Satellite DNA-mediated diversification of a sex-ratio meiotic drive gene family in Drosophila

Meiotically driven sex chromosomes can quickly spread to fixation and cause population extinction unless balanced by selection or suppressed by genetic modifiers. We report results of genetic analyses that demonstrate that extreme female-biased sex ratios in two sister species of stalk-eyed flies, Cyrtodiopsis dalmanni and C. whitei, are due to a meiotic drive element on the X chromosome (Xd). Relatively high frequencies of Xd in C. dalmanni and C. whitei (13–17% and 29%, respectively) cause female-biased sex ratios in natural populations of both species. Sex ratio distortion is associated with spermatid degeneration in male carriers of Xd. Variation in sex ratios is caused by Y-linked and autosomal factors that decrease the intensity of meiotic drive. Y-linked polymorphism for resistance to drive exists in C. dalmanni in which a resistant Y chromosome reduces the intensity and reverses the direction of meiotic drive. When paired with Xd, modifying Y chromosomes (Ym) cause the transmission of predominantly Y-bearing sperm, and on average, production of 63% male progeny. The absence of sex ratio distortion in closely related monomorphic outgroup species suggests that this meiotic drive system may predate the origin of C. whitei and C. dalmanni. We discuss factors likely to be involved in the persistence of these sex-linked polymorphisms and consider the impact of Xd on the operational sex ratio and the intensity of sexual selection in these extremely sexually dimorphic flies.

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The genetic basis of resistance and sensitivity to the meiotic drive gene D in the mosquito Aedes aegypti L.

Genetica ◽

10.1007/bf00126980 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 69-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

R. J. Wood ◽

N. A. Ouda

Keyword(s):

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Genetic Basis ◽

Meiotic Drive ◽

Drive Gene

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Sex-ratio meiotic drive in Drosophila simulans: cellular mechanism, candidate genes and evolution

Biochemical Society Transactions ◽

10.1042/bst0340562 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 562-565 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

C. Montchamp-Moreau

Keyword(s):

Sex Ratio ◽

X Chromosome ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Meiotic Drive ◽

Female Offspring ◽

Drosophila Simulans ◽

X Chromosomes ◽

Individual Fitness ◽

Primary Sex Ratio ◽

Intragenomic Conflict

The sex-ratio trait, reported in a dozen Drosophila species, is a type of naturally occurring meiotic drive in which the driving elements are located on the X chromosome. Typically, as the result of a shortage of Y-bearing spermatozoa, males carrying a sex-ratio X chromosome produce a large excess of female offspring. The presence of sex-ratio chromosomes in a species can have considerable evolutionary consequences, because they can affect individual fitness and trigger extended intragenomic conflict. Here, I present the main results of the study performed in Drosophila simulans. In this species, the loss of Y-bearing spermatozoa is related to the inability of the Y chromosome sister-chromatids to separate properly during meiosis II. Fine genetic mapping has shown that the primary sex-ratio locus on the X chromosome contains two distorter elements acting synergistically, both of which are required for drive expression. One element has been genetically mapped to a tandem duplication. To infer the natural history of the trait, the pattern of DNA sequence polymorphism in the surrounding chromosomal region is being analysed in natural populations of D. simulans harbouring sex-ratio X chromosomes. Initial results have revealed the recent spread of a distorter allele.

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Variation in Y chromosome meiotic drive in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae): a potential genetic approach to mosquito control

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485300038712 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 87 (6) ◽

pp. 617-623 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

K. O. Owusu-Daaku ◽

R. J. Wood ◽

R. D. Butler

Keyword(s):

Sex Ratio ◽

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Y Chromosome ◽

Reciprocal Cross ◽

Mosquito Control ◽

Meiotic Drive ◽

Genetic Approach ◽

Single Form ◽

Ratio Distortion ◽

Sex Ratio Distortion

AbstractReciprocal crosses between strains of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) from different geographical areas have revealed an unexpectedly complex pattern of holandrically inherited male biased sex ratios in F2. The variation has been interpreted in terms of a web of X–Y interactions in Fl, in which the Y chromosome may or may not show meiotic drive against the X chromosome with which it is paired. The pattern of inheritance is not in agreement with a single form of Y chromosome, driving with different degrees of intensity against Xs of different sensitivity, but indicates different forms of driving Y chromosome. A rule has emerged that if Fl males from any cross give rise to a male distorted sex ratio in their progeny (F2), the males from the reciprocal cross give rise to a normal sex ratio. All eleven newly colonized strains from Ghana showed Y meiotic drive against the Xs of five strains, one of American and four of Australian origin, although one of the eleven showed a greater degree of drive than the other ten against the same sensitive strains. The variation observed is discussed in relation to previous studies on meiotic drive by the MD haplotype, and to the possible exploitation of sex ratio distortion in controlling this potentially dangerous insect.

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Evolution of the Schlafen genes, a gene family associated with embryonic lethality, meiotic drive, immune processes and orthopoxvirus virulence

Gene ◽

10.1016/j.gene.2009.07.006 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 447 (1) ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Olivia Bustos ◽

Saijal Naik ◽

Gayle Ayers ◽

Claudio Casola ◽

Maria A. Perez-Lamigueiro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Family ◽

Meiotic Drive ◽

Embryonic Lethality

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Combinations of Spok genes create multiple meiotic drivers in Podospora

eLife ◽

10.7554/elife.46454 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Aaron A Vogan ◽

S Lorena Ament-Velásquez ◽

Alexandra Granger-Farbos ◽

Jesper Svedberg ◽

Eric Bastiaans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Family ◽

Sexual Reproduction ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Meiotic Drive ◽

Kinase Domain ◽

Podospora Anserina ◽

Spore Killing ◽

Different Strains ◽

Spore Killer

Meiotic drive is the preferential transmission of a particular allele during sexual reproduction. The phenomenon is observed as spore killing in multiple fungi. In natural populations of Podospora anserina, seven spore killer types (Psks) have been identified through classical genetic analyses. Here we show that the Spok gene family underlies the Psks. The combination of Spok genes at different chromosomal locations defines the spore killer types and creates a killing hierarchy within a population. We identify two novel Spok homologs located within a large (74–167 kbp) region (the Spok block) that resides in different chromosomal locations in different strains. We confirm that the SPOK protein performs both killing and resistance functions and show that these activities are dependent on distinct domains, a predicted nuclease and kinase domain. Genomic and phylogenetic analyses across ascomycetes suggest that the Spok genes disperse through cross-species transfer, and evolve by duplication and diversification within lineages.

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SEX RATIO DISTORTION CAUSED BY MEIOTIC DRIVE IN A MOSQUITO, Culex pipiens L

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/88.3.427 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 88 (3) ◽

pp. 427-446

Author(s):

Theresa Luine Sweeny ◽

A Ralph Barr

Keyword(s):

Sex Ratio ◽

Chromosome Pair ◽

Culex Pipiens ◽

Recessive Gene ◽

Meiotic Drive ◽

Female Offspring ◽

Large Excess ◽

Daughter Cells ◽

Ratio Distortion ◽

Sex Ratio Distortion

ABSTRACT A genetic factor, distorter (d), has been discovered that upsets the normal sex ratio of 1:1 and results in a large excess of males in Culex pipiens. The effect can be explained by a sex-linked, recessive gene. Males homozygous for the gene (Md/md) produce few female offspring; the effect is not due to postzygotic mortality. During the first meiotic division in spermatogenesis, the shortest chromosome pair, which, according to Jost and Laven (1971), is associated with sex determination, can be seen to be abnormal. In a high proportion of spermatocysts, one of the dyads of the shortest bivalent fragments, and the pieces are distributed irregularly to the daughter cells. It is believed that the female-determining chromosomes fragment. This would give rise to an excess of male-determining sperm. The possible usefulness of this factor for control or for experimental purposes is discussed.

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COMPONENTS OF SELECTION IN X CHROMOSOME LINES OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER: SEX RATIO MODIFICATION BY MEIOTIC DRIVE AND VIABILITY SELECTION

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/108.4.941 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 108 (4) ◽

pp. 941-952

Author(s):

James W Curtsinger

Keyword(s):

Drosophila Melanogaster ◽

Genetic Variation ◽

Maximum Likelihood ◽

Sex Ratio ◽

Genetic Background ◽

Likelihood Estimation ◽

Meiotic Drive ◽

Mendelian Segregation ◽

Viability Selection ◽

Naturally Occurring

ABSTRACT Selection coefficients and segregation parameters have been estimated in 18 randomly chosen lines carrying wild Χ chromosomes on the cn bw genetic background. Each line was studied in replicated crosses of four types, with approximately 100 replications per line per cross. Crosses in which male Χ chromosomes differed exhibited significant sex ratio heterogeneity. Maximum likelihood estimation of segregation parameters revealed two lines in which the proportion of Χ-bearing gametes produced by males was significantly different from Mendelian expectations. These observations suggest that segregation distortion is a common feature of naturally occurring genetic variation. Non-Mendelian segregation has important evolutionary implications.

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