A novel method for using RNA-seq data to identify imprinted genes in social Hymenoptera with multiply mated queens
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A novel method for using RNA-seq data to identify imprinted genes in social Hymenoptera with multiply mated queens. / Howe, Jack; Schiøtt, Morten; Li, Qiye; Wang, Zongji; Zhang, Guojie; Boomsma, Jacobus J.
I: Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Bind 33, Nr. 12, 2020, s. 1770-1782.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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T1 - A novel method for using RNA-seq data to identify imprinted genes in social Hymenoptera with multiply mated queens
AU - Howe, Jack
AU - Schiøtt, Morten
AU - Li, Qiye
AU - Wang, Zongji
AU - Zhang, Guojie
AU - Boomsma, Jacobus J.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Genomic imprinting results in parent-of-origin-dependent gene expression biased towards either the maternally or paternally derived allele at the imprinted locus. The kinship theory of genomic imprinting argues that this unusual expression pattern can be a manifestation of intra-genomic conflict between the maternally and paternally derived halves of the genome that arises because they are not equally related to the genomes of social partners. The theory thus predicts that imprinting may evolve wherever there are close interactions among asymmetrically related kin. The social Hymenoptera with permanent caste differentiation are suitable candidates for testing the kinship theory because haplodiploid sex determination creates strong relatedness asymmetries and nursing workers interact closely with kin. However, progress in the search for imprinted genes in the social Hymenoptera has been slow, in part because tests for imprinting rely on reciprocal crosses that are impossible in most species. Here, we develop a method to systematically search for imprinting in haplodiploid social insects without crosses, using instead samples of pooled individuals collected from natural colonies. We tested this protocol using data available for the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior, providing the first genome-wide search for imprinting in any ant. Although we identified several genes as potentially imprinted, none of the four genes tested could be verified as imprinted using digital droplet PCR, highlighting the need for higher quality genomic assemblies that accurately map duplicated genes.
AB - Genomic imprinting results in parent-of-origin-dependent gene expression biased towards either the maternally or paternally derived allele at the imprinted locus. The kinship theory of genomic imprinting argues that this unusual expression pattern can be a manifestation of intra-genomic conflict between the maternally and paternally derived halves of the genome that arises because they are not equally related to the genomes of social partners. The theory thus predicts that imprinting may evolve wherever there are close interactions among asymmetrically related kin. The social Hymenoptera with permanent caste differentiation are suitable candidates for testing the kinship theory because haplodiploid sex determination creates strong relatedness asymmetries and nursing workers interact closely with kin. However, progress in the search for imprinted genes in the social Hymenoptera has been slow, in part because tests for imprinting rely on reciprocal crosses that are impossible in most species. Here, we develop a method to systematically search for imprinting in haplodiploid social insects without crosses, using instead samples of pooled individuals collected from natural colonies. We tested this protocol using data available for the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior, providing the first genome-wide search for imprinting in any ant. Although we identified several genes as potentially imprinted, none of the four genes tested could be verified as imprinted using digital droplet PCR, highlighting the need for higher quality genomic assemblies that accurately map duplicated genes.
KW - evolution
KW - genetic conflict
KW - genomic imprinting
KW - kinship theory
KW - social insects
U2 - 10.1111/jeb.13716
DO - 10.1111/jeb.13716
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 33030255
AN - SCOPUS:85096644395
VL - 33
SP - 1770
EP - 1782
JO - Journal of Evolutionary Biology
JF - Journal of Evolutionary Biology
SN - 1010-061X
IS - 12
ER -
ID: 252514136