The Genomic Architecture of Population Divergence between Subspecies of the European Rabbit

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2014

Autores

Carneiro, M (Autor) Outra; Albert, FW (Autor) Outra; Afonso, S (Autor) Outra; Pereira, RJ (Autor) Outra; Burbano, H (Autor) Outra; Campos, R (Autor) Outra; Melo Ferreira, J (Autor) FCUP; Blanco Aguiar, JA (Autor) Outra; Villafuerte, R (Autor) Outra; Nachman, MW (Autor) Outra; Good, JM (Autor) Outra; ferrand, n (Autor) FCUP

Revista

Título: Plos Genetics

Vol. 10

ISSN: 1553-7390

Editora: Public Library of Science

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 68 Citações

Scopus - 66 Citações

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-009-TKN

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003519

Abstract (EN): The analysis of introgression of genomic regions between divergent populations provides an excellent opportunity to determine the genetic basis of reproductive isolation during the early stages of speciation. However, hybridization and subsequent gene flow must be relatively common in order to localize individual loci that resist introgression. In this study, we used next-generation sequencing to study genome-wide patterns of genetic differentiation between two hybridizing subspecies of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus and O. c. cuniculus) that are known to undergo high rates of gene exchange. Our primary objective was to identify specific genes or genomic regions that have resisted introgression and are likely to confer reproductive barriers in natural conditions. On the basis of 326,000 polymorphisms, we found low to moderate overall levels of differentiation between subspecies, and fewer than 200 genomic regions dispersed throughout the genome showing high differentiation consistent with a signature of reduced gene flow. Most differentiated regions were smaller than 200 Kb and contained very few genes. Remarkably, 30 regions were each found to contain a single gene, facilitating the identification of candidate genes underlying reproductive isolation. This gene-level resolution yielded several insights into the genetic basis and architecture of reproductive isolation in rabbits. Regions of high differentiation were enriched on the X-chromosome and near centromeres. Genes lying within differentiated regions were often associated with transcription and epigenetic activities, including chromatin organization, regulation of transcription, and DNA binding. Overall, our results from a naturally hybridizing system share important commonalities with hybrid incompatibility genes identified using laboratory crosses in mice and flies, highlighting general mechanisms underlying the maintenance of reproductive barriers.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 14