Programmed DNA elimination of germline development genes in songbirds

Cormac M. Kinsella, Francisco J. Ruiz-Ruano (), Anne-Marie Dion-Côté, Alexander J. Charles, Toni I. Gossmann, Josefa Cabrero, Dennis Kappei, Nicola Hemmings, Mirre J. P. Simons, Juan Pedro M. Camacho, Wolfgang Forstmeier and Alexander Suh ()
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Cormac M. Kinsella: Uppsala University
Francisco J. Ruiz-Ruano: Uppsala University
Anne-Marie Dion-Côté: Uppsala University
Alexander J. Charles: University of Sheffield
Toni I. Gossmann: University of Sheffield
Josefa Cabrero: University of Granada
Dennis Kappei: National University of Singapore
Nicola Hemmings: University of Sheffield
Mirre J. P. Simons: University of Sheffield
Juan Pedro M. Camacho: University of Granada
Wolfgang Forstmeier: Max Planck Institute for Ornithology
Alexander Suh: Uppsala University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract In some eukaryotes, germline and somatic genomes differ dramatically in their composition. Here we characterise a major germline–soma dissimilarity caused by a germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) in songbirds. We show that the zebra finch GRC contains >115 genes paralogous to single-copy genes on 18 autosomes and the Z chromosome, and is enriched in genes involved in female gonad development. Many genes are likely functional, evidenced by expression in testes and ovaries at the RNA and protein level. Using comparative genomics, we show that genes have been added to the GRC over millions of years of evolution, with embryonic development genes bicc1 and trim71 dating to the ancestor of songbirds and dozens of other genes added very recently. The somatic elimination of this evolutionarily dynamic chromosome in songbirds implies a unique mechanism to minimise genetic conflict between germline and soma, relevant to antagonistic pleiotropy, an evolutionary process underlying ageing and sexual traits.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13427-4

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