Accelerated pseudogenization on the neo-X chromosome in Drosophila miranda

Masafumi Nozawa (), Kanako Onizuka, Mai Fujimi, Kazuho Ikeo and Takashi Gojobori
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Masafumi Nozawa: Center for Information Biology, National Institute of Genetics
Kanako Onizuka: Center for Information Biology, National Institute of Genetics
Mai Fujimi: Center for Information Biology, National Institute of Genetics
Kazuho Ikeo: Center for Information Biology, National Institute of Genetics
Takashi Gojobori: Center for Information Biology, National Institute of Genetics

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Y chromosomes often degenerate via the accumulation of pseudogenes and transposable elements. By contrast, little is known about X-chromosome degeneration. Here we compare the pseudogenization process between genes on the neo-sex chromosomes in Drosophila miranda and their autosomal orthologues in closely related species. The pseudogenization rate on the neo-X is much lower than the rate on the neo-Y, but appears to be higher than the rate on the orthologous autosome in D. pseudoobscura. Genes under less functional constraint and/or genes with male-biased expression tend to become pseudogenes on the neo-X, indicating the accumulation of slightly deleterious mutations and the feminization of the neo-X. We also find a weak trend that the genes with female-benefit/male-detriment effects identified in D. melanogaster are pseudogenized on the neo-X, implying the masculinization of the neo-X. These observations suggest that both X and Y chromosomes can degenerate due to a complex suite of evolutionary forces.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13659

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