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Sex-Specific Dominance of Gene Expression in Seed Beetles
Philipp Kaufmann1, Johanna Liljestrand Rönn2, Elina Immonen1
1Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, 75234 Uppsala, Sweden.
Molecular Biology and Evolution
|December 18, 2024
Summary
Sexually antagonistic selection can maintain genetic variation through sex-specific dominance in gene expression. This study found significant sex-specific dominance in gene regulation, particularly in sex-biased genes, supporting its role in balancing selection.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary genetics
- Population genetics
- Gene regulation
Background:
- Sexually antagonistic (SA) selection can maintain genetic variation, especially with sex-specific dominance.
- Sexual dimorphism in gene expression is common, but sex-specific dominance in gene regulation is poorly understood.
- Dominance reversal, where alleles are favored in different environments, can drive balancing selection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex-specific dominance in gene expression.
- To determine if gene-regulatory variation exhibits sex-specific dominance.
- To explore the role of SA selection in maintaining genetic variation through regulatory variants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized three crosses between homozygous lines of seed beetles (Callosobruchus maculatus).
- Analyzed gene expression data to identify dominance effects and sex-specific differences.
- Performed gene ontology enrichment analysis on transcripts with sex-specific dominance.
Main Results:
- Dominance effects for gene expression variants were positively correlated between sexes (r = 0.33–0.44).
- 586 transcripts exhibited significant sex-specific dominance in gene expression.
- Sex-specific dominance was more prevalent in sex-biased genes and linked to SA phenotypes like metabolic processes and the target-of-rapamycin pathway.
Conclusions:
- Sex-specific dominance in gene regulation is a significant factor in seed beetles.
- This phenomenon contributes to the maintenance of genetic variation under SA selection.
- Regulatory variants with sex-specific dominance play a role in balancing selection.
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