Evolution of a ZW sex chromosome system in willows

Nan Hu, Brian J. Sanderson, Minghao Guo, Guanqiao Feng, Diksha Gambhir, Haley Hale, Deyan Wang, Brennan Hyden, Jianquan Liu, Lawrence B. Smart, Stephen P. DiFazio, Tao Ma and Matthew S. Olson ()
Additional contact information
Nan Hu: Texas Tech University
Brian J. Sanderson: University of Kansas
Minghao Guo: Texas Tech University
Guanqiao Feng: Texas Tech University
Diksha Gambhir: Texas Tech University
Haley Hale: HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
Deyan Wang: Sichuan University
Brennan Hyden: Cornell AgriTech
Jianquan Liu: Sichuan University
Lawrence B. Smart: Cornell AgriTech
Stephen P. DiFazio: West Virginia University
Tao Ma: Sichuan University
Matthew S. Olson: Texas Tech University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Transitions in the heterogamety of sex chromosomes (e.g., XY to ZW or vice versa) fundamentally alter the genetic basis of sex determination, however the details of these changes have been studied in only a few cases. In an XY to ZW transition, the X is likely to give rise to the W because they both carry feminizing genes and the X is expected to harbour less genetic load than the Y. Here, using a new reference genome for Salix exigua, we trace the X, Y, Z, and W sex determination regions during the homologous transition from an XY system to a ZW system in willow (Salix). We show that both the W and the Z arose from the Y chromosome. We find that the new Z chromosome shares multiple homologous putative masculinizing factors with the ancestral Y, whereas the new W lost these masculinizing factors and gained feminizing factors. The origination of both the W and Z from the Y was permitted by an unexpectedly low genetic load on the Y and this indicates that the origins of sex chromosomes during homologous transitions may be more flexible than previously considered.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42880-5

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