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Support for the Dominance Theory in Drosophila Transcriptomes
Ana Llopart1,2, Evgeny Brud3, Nikale Pettie3,2
1Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa 52242 ana-llopart@uiowa.edu.
Genetics
|August 23, 2018
Summary
Hybrid gene misexpression is influenced by recessive alleles on the X chromosome, challenging the dominance theory for transcriptomes. This study reveals complex evolutionary pressures on gene expression in Drosophila hybrids.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Hybridization can cause gene misexpression due to incompatible regulatory elements, potentially leading to sterility.
- The role of the hemizygous X chromosome (dominance theory for transcriptomes) in hybrid misexpression is not fully understood.
- Faster-male evolution has been proposed as a driver of misexpression, but X-linked genetic contributions require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate genome-wide gene expression patterns in females and males of Drosophila yakuba, Drosophila santomea, and their hybrids.
- To specifically test the dominance theory for transcriptomes by analyzing the contribution of X-linked alleles to hybrid misexpression.
- To explore the role of regulatory mutation accumulation and selection in gene expression divergence between species and sexes.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide gene expression analysis in hybrid and parental Drosophila species.
- Utilized attached-X stocks to isolate and test the effects of X-linked alleles.
- Comparative analysis of gene expression divergence in males and females, considering sex-biased expression and chromosomal location.
Main Results:
- Recessive alleles on the X chromosome significantly contribute to hybrid gene misexpression, supporting the dominance theory.
- Weakly deleterious regulatory mutations impact sex-biased gene expression, with effects specific to the biased sex.
- Evidence of faster X chromosome evolution in male-biased genes, contrasted with slower X evolution in female-biased genes due to reduced regulatory divergence.
Conclusions:
- The dominance theory for transcriptomes is supported by the significant role of X-linked recessive alleles in hybrid misexpression.
- Selective pressures on gene expression divergence differ between sexes and are influenced by chromosomal location and regulatory mutation rates.
- X-linked genes with male-biased expression may experience higher rates of positive selection on regulatory mutations compared to autosomal genes.
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