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Taxon-specific, phased siRNAs underlie a speciation locus in monkeyflowers
Mei Liang1, Wenjie Chen1,2, Amy M LaFountain1
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|February 9, 2023
Summary
A key speciation gene in monkeyflowers, YELLOW UPPER (YUP), produces small RNAs that regulate flower color. This genetic locus drives phenotypic diversification and pollinator-driven speciation in Mimulus.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Small RNA loci are common in eukaryotes but their role in speciation is unclear.
- The genetic basis of phenotypic diversification and speciation is a key question in evolutionary biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the YELLOW UPPER (YUP) locus in monkeyflower (Mimulus) speciation.
- To understand how small RNAs contribute to phenotypic diversification and reproductive isolation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the YUP locus structure, including inverted repeat regions.
- Identification and characterization of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) produced by YUP.
- Target prediction and validation of siRNA function in regulating floral pigmentation genes.
Main Results:
- The YUP locus contains an inverted repeat that generates phased siRNAs.
- One YUP-derived siRNA targets and represses a key regulator of floral carotenoid biosynthesis.
- YUP, containing protein-coding genes for flower coloration, acts as a "superlocus" in Mimulus.
Conclusions:
- The YUP locus plays a significant role in monkeyflower phenotypic diversification and speciation.
- siRNAs originating from non-coding regions can regulate pigmentation genes and contribute to evolutionary adaptation.
- The YUP "superlocus" provides a model for understanding how genetic innovations drive speciation.
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