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Ectodysplasin signalling genes and phenotypic evolution in sculpins (Cottus).

Jie Cheng1, Fritz Sedlazek2, Janine Altmüller3

  • 1Department for Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann Strasse 2, 24306 Plön, Germany Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.

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Summary

Ectodysplasin (Eda) signaling genes drive microevolutionary changes in fish morphology. The Eda receptor (Edar) gene in sculpins is linked to skin prickling and body shape, showing rapid evolution.

Keywords:
body shapeconvergent evolutionhybrid intermediacylateral linescales

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genetics
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Ectodysplasin (Eda) signaling is crucial for vertebrate development.
  • Eda signaling genes are implicated in microevolutionary changes in humans and sticklebacks.
  • Sculpin (Cottus) morphology, including skin prickling and body shape, shows variation potentially linked to Eda signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the role of Eda signaling genes in microevolutionary morphological changes in freshwater sculpins.
  • Identify specific genes and genetic mechanisms underlying variation in sculpin prickling and body shape.
  • Determine if the Eda receptor (Edar) gene is a target of rapid evolution in sculpins.

Main Methods:

  • Mapping of Eda signaling genes in Cottus species.
  • Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in crosses between Cottus rhenanus and Cottus perifretum.
  • In situ hybridization to confirm Edar expression patterns.
  • Analysis of coding sequence changes in Edar alleles.

Main Results:

  • A genomic region containing the Eda receptor (Edar) was strongly associated with prickling and body shape variation in sculpins.
  • Edar expression was confirmed in developing prickles and skeletal elements.
  • Coding sequence divergence between Edar alleles in C. rhenanus and C. perifretum was high, exceeding that in other vertebrates.
  • Phenotypic variation in a natural hybrid lineage did not show complete fixation of Edar alleles.

Conclusions:

  • Eda signaling, particularly the Edar gene, plays a significant role in microevolutionary morphological changes in freshwater sculpins.
  • The Edar gene is subject to rapid evolutionary processes, including coding sequence changes.
  • Multiple evolutionary factors likely contribute to phenotypic variation, indicating complex evolutionary dynamics for Edar in sculpins.