A gene copy number arms race in action: X,Y-chromosome transmission distortion across a species barrier

Warning

This publication doesn't include Faculty of Economics and Administration. It includes Faculty of Science. Official publication website can be found on muni.cz.
Authors

BAIRD Stuart J.E. HIADLOVSKÁ Zuzana DANISZOVÁ Kristina PIÁLEK Jaroslav MACHOLÁN Miloš

Year of publication 2023
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Evolution : international journal of organic evolution
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Web
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/evolut/qpad051
Keywords hybridization; introgression; reproductive isolation; sex ratio; standing variation
Description A remarkable gene copy number (CN) arms race system has recently been described in laboratory mice, where Slx;Slxl1 and Sly genes compete over transmission by altering the fertilization success of X and Y chromosome-bearing sperm, respectively. Here, we focus on this system in nature, where natural selection can counter CN/gene product escalation. Our model is house mouse subspecies hybridizing in Europe. In some regions, Y chromosomes of the Eastern subspecies have introgressed onto Western genomic backgrounds, accompanied by sex ratio distortion in favor of males, consistent with the inbred lines suggested mechanism: Overabundance of SLY protein expressed by invading Y chromosomes. We take Slx as representative of the X side of this arms race and measure Slx|Sly CN and expression across an "Invasion" transect where Ys introgress and a "Control" transect with negligible introgression. Since we found similar Slx|Sly ratios in both transects, SLY overabundance is unlikely to explain the introgression. However, Slx CN is relatively low in the introgression area, suggesting that Slx is less able to combat Sly effects here. Furthermore, deterministic changes in Slx;Sly expression proportions versus CN proportions suggest standing variation for trans regulation of Slx|Sly is being co-opted in nature where their arms race reduces population fitness.
Related projects:

You are running an old browser version. We recommend updating your browser to its latest version.