Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Eublepharid Geckos, A Lineage with Environmental and Genotypic Sex Determination
Geckos demonstrate a remarkable variability in sex determination systems, but our limited knowledge prohibits accurate conclusions on the evolution of sex determination in this group. Eyelid geckos (Eublepharidae) are of particular interest, as they encompass species with both environmental and geno...
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/10/12/342 |
| _version_ | 1797545086727225344 |
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| author | Eleonora Pensabene Lukáš Kratochvíl Michail Rovatsos |
| author_facet | Eleonora Pensabene Lukáš Kratochvíl Michail Rovatsos |
| author_sort | Eleonora Pensabene |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Geckos demonstrate a remarkable variability in sex determination systems, but our limited knowledge prohibits accurate conclusions on the evolution of sex determination in this group. Eyelid geckos (Eublepharidae) are of particular interest, as they encompass species with both environmental and genotypic sex determination. We identified for the first time the X-specific gene content in the Yucatán banded gecko, <i>Coleonyx elegans</i>, possessing X<sub>1</sub>X<sub>1</sub>X<sub>2</sub>X<sub>2</sub>/X<sub>1</sub>X<sub>2</sub>Y multiple sex chromosomes by comparative genome coverage analysis between sexes. The X-specific gene content of <i>Coleonyx elegans</i> was revealed to be partially homologous to genomic regions linked to the chicken autosomes 1, 6 and 11. A qPCR-based test was applied to validate a subset of X-specific genes by comparing the difference in gene copy numbers between sexes, and to explore the homology of sex chromosomes across eleven eublepharid, two phyllodactylid and one sphaerodactylid species. Homologous sex chromosomes are shared between <i>Coleonyx elegans</i> and <i>Coleonyx mitratus</i>, two species diverged approximately 34 million years ago, but not with other tested species. As far as we know, the X-specific gene content of <i>Coleonyx elegans / Coleonyx mitratus</i> was never involved in the sex chromosomes of other gecko lineages, indicating that the sex chromosomes in this clade of eublepharid geckos evolved independently. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:09:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ccf055df2504a78b27bf3a103e525b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:09:31Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ccf055df2504a78b27bf3a103e525b42023-11-21T00:15:51ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292020-12-01101234210.3390/life10120342Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Eublepharid Geckos, A Lineage with Environmental and Genotypic Sex DeterminationEleonora Pensabene0Lukáš Kratochvíl1Michail Rovatsos2Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12844 Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12844 Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12844 Prague, Czech RepublicGeckos demonstrate a remarkable variability in sex determination systems, but our limited knowledge prohibits accurate conclusions on the evolution of sex determination in this group. Eyelid geckos (Eublepharidae) are of particular interest, as they encompass species with both environmental and genotypic sex determination. We identified for the first time the X-specific gene content in the Yucatán banded gecko, <i>Coleonyx elegans</i>, possessing X<sub>1</sub>X<sub>1</sub>X<sub>2</sub>X<sub>2</sub>/X<sub>1</sub>X<sub>2</sub>Y multiple sex chromosomes by comparative genome coverage analysis between sexes. The X-specific gene content of <i>Coleonyx elegans</i> was revealed to be partially homologous to genomic regions linked to the chicken autosomes 1, 6 and 11. A qPCR-based test was applied to validate a subset of X-specific genes by comparing the difference in gene copy numbers between sexes, and to explore the homology of sex chromosomes across eleven eublepharid, two phyllodactylid and one sphaerodactylid species. Homologous sex chromosomes are shared between <i>Coleonyx elegans</i> and <i>Coleonyx mitratus</i>, two species diverged approximately 34 million years ago, but not with other tested species. As far as we know, the X-specific gene content of <i>Coleonyx elegans / Coleonyx mitratus</i> was never involved in the sex chromosomes of other gecko lineages, indicating that the sex chromosomes in this clade of eublepharid geckos evolved independently.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/10/12/342GekkotareptilesDNA-seqsex chromosomessex determinationqPCR |
| spellingShingle | Eleonora Pensabene Lukáš Kratochvíl Michail Rovatsos Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Eublepharid Geckos, A Lineage with Environmental and Genotypic Sex Determination Life Gekkota reptiles DNA-seq sex chromosomes sex determination qPCR |
| title | Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Eublepharid Geckos, A Lineage with Environmental and Genotypic Sex Determination |
| title_full | Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Eublepharid Geckos, A Lineage with Environmental and Genotypic Sex Determination |
| title_fullStr | Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Eublepharid Geckos, A Lineage with Environmental and Genotypic Sex Determination |
| title_full_unstemmed | Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Eublepharid Geckos, A Lineage with Environmental and Genotypic Sex Determination |
| title_short | Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Eublepharid Geckos, A Lineage with Environmental and Genotypic Sex Determination |
| title_sort | independent evolution of sex chromosomes in eublepharid geckos a lineage with environmental and genotypic sex determination |
| topic | Gekkota reptiles DNA-seq sex chromosomes sex determination qPCR |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/10/12/342 |
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