Evolution and expression patterns of the neo-sex chromosomes of the crested ibis

Lulu Xu, Yandong Ren, Jiahong Wu, Tingting Cui, Rong Dong, Chen Huang, Zhe Feng, Tianmin Zhang, Peng Yang, Jiaqing Yuan, Xiao Xu, Jiao Liu, Jinhong Wang, Wu Chen, Da Mi, David M. Irwin, Yaping Yan, Luohao Xu (), Xiaoping Yu () and Gang Li ()
Additional contact information
Lulu Xu: Shaanxi Normal University
Yandong Ren: Shaanxi Normal University
Jiahong Wu: Southwest University
Tingting Cui: Shaanxi Normal University
Rong Dong: Shaanxi Academy of Forestry
Chen Huang: Shaanxi Normal University
Zhe Feng: Shaanxi Normal University
Tianmin Zhang: Shaanxi Normal University
Peng Yang: Shaanxi Normal University
Jiaqing Yuan: Shaanxi Normal University
Xiao Xu: Shaanxi Normal University
Jiao Liu: Southwest University
Jinhong Wang: Shaanxi Normal University
Wu Chen: Guangzhou Zoo
Da Mi: Xi’an Haorui Genomics Technology Co., LTD
David M. Irwin: University of Toronto
Yaping Yan: Shaanxi Normal University
Luohao Xu: Southwest University
Xiaoping Yu: Shaanxi Normal University
Gang Li: Shaanxi Normal University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Bird sex chromosomes play a unique role in sex-determination, and affect the sexual morphology and behavior of bird species. Core waterbirds, a major clade of birds, share the common characteristics of being sexually monomorphic and having lower levels of inter-sexual conflict, yet their sex chromosome evolution remains poorly understood. Here, by we analyse of a chromosome-level assembly of a female crested ibis (Nipponia nippon), a typical core waterbird. We identify neo-sex chromosomes resulting from fusion of microchromosomes with ancient sex chromosomes. These fusion events likely occurred following the divergence of Threskiornithidae and Ardeidae. The neo-W chromosome of the crested ibis exhibits the characteristics of slow degradation, which is reflected in its retention of abundant gametologous genes. Neo-W chromosome genes display an apparent ovary-biased gene expression, which is largely driven by genes that are retained on the crested ibis W chromosome but lost in other bird species. These results provide new insights into the evolutionary history and expression patterns for the sex chromosomes of bird species.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46052-x

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