scholarly journals The chromosomal distribution of sex-biased microRNAs in Drosophila is non-adaptive

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Marco

Genes are often differentially expressed between males and females. In Drosophila melanogaster, the analysis of sex-biased microRNAs (short non-coding regulatory molecules) has revealed striking differences with protein-coding genes. Mainly, the X chromosome is enriched in male-biased microRNA genes, although it is depleted of male-biased protein-coding genes. The paucity of male-biased genes in the X chromosome is generally explained by an evolutionary process called demasculinization. I suggest that the excess of male-biased microRNAs in the X chromosome is due to high-rates of de novo emergence of microRNAs, a tendency of novel microRNAs in the X chromosome to be expressed in testis, and to a lack of a demasculinization process. To test this hypothesis I analysed the expression profile of microRNAs in males, females and gonads in D. pseudoobscura, in which an autosome translocated into the X chromosome effectively becoming part of a sex chromosome (neo-X). I found that the pattern of sex- biased expression is generally conserved between D. melanogaster and D. pseudoobscura. Also, orthologous microRNAs in both species conserve their chromosomal location, indicating that there is no evidence of demasculinization or other inter-chromosomal movement of microRNAs. D. pseudoobscura-specific microRNAs in the neo-X chromosome tend to be male-biased and particularly expressed in testis. In summary, the apparent paradox resulting from male-biased protein-coding genes depleted in the X chromosome and an enrichment in male-biased microRNAs is a consequence of different evolutionary dynamics between coding genes and short RNAs.

Open Biology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 140024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Marco

Most animals have separate sexes. The differential expression of gene products, in particular that of gene regulators, is underlying sexual dimorphism. Analyses of sex-biased expression have focused mostly on protein-coding genes. Several lines of evidence indicate that microRNAs, a class of major gene regulators, are likely to have a significant role in sexual dimorphism. This role has not been systematically explored so far. Here, I study the sex-biased expression pattern of microRNAs in the model species Drosophila melanogaster . As with protein-coding genes, sex-biased microRNAs are associated with the reproductive function. Strikingly, contrary to protein-coding genes, male-biased microRNAs are enriched in the X chromosome, whereas female microRNAs are mostly autosomal. I propose that the chromosomal distribution is a consequence of high rates of de novo emergence, and a preference for new microRNAs to be expressed in the testis. I also suggest that demasculinization of the X chromosome may not affect microRNAs. Interestingly, female-biased microRNAs are often encoded within protein-coding genes that are also expressed in females. MicroRNAs with sex-biased expression do not preferentially target sex-biased gene transcripts. These results strongly suggest that the sex-biased expression of microRNAs is mainly a consequence of high rates of microRNA emergence in the X chromosome (male bias) or hitchhiked expression by host genes (female bias).


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Bracewell ◽  
Anita Tran ◽  
Kamalakar Chatla ◽  
Doris Bachtrog

ABSTRACTThe Drosophila obscura species group is one of the most studied clades of Drosophila and harbors multiple distinct karyotypes. Here we present a de novo genome assembly and annotation of D. bifasciata, a species which represents an important subgroup for which no high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly currently exists. We combined long-read sequencing (Nanopore) and Hi-C scaffolding to achieve a highly contiguous genome assembly approximately 193Mb in size, with repetitive elements constituting 30.1% of the total length. Drosophila bifasciata harbors four large metacentric chromosomes and the small dot, and our assembly contains each chromosome in a single scaffold, including the highly repetitive pericentromere, which were largely composed of Jockey and Gypsy transposable elements. We annotated a total of 12,821 protein-coding genes and comparisons of synteny with D. athabasca orthologs show that the large metacentric pericentromeric regions of multiple chromosomes are conserved between these species. Importantly, Muller A (X chromosome) was found to be metacentric in D. bifasciata and the pericentromeric region appears homologous to the pericentromeric region of the fused Muller A-AD (XL and XR) of pseudoobscura/affinis subgroup species. Our finding suggests a metacentric ancestral X fused to a telocentric Muller D and created the large neo-X (Muller A-AD) chromosome ∼15 MYA. We also confirm the fusion of Muller C and D in D. bifasciata and show that it likely involved a centromere-centromere fusion.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 891-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Bracewell ◽  
Anita Tran ◽  
Kamalakar Chatla ◽  
Doris Bachtrog

The Drosophila obscura species group is one of the most studied clades of Drosophila and harbors multiple distinct karyotypes. Here we present a de novo genome assembly and annotation of D. bifasciata, a species which represents an important subgroup for which no high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly currently exists. We combined long-read sequencing (Nanopore) and Hi-C scaffolding to achieve a highly contiguous genome assembly approximately 193 Mb in size, with repetitive elements constituting 30.1% of the total length. Drosophila bifasciata harbors four large metacentric chromosomes and the small dot, and our assembly contains each chromosome in a single scaffold, including the highly repetitive pericentromeres, which were largely composed of Jockey and Gypsy transposable elements. We annotated a total of 12,821 protein-coding genes and comparisons of synteny with D. athabasca orthologs show that the large metacentric pericentromeric regions of multiple chromosomes are conserved between these species. Importantly, Muller A (X chromosome) was found to be metacentric in D. bifasciata and the pericentromeric region appears homologous to the pericentromeric region of the fused Muller A-AD (XL and XR) of pseudoobscura/affinis subgroup species. Our finding suggests a metacentric ancestral X fused to a telocentric Muller D and created the large neo-X (Muller A-AD) chromosome ∼15 MYA. We also confirm the fusion of Muller C and D in D. bifasciata and show that it likely involved a centromere-centromere fusion.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 1068-1077
Author(s):  
Xiaochao Sun ◽  
Bin Yang ◽  
Qunye Zhang

: Many studies have shown that the spatial distribution of genes within a single chromosome exhibits distinct patterns. However, little is known about the characteristics of inter-chromosomal distribution of genes (including protein-coding genes, processed transcripts and pseudogenes) in different genomes. In this study, we explored these issues using the available genomic data of both human and model organisms. Moreover, we also analyzed the distribution pattern of protein-coding genes that have been associated with 14 common diseases and the insert/deletion mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms detected by whole genome sequencing in an acute promyelocyte leukemia patient. We obtained the following novel findings. Firstly, inter-chromosomal distribution of genes displays a nonstochastic pattern and the gene densities in different chromosomes are heterogeneous. This kind of heterogeneity is observed in genomes of both lower and higher species. Secondly, protein-coding genes involved in certain biological processes tend to be enriched in one or a few chromosomes. Our findings have added new insights into our understanding of the spatial distribution of genome and disease- related genes across chromosomes. These results could be useful in improving the efficiency of disease-associated gene screening studies by targeting specific chromosomes.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Vedanayagam ◽  
Ching-Jung Lin ◽  
Eric C. Lai

Meiotic drivers are a class of selfish genetic elements that are widespread across eukaryotes. Their activities are often detrimental to organismal fitness and thus trigger drive suppression to ensure fair segregation during meiosis. Accordingly, their existence is frequently hidden in genomes, and their molecular functions are little known. Here, we trace evolutionary steps that generated the Dox meiotic drive system in Drosophila simulans (Dsim), which distorts male:female balance (sex-ratio) by depleting male progeny. We show that Dox emerged via stepwise mobilization and acquisition of portions of multiple D. melanogaster genes, including the sperm chromatin packaging gene protamine. Moreover, we reveal novel Dox homologs in Dsim and massive, recent, amplification of Dox superfamily genes specifically on X chromosomes of its closest sister species D. mauritiana (Dmau) and D. sechellia (Dsech). The emergence of Dox superfamily genes is tightly associated with 1.688 family satellite repeats that flank de novo genomic copies. In concert, we find coordinated emergence and diversification of autosomal hairpin RNA/siRNAs loci that target subsets of Dox superfamily genes across simulans clade species. Finally, an independent set of protamine amplifications the Y chromosome of D. melanogaster indicates that protamine genes are frequent and recurrent players in sex chromosome dynamics. Overall, we reveal fierce genetic arms races between meiotic drive factors and siRNA suppressors associated with recent speciation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
VISHNU PRASOODANAN P K ◽  
Shruti S. Menon ◽  
Rituja Saxena ◽  
Prashant Waiker ◽  
Vineet K Sharma

Discovery of novel thermophiles has shown promising applications in the field of biotechnology. Due to their thermal stability, they can survive the harsh processes in the industries, which make them important to be characterized and studied. Members of Anoxybacillus are alkaline tolerant thermophiles and have been extensively isolated from manure, dairy-processed plants, and geothermal hot springs. This article reports the assembled data of an aerobic bacterium Anoxybacillus sp. strain MB8, isolated from the Tattapani hot springs in Central India, where the 16S rRNA gene shares an identity of 97% (99% coverage) with Anoxybacillus kamchatkensis strain G10. The de novo assembly and annotation performed on the genome of Anoxybacillus sp. strain MB8 comprises of 2,898,780 bp (in 190 contigs) with a GC content of 41.8% and includes 2,976 protein-coding genes,1 rRNA operon, 73 tRNAs, 1 tm-RNA and 10 CRISPR arrays. The predicted protein-coding genes have been classified into 21 eggNOG categories. The KEGG Automated Annotation Server (KAAS) analysis indicated the presence of assimilatory sulfate reduction pathway, nitrate reducing pathway, and genes for glycoside hydrolases (GHs) and glycoside transferase (GTs). GHs and GTs hold widespread applications, in the baking and food industry for bread manufacturing, and in the paper, detergent and cosmetic industry. Hence, Anoxybacillus sp. strain MB8 holds the potential to be screened and characterized for such commercially relevant enzymes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 258
Author(s):  
Konrad Lohse ◽  
Alexander Mackintosh ◽  
Roger Vila ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Aglais io (also known as Inachis io and Nymphalis io) (the European peacock; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Nymphalidae). The genome sequence is 384 megabases in span. The majority (99.91%) of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the Z sex chromosome assembled. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 11,420 protein coding genes.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Kaplanis ◽  
Kaitlin E. Samocha ◽  
Laurens Wiel ◽  
Zhancheng Zhang ◽  
Kevin J. Arvai ◽  
...  

SummaryDe novo mutations (DNMs) in protein-coding genes are a well-established cause of developmental disorders (DD). However, known DD-associated genes only account for a minority of the observed excess of such DNMs. To identify novel DD-associated genes, we integrated healthcare and research exome sequences on 31,058 DD parent-offspring trios, and developed a simulation-based statistical test to identify gene-specific enrichments of DNMs. We identified 285 significantly DD-associated genes, including 28 not previously robustly associated with DDs. Despite detecting more DD-associated genes than in any previous study, much of the excess of DNMs of protein-coding genes remains unaccounted for. Modelling suggests that over 1,000 novel DD-associated genes await discovery, many of which are likely to be less penetrant than the currently known genes. Research access to clinical diagnostic datasets will be critical for completing the map of dominant DDs.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10364
Author(s):  
Natalia I. Abramson ◽  
Fedor N. Golenishchev ◽  
Semen Yu. Bodrov ◽  
Olga V. Bondareva ◽  
Evgeny A. Genelt-Yanovskiy ◽  
...  

In this article, we present the nearly complete mitochondrial genome of the Subalpine Kashmir vole Hyperacrius fertilis (Arvicolinae, Cricetidae, Rodentia), assembled using data from Illumina next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the DNA from a century-old museum specimen. De novo assembly consisted of 16,341 bp and included all mitogenome protein-coding genes as well as 12S and 16S RNAs, tRNAs and D-loop. Using the alignment of protein-coding genes of 14 previously published Arvicolini tribe mitogenomes, seven Clethrionomyini mitogenomes, and also Ondatra and Dicrostonyx outgroups, we conducted phylogenetic reconstructions based on a dataset of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) under maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. Phylogenetic analyses robustly supported the phylogenetic position of this species within the tribe Arvicolini. Among the Arvicolini, Hyperacrius represents one of the early-diverged lineages. This result of phylogenetic analysis altered the conventional view on phylogenetic relatedness between Hyperacrius and Alticola and prompted the revision of morphological characters underlying the former assumption. Morphological analysis performed here confirmed molecular data and provided additional evidence for taxonomic replacement of the genus Hyperacrius from the tribe Clethrionomyini to the tribe Arvicolini.


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