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High diversity at PRDM9 in chimpanzees and bonobos
Linn Fenna Groeneveld1, Rebeca Atencia, Rosa M Garriga
1Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany. linn.groeneveld@geo.uni-goettingen.de
Plos One
|July 7, 2012
Summary
Researchers studied the PRDM9 gene in chimpanzees and bonobos, finding significant genetic diversity and rapid evolution compared to humans. This suggests PRDM9 may drive speciation in the Pan genus.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Primatology
Background:
- The PRDM9 locus is crucial for mammalian chromosomal recombination and speciation.
- Understanding PRDM9 variation in chimpanzees and bonobos offers insights into primate evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize sequence variation at the PRDM9 locus in chimpanzees and bonobos.
- To compare PRDM9 diversity and evolution between Pan species and humans.
Main Methods:
- Long-range PCR amplification of the PRDM9 zinc finger array.
- DNA sequencing using Sanger sequencing.
- Comparative analysis with existing Pan PRDM9 sequence data.
Main Results:
- Identified 12 distinct PRDM9 alleles in 17 chimpanzees and 5 bonobos.
- Found comparable diversity levels across chimpanzee subspecies and between chimpanzees and bonobos.
- Observed significantly higher PRDM9 diversity in chimpanzees compared to humans.
- Detected signs of rapid evolution and positive selection in Pan PRDM9, with no shared alleles or zinc fingers with humans.
Conclusions:
- PRDM9 may actively recruit recombination hotspots in the genus Pan, indicated by high species-specific alleles and positive selection.
- Shared amino acid alleles between chimpanzees and bonobos are significant given their species status and the hypothesis of PRDM9's role in hybrid sterility.
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