genomic characteristics, and sequence compositional patterns that comprise key axes of variation across amniotes. We argue that the high evolutionary diversity of non-avian reptiles can fuel a new generation of whole-genome phylogenomic analyses. A survey of phylogenetic investigations in non-avian reptiles shows that sequence capture-based approaches are the most commonly used, with studies of markers known as ultraconserved elements (UCEs) especially well represented. However, many other types of markers exist and are increasingly being mined from genome assemblies in silico, including some with greater information potential than UCEs for certain investigations. We discuss the importance of high-quality genomic resources and methods for bioinformatically extracting a range of marker sets from genome assemblies. Finally, we encourage herpetologists working in genomics, genetics, evolutionary biology, and other fields to work collectively towards building genomic resources for non-avian reptiles, especially squamates, that rival those already in place for mammals and birds. Overall, the development of this cross-amniote phylogenomic tree of life will contribute to illuminate interesting dimensions of biodiversity across non-avian reptiles and broader amniotes.
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18
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Cytogenetic Analysis of Seven Species of Gekkonid and Phyllodactylid Geckos. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14010178. [PMID: 36672918 PMCID: PMC9859368 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010178] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Geckos (Gekkota), the species-rich clade of reptiles with more than 2200 currently recognized species, demonstrate a remarkable variability in diploid chromosome numbers (2n = 16-48) and mode of sex determination. However, only a small fraction of gekkotan species have been studied with cytogenetic methods. Here, we applied both conventional (karyotype reconstruction and C-banding) and molecular (fluorescence in situ hybridization with probes for rDNA loci and telomeric repeats) cytogenetic analyses in seven species of geckos, namely Blaesodactylus boivini, Chondrodactylus laevigatus, Gekko badenii, Gekko cf. lionotum, Hemidactylus sahgali, Homopholis wahlbergii (Gekkonidae) and Ptyodactylus togoensis (Phyllodactylidae), in order to provide further insights into the evolution of karyotypes in geckos. Our analysis revealed the presence of interstitial telomeric repeats in four species, but we were not able to conclude if they are remnants of previous chromosome rearrangements or were formed by an accumulation of telomeric-like satellite motifs. Even though sex chromosomes were previously identified in several species from the genera Hemidactylus and Gekko by cytogenetic and/or genomic methods, they were not detected by us in any examined species. Our examined species either have poorly differentiated sex chromosomes or, possibly, environmental sex determination. Future studies should explore the effect of temperature and conduct genome-wide analyses in order to identify the mode of sex determination in these species.
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19
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Cytogenetic Analysis of the Bimodal Karyotype of the Common European Adder, Vipera berus (Viperidae). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243563. [PMID: 36552484 PMCID: PMC9774092 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243563] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Vipera berus is the species with the largest range of snakes on Earth and one of the largest among reptiles in general. It is also the only snake species found in the Arctic Circle. Vipera berus is the most involved species of the genus Vipera in the process of interspecific hybridization in nature. The taxonomy of the genus Vipera is based on molecular markers and morphology and requires clarification using SC-karyotyping. This work is a detailed comparative study of the somatic and meiotic karyotypes of V. berus, with special attention to DNA and protein markers associated with synaptonemal complexes. The karyotype of V. berus is a remarkable example of a bimodal karyotype containing both 16 large macrochromosomes and 20 microchromosomes. We traced the stages of the asynchronous assembly of both types of bivalents. The number of crossing-over sites per pachytene nucleus, the localization of the nucleolar organizer, and the unique heterochromatin block on the autosomal bivalent 6-an important marker-were determined. Our results show that the average number of crossing-over sites per pachytene nucleus is 49.5, and the number of MLH1 sites per bivalent 1 reached 11, which is comparable to several species of agamas.
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20
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Olovnikov AM. Eco-crossover, or environmentally regulated crossing-over, and natural selection are two irreplaceable drivers of adaptive evolution: Eco-crossover hypothesis. Biosystems 2022; 218:104706. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2022.104706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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21
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Singchat W, Panthum T, Ahmad SF, Baicharoen S, Muangmai N, Duengkae P, Griffin DK, Srikulnath K. Remnant of Unrelated Amniote Sex Chromosomal Linkage Sharing on the Same Chromosome in House Gecko Lizards, Providing a Better Understanding of the Ancestral Super-Sex Chromosome. Cells 2021; 10:cells10112969. [PMID: 34831192 PMCID: PMC8616239 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative chromosome maps investigating sex chromosomal linkage groups in amniotes and microsatellite repeat motifs of a male house gecko lizard (Hemidactylus frenatus, HFR) and a flat-tailed house gecko lizard (H. platyurus, HPL) of unknown sex were examined using 75 bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) from chicken and zebra finch genomes. No massive accumulations of microsatellite repeat motifs were found in either of the gecko lizards, but 10 out of 13 BACs mapped on HPL chromosomes were associated with other amniote sex chromosomes. Hybridization of the same BACs onto multiple different chromosome pairs suggested transitions to sex chromosomes across amniotes. No BAC hybridization signals were found on HFR chromosomes. However, HFR diverged from HPL about 30 million years ago, possibly due to intrachromosomal rearrangements occurring in the HFR lineage. By contrast, heterochromatin likely reshuffled patterns between HPL and HFR, as observed from C-positive heterochromatin distribution. Six out of ten BACs showed partial homology with squamate reptile chromosome 2 (SR2) and snake Z and/or W sex chromosomes. The gecko lizard showed shared unrelated sex chromosomal linkages-the remnants of a super-sex chromosome. A large ancestral super-sex chromosome showed a correlation between SR2 and snake W sex chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Worapong Singchat
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Center (AGB Research Center), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (T.P.); (S.F.A.)
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
| | - Thitipong Panthum
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Center (AGB Research Center), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (T.P.); (S.F.A.)
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
| | - Syed Farhan Ahmad
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Center (AGB Research Center), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (T.P.); (S.F.A.)
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
| | - Sudarath Baicharoen
- Bureau of Conservation and Research, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand, Bangkok 10300, Thailand;
| | - Narongrit Muangmai
- Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
| | - Prateep Duengkae
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
| | | | - Kornsorn Srikulnath
- Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Center (AGB Research Center), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (W.S.); (T.P.); (S.F.A.)
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima 739-8526, Japan
- Correspondence:
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