Possible stochastic sex determination in Bursaphelenchus nematodes
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Dosyalar
Tarih
2022
Dergi Başlığı
Dergi ISSN
Cilt Başlığı
Yayıncı
Nature Portfolio
Erişim Hakkı
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Özet
Sex determination mechanisms evolve surprisingly rapidly, yet little is known in the large nematode phylum other than for Caenorhabditis elegans, which relies on chromosomal XX-XO sex determination and a dosage compensation mechanism. Here we analyze by sex-specific genome sequencing and genetic analysis sex determination in two fungal feeding/plant-parasitic Bursaphelenchus nematodes and find that their sex differentiation is more likely triggered by random, epigenetic regulation than by more well-known mechanisms of chromosomal or environmental sex determination. There is no detectable difference in male and female chromosomes, nor any linkage to sexual phenotype. Moreover, the protein sets of these nematodes lack genes involved in X chromosome dosage counting or compensation. By contrast, our genetic screen for sex differentiation mutants identifies a Bursaphelenchus ortholog of tra-1, the major output of the C. elegans sex determination cascade. Nematode sex determination pathways might have evolved by bottom-up accretion from the most downstream regulator, tra-1. In most species, sex is determined by genetic or environmental factors. Here, the authors present evidence that sex determination in Bursaphelenchus nematodes is instead likely to be regulated by a random, epigenetic mechanism.
Açıklama
Anahtar Kelimeler
Expression Analysis; Determination Gene; Musca-Domestica; Evolution; Differentiation; Chromosome; Gametogenesis; Okinawaensis; Temperature; Mechanisms
Kaynak
Nature Communications
WoS Q Değeri
Q1
Scopus Q Değeri
Q1
Cilt
13
Sayı
1
