Project description:We utilized Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH), using probes designed from de novo assembly of a testes transcriptome, to identify genes located on the sex chromosomes and autosomes of a stalk-eyed fly, Sphyracephala beccarii. Analysis of X chromosome gene content revealed the evolution of a neo-X chromosome that originated prior to the diversification of the family. Comparison of X-linkage across three species spanning the phylogenetic breadth of the family indicates abundant chromosomal gene movement, particularly for genes expressed exclusively in the testes.
Project description:We utilized Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH), using probes designed from de novo assembly of a testes transcriptome, to identify genes located on the sex chromosomes and autosomes of a stalk-eyed fly, Teleopsis quinqueguttata. Analysis of X chromosome gene content revealed the evolution of a neo-X chromosome that originated prior to the diversification of the family. Comparison of X-linkage across three species spanning the phylogenetic breadth of the family indicates abundant chromosomal gene movement, particularly for genes expressed exclusively in the testes.
Project description:Sex chromosome dosage differences between males and females are a significant form of natural genetic variation in many species. Like many species with chromosomal sex determination, Drosophila females have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y. The model species D. melanogaster has five roughly equally sized chromosome arms, one of which is the X chromosome. However, fusions of sex chromosomes with autosomes have occurred along the lineage leading to D. pseudoobscura and D. miranda. The resulting neo-sex chromosomes are gradually evolving the properties of sex chromosomes, and neo-X chromosomes are becoming targets for the molecular mechanisms that compensate for differences in X chromosome dose between sexes. We have previously shown that D. melanogaster possess at least two dosage compensation mechanisms: the well- characterized MSL-mediated dosage compensation active in most somatic tissues, and another system active during early embryogenesis prior to the onset of MSL-mediated dosage compensation. To better understand the developmental constraints on sex chromosome gene expression and evolution, we sequenced mRNA from individual male and female embryos of D. pseudoobscura and D. miranda, from ~0.5 to 8 hours of development. Autosomal expression levels are highly conserved between these species. But, unlike D. melanogaster, we observe a general lack of dosage compensation in D. pseudoobscura and D. miranda prior to the onset of MSL-mediated dosage compensation. The extent of female bias on the X chromosomes decreases through developmental time with the establishment of MSL-mediated dosage compensation, but may do so more slowly in D. miranda than D. pseudoobscura. Thus either there has been a lineage-specific gain or loss in early dosage compensation mechanism(s), or increasing X chromosome dose may strain dosage compensation systems and make them less effective. These results also prompt a number of questions about whether species with more sex-linked genes have more sex-specific phenotypes, and how much transcript level variance is tolerable during critical stages of development.
Project description:We utilized Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH), using probes designed from de novo assembly of a testes transcriptome, to identify genes located on the sex chromosomes and autosomes of a stalk-eyed fly, Sphyracephala beccarii. Analysis of X chromosome gene content revealed the evolution of a neo-X chromosome that originated prior to the diversification of the family. Comparison of X-linkage across three species spanning the phylogenetic breadth of the family indicates abundant chromosomal gene movement, particularly for genes expressed exclusively in the testes. Two-condition experiment, female vs. male DNA, for one species with 3 biological replicates
Project description:We utilized Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH), using probes designed from de novo assembly of a testes transcriptome, to identify genes located on the sex chromosomes and autosomes of a stalk-eyed fly, Teleopsis quinqueguttata. Analysis of X chromosome gene content revealed the evolution of a neo-X chromosome that originated prior to the diversification of the family. Comparison of X-linkage across three species spanning the phylogenetic breadth of the family indicates abundant chromosomal gene movement, particularly for genes expressed exclusively in the testes. Two-condition experiment, female vs. male DNA, for one species with 3 biological replicates
Project description:Background Sex chromosomes are subject to evolutionary pressures distinct from the remainder of the genome, shaping their structure and sequence content. We are interested in the sex chromosomes of domestic pigs (Sus scrofa), how their structure and gene content compares and contrasts with other mammalian species, and the role of gonosomal genes in fertility. This requires an understanding of the XY-homologous sequence on these chromosomes. To this end, we performed microarray-based comparative genomic hybridisation (array-CGH) with male and female Duroc genomic DNA on a pig X-chromosome BAC tiling-path microarray. Putative XY-homologous BACs from regions of interest were subsequently FISH mapped. Results We show that the porcine PAR is approximately 6.5-6.9Mb at the beginning of the short arm of the X, with gene content reflective of the artiodactyl common ancestor. Our array-CGH data also shows an XY-homologous region close to the end of the X long arm, spanning three X BACs. These BACs were FISH mapped, and paint the entire long arm of SSCY. Further clones of interest revealed X-autosomal homology or regions containing repetitive content. Conclusions This study has identified regions of XY homology in the pig genome, and defined the boundary of the PAR on the X chromosome. This adds to our understanding of the evolution of the sex chromosomes in different mammalian lineages, and will prove valuable for future comparative genomic work in suids and for the construction and annotation of the genome sequence for the sex chromosomes. Our finding that the SSCYq repetitive content has corresponding sequence on the X chromosome gives further insight into structure of SSCY, and suggests further functionally important sequences remain to be discovered on the X and Y.
Project description:Sex chromosome dosage differences between males and females are a significant form of natural genetic variation in many species. Like many species with chromosomal sex determination, Drosophila females have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y. The model species D. melanogaster has five roughly equally sized chromosome arms, one of which is the X chromosome. However, fusions of sex chromosomes with autosomes have occurred along the lineage leading to D. pseudoobscura and D. miranda. The resulting neo-sex chromosomes are gradually evolving the properties of sex chromosomes, and neo-X chromosomes are becoming targets for the molecular mechanisms that compensate for differences in X chromosome dose between sexes. We have previously shown that D. melanogaster possess at least two dosage compensation mechanisms: the well- characterized MSL-mediated dosage compensation active in most somatic tissues, and another system active during early embryogenesis prior to the onset of MSL-mediated dosage compensation. To better understand the developmental constraints on sex chromosome gene expression and evolution, we sequenced mRNA from individual male and female embryos of D. pseudoobscura and D. miranda, from ~0.5 to 8 hours of development. Autosomal expression levels are highly conserved between these species. But, unlike D. melanogaster, we observe a general lack of dosage compensation in D. pseudoobscura and D. miranda prior to the onset of MSL-mediated dosage compensation. The extent of female bias on the X chromosomes decreases through developmental time with the establishment of MSL-mediated dosage compensation, but may do so more slowly in D. miranda than D. pseudoobscura. Thus either there has been a lineage-specific gain or loss in early dosage compensation mechanism(s), or increasing X chromosome dose may strain dosage compensation systems and make them less effective. These results also prompt a number of questions about whether species with more sex-linked genes have more sex-specific phenotypes, and how much transcript level variance is tolerable during critical stages of development. We sequenced mRNA from D. pseudoobscura and D. miranda embryos, from eight timepoints, both female and male embryos, with three replicates (2 x 8 x 2 x 3). D. pseudoobscura embryos were F1s of a cross between Flagstaff-14 and PP1134 D. pseudoobscura lines, D. miranda embryos were F1s of a cross between the MSH22 and SP138 D. miranda lines.
Project description:Sex chromosomes are characterized by a non-random content of genes with preferential expression in one sex. The mechanisms which are responsible for this phenomenon are, however, largely unresolved. To elucidate selective forces shaping the Z chromosome gene content in chicken, we analyzed microarray data from adult and embryonic gonads (the latter already available in GEO Series GSE8693).
Project description:Sex differences in the brain as they relate to health and disease are often overlooked in experimental models. Many neurological disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and autism, differ in prevalence between males and females. Sex differences originate either from differential gene expression on sex chromosomes or from hormonal differences, either directly or indirectly. To disentangle the relative contributions of genetic sex (XX v. XY) and gonadal sex (ovaries v. testes) to the regulation of hippocampal sex effects, we use the “sex-reversal” Four Core Genotype (FCG) mouse model which uncouples sex chromosome complement from gonadal sex. Transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses of hippocampal RNA and DNA from ∼12 month old FCG mice, reveals differential regulatory effects of sex chromosome content and gonadal sex on X- versus autosome-encoded gene expression and DNA modification patterns. Gene expression and DNA methylation patterns on the X chromosome were driven primarily by sex chromosome content, not gonadal sex. The majority of DNA methylation changes involved hypermethylation in the XX genotypes (as compared to XY) in the CpG context, with the largest differences in CpG islands, promoters, and CTCF binding sites. Autosomal gene expression and DNA modifications demonstrated regulation by sex chromosome complement and gonadal sex. These data demonstrate the importance of sex chromosomes themselves, independent of hormonal status, in regulating hippocampal sex effects. Future studies will need to further interrogate specific CNS cell types, identify the mechanisms by which sex chromosome regulate autosomes, and differentiate organizational from activational hormonal effects.