Tempo and mode in karyotype evolution revealed by a probabilistic model incorporating both chromosome number and morphology.

Karyotype, including the chromosome and arm numbers, is a fundamental genetic characteristic of all organisms and has long been used as a species-diagnostic character. Additionally, karyotype evolution plays an important role in divergent adaptation and speciation. Centric fusion and fission change chromosome numbers, whereas the intra-chromosomal movement of the centromere, such as pericentric inversion, changes arm numbers. A probabilistic model simultaneously incorporating both chromosome and arm numbers has not been established. Here, we built a probabilistic model of karyotype evolution based on the "karyograph", which treats karyotype evolution as a walk on the two-dimensional space representing the chromosome and arm numbers. This model enables analysis of the stationary distribution with a stable karyotype for any given parameter. After evaluating their performance using simulated data, we applied our model to two large taxonomic groups of fish, Eurypterygii and series Otophysi, to perform maximum likelihood estimation of the transition rates and reconstruct the evolutionary history of karyotypes. The two taxa significantly differed in the evolution of arm number. The inclusion of speciation and extinction rates demonstrated possibly high extinction rates in species with karyotypes other than the most typical karyotype in both groups. Finally, we made a model including polyploidization rates and applied it to a small plant group. Thus, the use of this probabilistic model can contribute to a better understanding of tempo and mode in karyotype evolution and its possible role in speciation and extinction.

Repositioning of centromere-associated repeats during karyotype evolution in Oryzias fishes.

The karyotype, which is the number and shape of chromosomes, is a fundamental characteristic of all eukaryotes. Karyotypic changes play an important role in many aspects of evolutionary processes, including speciation. In organisms with monocentric chromosomes, it was previously thought that chromosome number changes were mainly caused by centric fusions and fissions, whereas chromosome shape changes, that is, changes in arm numbers, were mainly due to pericentric inversions. However, recent genomic and cytogenetic studies have revealed examples of alternative cases, such as tandem fusions and centromere repositioning, found in the karyotypic changes within and between species. Here, we employed comparative genomic approaches to investigate whether centromere repositioning occurred during karyotype evolution in medaka fishes. In the medaka family (Adrianichthyidae), the three phylogenetic groups differed substantially in their karyotypes. The Oryzias latipes species group has larger numbers of chromosome arms than the other groups, with most chromosomes being metacentric. The O. javanicus species group has similar numbers of chromosomes to the O. latipes species group, but smaller arm numbers, with most chromosomes being acrocentric. The O. celebensis species group has fewer chromosomes than the other two groups and several large metacentric chromosomes that were likely formed by chromosomal fusions. By comparing the genome assemblies of O. latipes, O. javanicus, and O. celebensis, we found that repositioning of centromere-associated repeats might be more common than simple pericentric inversion. Our results demonstrated that centromere repositioning may play a more important role in karyotype evolution than previously appreciated.

The genomic landscape at a late stage of stickleback speciation: High genomic divergence interspersed by small localized regions of introgression.

Speciation is a continuous process and analysis of species pairs at different stages of divergence provides insight into how it unfolds. Previous genomic studies on young species pairs have revealed peaks of divergence and heterogeneous genomic differentiation. Yet less known is how localised peaks of differentiation progress to genome-wide divergence during the later stages of speciation in the presence of persistent gene flow. Spanning the speciation continuum, stickleback species pairs are ideal for investigating how genomic divergence builds up during speciation. However, attention has largely focused on young postglacial species pairs, with little knowledge of the genomic signatures of divergence and introgression in older stickleback systems. The Japanese stickleback species pair, composed of the Pacific Ocean three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and the Japan Sea stickleback (G. nipponicus), which co-occur in the Japanese islands, is at a late stage of speciation. Divergence likely started well before the end of the last glacial period and crosses between Japan Sea females and Pacific Ocean males result in hybrid male sterility. Here we use coalescent analyses and Approximate Bayesian Computation to show that the two species split approximately 0.68-1 million years ago but that they have continued to exchange genes at a low rate throughout divergence. Population genomic data revealed that, despite gene flow, a high level of genomic differentiation is maintained across the majority of the genome. However, we identified multiple, small regions of introgression, occurring mainly in areas of low recombination rate. Our results demonstrate that a high level of genome-wide divergence can establish in the face of persistent introgression and that gene flow can be localized to small genomic regions at the later stages of speciation with gene flow.

Functional divergence of a heterochromatin-binding protein during stickleback speciation.

Intragenomic conflict, the conflict of interest between different genomic regions within an individual, is proposed as a mechanism driving both the rapid evolution of heterochromatin-related proteins and the establishment of intrinsic genomic incompatibility between species. Although molecular studies of laboratory model organisms have demonstrated the link between heterochromatin evolution and hybrid abnormalities, we know little about their link in natural systems. Previously, we showed that F1 hybrids between the Japan Sea stickleback and the Pacific Ocean stickleback show hybrid male sterility and found a region responsible for hybrid male sterility on the X chromosome, but did not identify any candidate genes. In this study, we first screened for genes rapidly evolving under positive selection during the speciation of Japanese sticklebacks to find genes possibly involved in intragenomic conflict. We found that the region responsible for hybrid male sterility contains a rapidly evolving gene encoding a heterochromatin-binding protein TRIM24B. We conducted biochemical experiments and showed that the binding affinity of TRIM24B to a heterochromatin mark found at centromeres and transposons, histone H4 lysine 20 trimethylation (H4K20me3), is reduced in the Japan Sea stickleback. In addition, mRNA expression levels of Trim24b were different between the Japan Sea and the Pacific Ocean testes. Further expression analysis of genes possibly in the TRIM24B-regulated pathway showed that some gypsy retrotransposons are overexpressed in the F1 hybrid testes. We, therefore, demonstrate that a heterochromatin-binding protein can evolve rapidly under positive selection and functionally diverge during stickleback speciation.

Two new Species of Pristionchus (Nematoda: Diplogastridae) include the Gonochoristic Sister Species of P. fissidentatus.

The genus Pristionchus (Kreis, 1932) consists of more than 30 soil nematode species that are often found in association with scarab beetles. Three major radiations have resulted in the "maupasi species group" in America, the "pacificus species group" in Asia, and the "lheritieri species group," which contains species from Europe and Asia. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that a group of three species, including the gonochorists P. elegans and P. bucculentus and the hermaphrodite P. fissidentatus, is basal to the above-mentioned radiations. Two novel species are described here: Pristionchus paulseni sp. n. from Taiwan and P. yamagatae sp. n. from Japan by means of morphology, morphometrics and genome-wide transcriptome sequence analysis. Previous phylotranscriptomic analysis of the complete Pristionchus genus recognized P. paulseni sp. n. as the sister species of P. fissidentatus, and thus its importance for macro-evolutionary studies. Specifically, the gonochorist P. paulseni sp. n. and the hermaphrodite P. fissidentatus form a species pair that is the sister group to all other described Pristionchus species. P. paulseni sp. n. has two distinct mouth forms, supporting the notion that the mouth dimorphism is ancestral in the genus Pristionchus.The genus Pristionchus (Kreis, 1932) consists of more than 30 soil nematode species that are often found in association with scarab beetles. Three major radiations have resulted in the "maupasi species group" in America, the "pacificus species group" in Asia, and the "lheritieri species group," which contains species from Europe and Asia. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that a group of three species, including the gonochorists P. elegans and P. bucculentus and the hermaphrodite P. fissidentatus, is basal to the above-mentioned radiations. Two novel species are described here: Pristionchus paulseni sp. n. from Taiwan and P. yamagatae sp. n. from Japan by means of morphology, morphometrics and genome-wide transcriptome sequence analysis. Previous phylotranscriptomic analysis of the complete Pristionchus genus recognized P. paulseni sp. n. as the sister species of P. fissidentatus, and thus its importance for macro-evolutionary studies. Specifically, the gonochorist P. paulseni sp. n. and the hermaphrodite P. fissidentatus form a species pair that is the sister group to all other described Pristionchus species. P. paulseni sp. n. has two distinct mouth forms, supporting the notion that the mouth dimorphism is ancestral in the genus Pristionchus.

Samplings of Millipedes in Japan and Scarab Beetles in Hong Kong result in five new Species of Pristionchus (Nematoda: Diplogastridae).

The authors describe five new species of Pristionchus from Japan and Hongkong. Scarab beetle samplings in Hongkong identified P. hongkongensis sp. n. and P. neolucani sp. n., representing the first beetle-associated Pristionchus species from China. Surprisingly, samplings of millipedes in Japan revealed a previously unknown association of Pristionchus nematodes with these arthropods. Specifically, the authors found three previously known Pristionchus species, P. arcanus, P. entomophagus, and P. fukushimae on Japanese millipedes. In addition, the authors found three new Pristionchus species on millipedes, which are described as P. riukiariae sp. n., P. degawai sp. n., and P. laevicollis, sp. n., the latter of which was also found on stag beetles. These species are most closely related to P. maxplancki, P. japonicus, and P. quartusdecimus and belong to the pacificus species-complex. The authors describe all species based on morphology, morphometrics, and genome-wide sequence analysis. Mating experiments indicated that all species are reproductively isolated from each other and in contrast to the species of the "pacificus species-complex sensu stricto" they do not form F1 hybrids.The authors describe five new species of Pristionchus from Japan and Hongkong. Scarab beetle samplings in Hongkong identified P. hongkongensis sp. n. and P. neolucani sp. n., representing the first beetle-associated Pristionchus species from China. Surprisingly, samplings of millipedes in Japan revealed a previously unknown association of Pristionchus nematodes with these arthropods. Specifically, the authors found three previously known Pristionchus species, P. arcanus, P. entomophagus, and P. fukushimae on Japanese millipedes. In addition, the authors found three new Pristionchus species on millipedes, which are described as P. riukiariae sp. n., P. degawai sp. n., and P. laevicollis, sp. n., the latter of which was also found on stag beetles. These species are most closely related to P. maxplancki, P. japonicus, and P. quartusdecimus and belong to the pacificus species-complex. The authors describe all species based on morphology, morphometrics, and genome-wide sequence analysis. Mating experiments indicated that all species are reproductively isolated from each other and in contrast to the species of the "pacificus species-complex sensu stricto" they do not form F1 hybrids.

Two New Species of Pristionchus (Nematoda: Diplogastridae) from Taiwan and the Definition of the pacificus Species-Complex Sensu Stricto.

Pristionchus pacificus Sommer, Carta, Kim, and Sternberg, 1996 is an important model organism in evolutionary biology that aims to integrate developmental biology and evo-devo with population genetics and ecology. Functional studies in P. pacificus are supported by a well-established phylogenetic framework of around 30 species of the genus Pristionchus that have been described in the last decade based on their entomophilic and necromenic association with scarab beetles. Biogeographically, East Asia has emerged as a hotspot of Pristionchus speciation and recent samplings have therefore focused on Islands and mainland settings in East Asia. Here, we describe in a series of three publications the results of our sampling efforts in Taiwan, Japan, and Hongkong in 2016 and 2017. We describe a total of nine new species that cover different phylogenetic species-complexes of the Pristionchus genus. In this first publication, we describe two new species, Pristionchus sikae sp. n. and Pristionchus kurosawai sp. n. that are closely related to P. pacificus . Together with five previously described species they form the " pacificus species-complex sensu stricto" that is characterized by all species forming viable, but sterile F1 hybrids indicating reproductive isolation. P. sikae sp. n. and P. kurosawai sp. n. have a gonochorist mode of reproduction and they are described using morphology, morphometrics, mating experiments, and genome-wide sequence analysis. We discuss the extreme diversification in the pacificus species-complex sensu stricto in East Asia and its potential power to study speciation processes.

Genetic basis for variation in salinity tolerance between stickleback ecotypes.

Adaptation to different salinities can drive and maintain divergence between populations of aquatic organisms. Anadromous and stream ecotypes of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) are an excellent model to explore the genetic mechanisms underlying osmoregulation divergence. Using a parapatric pair of anadromous and stream stickleback ecotypes, we employed an integrated genomic approach to identify candidate genes important for adaptation to different salinity environments. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of plasma sodium concentrations under a seawater challenge experiment identified a significant QTL on chromosome 16. To identify candidate genes within this QTL, we first conducted RNA-seq and microarray analysis on gill tissue to find ecotypic differences in gene expression that were associated with plasma Na+ levels. This resulted in the identification of ten candidate genes. Quantitative PCR analysis on gill tissue of additional Japanese stickleback populations revealed that the majority of the candidate genes showed parallel divergence in expression levels. Second, we conducted whole-genome sequencing and found five genes that are predicted to have functionally important amino acid substitutions. Finally, we conducted genome scan analysis and found that eight of these candidate genes were located in genomic islands of high differentiation, suggesting that they may be under divergent selection. The candidate genes included those involved in ATP synthesis and hormonal signalling, whose expression or amino acid changes may underlie the variation in salinity tolerance. Further functional molecular analysis of these genes will reveal the causative genetic and genomic changes underlying divergent adaptation.

Contribution of gene flow to the evolution of recombination suppression in sex chromosomes.

Polymorphism of alleles that benefit one sex but harm the other (sexually antagonistic alleles) generates selective pressures for reduced recombination between themselves and sex-determination loci. Such polymorphism can be maintained within a population when selection coefficients are sufficiently balanced between males and females. However, if regulatory mutations restrict gene expression only to one sex, these alleles become neutral in the other sex and easily fixed within a population, removing the selective pressures for recombination suppression in sex chromosomes. When there is spatial variation in selection regimes, however, alleles that are deleterious in one sex and neutral in the other can be maintained in other neighboring populations and gene flow may continuously supply deleterious alleles. We hypothesized that this maintenance of genetic variation may promote the establishment of recombination suppression in sex chromosomes even in cases where selection is limited to one sex. Using individual-based simulations, we show that spatial variation in male-limited selection and gene flow can promote the establishment of Y-autosome fusions, a special case of recombination suppression in sex chromosomes. This can be explained by the fact that fused Y-chromosomes that capture alleles that are beneficial for local males have a higher mean fitness compared to unfused Y chromosomes in the presence of deleterious gene flow. We also simulated the case of sex-concordant selection and found that gene flow of alleles that are deleterious in both sexes did not substantially increase the establishment rates of Y-autosome fusions across the parameter space examined. This can be accounted for by the fact that foreign alleles that are deleterious in both sexes can be efficiently removed from the population compared to alleles that are neutral in females. These results indicate that how gene flow affects the establishment rates of Y-autosome fusions depends largely on selection regimes. Spatial variation in sex-specific selection and gene flow should be appreciated as a factor affecting sex chromosome evolution.

Accumulation of Deleterious Mutations on the Neo-Y Chromosome of Japan Sea Stickleback (Gasterosteus nipponicus).

Degeneration of Y chromosomes is a common evolutionary path of XY sex chromosome systems. Recent genomic studies in flies and plants have revealed that even young neo-sex chromosomes with the age of a few million years show signs of Y degeneration, such as the accumulation of nonsense and frameshift mutations. However, it remains unclear whether neo-Y chromosomes also show rapid degeneration in fishes, which often have homomorphic sex chromosomes. Here, we investigated whether a neo-Y chromosome of Japan Sea stickleback (Gasterosteus nipponicus), which was formed by a Y-autosome fusion within the last 2 million years, accumulates deleterious mutations. Our previous genomic analyses did not detect excess nonsense and frameshift mutations on the Japan Sea stickleback neo-Y. In the present study, we found that the nonrecombining region of the neo-Y near the fusion end has accumulated nonsynonymous mutations altering amino acids of evolutionarily highly conserved residues. Enrichment of gene ontology terms related to protein phosphorylation and cellular protein modification process was found in the genes with potentially deleterious mutations on the neo-Y. These results suggest that the neo-Y of the Japan Sea stickleback has already accumulated mutations that may impair protein functions.

Sex chromosome turnover contributes to genomic divergence between incipient stickleback species.

Sex chromosomes turn over rapidly in some taxonomic groups, where closely related species have different sex chromosomes. Although there are many examples of sex chromosome turnover, we know little about the functional roles of sex chromosome turnover in phenotypic diversification and genomic evolution. The sympatric pair of Japanese threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) provides an excellent system to address these questions: the Japan Sea species has a neo-sex chromosome system resulting from a fusion between an ancestral Y chromosome and an autosome, while the sympatric Pacific Ocean species has a simple XY sex chromosome system. Furthermore, previous quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping demonstrated that the Japan Sea neo-X chromosome contributes to phenotypic divergence and reproductive isolation between these sympatric species. To investigate the genomic basis for the accumulation of genes important for speciation on the neo-X chromosome, we conducted whole genome sequencing of males and females of both the Japan Sea and the Pacific Ocean species. No substantial degeneration has yet occurred on the neo-Y chromosome, but the nucleotide sequence of the neo-X and the neo-Y has started to diverge, particularly at regions near the fusion. The neo-sex chromosomes also harbor an excess of genes with sex-biased expression. Furthermore, genes on the neo-X chromosome showed higher non-synonymous substitution rates than autosomal genes in the Japan Sea lineage. Genomic regions of higher sequence divergence between species, genes with divergent expression between species, and QTL for inter-species phenotypic differences were found not only at the regions near the fusion site, but also at other regions along the neo-X chromosome. Neo-sex chromosomes can therefore accumulate substitutions causing species differences even in the absence of substantial neo-Y degeneration.

Ontogenetic stage-specific quantitative trait loci contribute to divergence in developmental trajectories of sexually dimorphic fins between medaka populations.

Sexual dimorphism can evolve when males and females differ in phenotypic optima. Genetic constraints can, however, limit the evolution of sexual dimorphism. One possible constraint is derived from alleles expressed in both sexes. Because males and females share most of their genome, shared alleles with different fitness effects between sexes are faced with intralocus sexual conflict. Another potential constraint is derived from genetic correlations between developmental stages. Sexually dimorphic traits are often favoured at adult stages, but selected against as juvenile, so developmental decoupling of traits between ontogenetic stages may be necessary for the evolution of sexual dimorphism in adults. Resolving intralocus conflicts between sexes and ages is therefore a key to the evolution of age-specific expression of sexual dimorphism. We investigated the genetic architecture of divergence in the ontogeny of sexual dimorphism between two populations of the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) that differ in the magnitude of dimorphism in anal and dorsal fin length. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping revealed that few QTL had consistent effects throughout ontogenetic stages and the majority of QTL change the sizes and directions of effects on fin growth rates during ontogeny. We also found that most QTL were sex-specific, suggesting that intralocus sexual conflict is almost resolved. Our results indicate that sex- and age-specific QTL enable the populations to achieve optimal developmental trajectories of sexually dimorphic traits in response to complex natural and sexual selection.

B chromosomes have a functional effect on female sex determination in Lake Victoria cichlid fishes.

The endemic cichlid fishes in Lake Victoria are a model system for speciation through adaptive radiation. Although the evolution of the sex-determination system may also play a role in speciation, little is known about the sex-determination system of Lake Victoria cichlids. To understand the evolution of the sex-determination system in these fish, we performed cytogenetic analysis in 11 cichlid species from Lake Victoria. B chromosomes, which are present in addition to standard chromosomes, were found at a high prevalence rate (85%) in these cichlids. In one species, B chromosomes were female-specific. Cross-breeding using females with and without the B chromosomes demonstrated that the presence of the B chromosomes leads to a female-biased sex ratio in this species. Although B chromosomes were believed to be selfish genetic elements with little effect on phenotype and to lack protein-coding genes, the present study provides evidence that B chromosomes have a functional effect on female sex determination. FISH analysis using a BAC clone containing B chromosome DNA suggested that the B chromosomes are derived from sex chromosomes. Determination of the nucleotide sequences of this clone (104.5 kb) revealed the presence of several protein-coding genes in the B chromosome, suggesting that B chromosomes have the potential to contain functional genes. Because some sex chromosomes in amphibians and arthropods are thought to be derived from B chromosomes, the B chromosomes in Lake Victoria cichlids may represent an evolutionary transition toward the generation of sex chromosomes.

RNA sequencing reveals small RNAs differentially expressed between incipient Japanese threespine sticklebacks.

BACKGROUND: Non-coding small RNAs, ranging from 20 to 30 nucleotides in length, mediate the regulation of gene expression and play important roles in many biological processes. One class of small RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), are highly conserved across taxa and mediate the regulation of the chromatin state and the post-transcriptional regulation of messenger RNA (mRNA). Another class of small RNAs is the Piwi-interacting RNAs, which play important roles in the silencing of transposons and other functional genes. Although the biological functions of the different small RNAs have been elucidated in several laboratory animals, little is known regarding naturally occurring variation in small RNA transcriptomes among closely related species. RESULTS: We employed next-generation sequencing technology to compare the expression profiles of brain small RNAs between sympatric species of the Japanese threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). We identified several small RNAs that were differentially expressed between sympatric Pacific Ocean and Japan Sea sticklebacks. Potential targets of several small RNAs were identified as repetitive sequences. Female-biased miRNA expression from the old X chromosome was also observed, and it was attributed to the degeneration of the Y chromosome. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that expression patterns of small RNA can differ between incipient species and may be a potential mechanism underlying differential mRNA expression and transposon activity.

Do sex-linked male meiotic drivers contribute to intrinsic hybrid incompatibilities? Recent empirical studies from flies and rodents.

Intrinsic hybrid incompatibility is one of the important isolating barriers between species. In organisms with sex chromosomes, intrinsic hybrid incompatibility often follows two rules: Haldane's rule and large-X effects. One explanation for these two rules is that sex chromosomes are hotspots for meiotic drivers that can cause intrinsic hybrid incompatibility between geographically isolated populations. Although this hypothesis seems plausible and several empirical data are consistent with it, we are still unsure whether such mechanisms occur in nature, particularly with respect to speciation with gene flow. Here, we review empirical studies that have investigated the roles of meiotic drive in sex-chromosome evolution and speciation and propose future studies necessary for testing this hypothesis.

Chromosome fusions repatterned recombination rate and facilitated reproductive isolation during Pristionchus nematode speciation.

Large-scale genome-structural evolution is common in various organisms. Recent developments in speciation genomics revealed the importance of inversions, whereas the role of other genome-structural rearrangements, including chromosome fusions, have not been well characterized. We study genomic divergence and reproductive isolation of closely related nematodes: the androdioecious (hermaphroditic) model Pristionchus pacificus and its dioecious sister species Pristionchus exspectatus. A chromosome-level genome assembly of P. exspectatus using single-molecule and Hi-C sequencing revealed a chromosome-wide rearrangement relative to P. pacificus. Strikingly, genomic characterization and cytogenetic studies including outgroup species Pristionchus occultus indicated two independent fusions involving the same chromosome, ChrIR, between these related species. Genetic linkage analysis indicated that these fusions altered the chromosome-wide pattern of recombination, resulting in large low-recombination regions that probably facilitated the coevolution between some of the ~14.8% of genes across the entire genomes. Quantitative trait locus analyses for hybrid sterility in all three sexes revealed that major quantitative trait loci mapped to the fused chromosome ChrIR. While abnormal chromosome segregations of the fused chromosome partially explain hybrid female sterility, hybrid-specific recombination that breaks linkage of genes in the low-recombination region was associated with hybrid male sterility. Thus, recent chromosome fusions repatterned recombination rate and drove reproductive isolation during Pristionchus speciation.

Mechanisms of Intrinsic Postzygotic Isolation: From Traditional Genic and Chromosomal Views to Genomic and Epigenetic Perspectives.

Intrinsic postzygotic isolation typically appears as reduced viability or fertility of interspecific hybrids caused by genetic incompatibilities between diverged parental genomes. Dobzhansky-Muller interactions among individual genes, and chromosomal rearrangements causing problems with chromosome synapsis and recombination in meiosis, have both long been considered as major mechanisms behind intrinsic postzygotic isolation. Recent research has, however, suggested that the genetic basis of intrinsic postzygotic isolation can be more complex and involves, for example, overall divergence of the DNA sequence or epigenetic changes. Here, we review the mechanisms of intrinsic postzygotic isolation from genic, chromosomal, genomic, and epigenetic perspectives across diverse taxa. We provide empirical evidence for these mechanisms, discuss their importance in the speciation process, and highlight questions that remain unanswered.

The improved genome of the nematode Parapristionchus giblindavisi provides insights into lineage-specific gene family evolution.

Nematodes such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Pristionchus pacificus are extremely successful model organisms for comparative biology. Several studies have shown that phenotypic novelty but also conserved processes are controlled by taxon-restricted genes. To trace back the evolution of such new or rapidly evolving genes, a robust phylogenomic framework is indispensable. Here, we present an improved version of the genome of Parapristionchus giblindavisi which is the only known member of the sister group of Pristionchus. Relative to the previous short-read assembly, the new genome is based on long reads and displays higher levels of contiguity, completeness, and correctness. Specifically, the number of contigs dropped from over 7,303 to 735 resulting in an N50 increase from 112 to 791 kb. We made use of the new genome to revisit the evolution of multiple gene families. This revealed Pristionchus-specific expansions of several environmentally responsive gene families and a Pristionchus-specific loss of the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway. Focusing on the evolution of sulfatases and sulfotransferases, which control the mouth form plasticity in P. pacificus, reveals differences in copy number and genomic configurations between the genera Pristionchus and Parapristionchus. Altogether, this demonstrates the utility of the P. giblindavisi genome to date and polarizes lineage-specific patterns.

Accumulation of Deleterious Mutations in Landlocked Threespine Stickleback Populations.

Colonization of new habitats often reduces population sizes and may result in the accumulation of deleterious mutations by genetic drift. Compared with the genomic basis for adaptation to new environments, genome-wide analysis of deleterious mutations in isolated populations remains limited. In the present study, we investigated the accumulation of deleterious mutations in five endangered freshwater populations of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in the central part of the mainland of Japan. Using whole-genome resequencing data, we first conducted phylogenomic analysis and confirmed at least two independent freshwater colonization events in the central mainland from ancestral marine ecotypes. Next, analyses of single nucleotide polymorphisms showed a substantial reduction of heterozygosity in freshwater populations compared with marine populations. Reduction in heterozygosity was more apparent at the center of each chromosome than the peripheries and on X chromosomes compared with autosomes. Third, bioinformatic analysis of deleterious mutations showed increased accumulation of putatively deleterious mutations in the landlocked freshwater populations compared with marine populations. For the majority of populations examined, the frequencies of putatively deleterious mutations were higher on X chromosomes than on autosomes. The interpopulation comparison indicated that the majority of putatively deleterious mutations may have accumulated independently. Thus, whole-genome resequencing of endangered populations can help to estimate the accumulation of deleterious mutations and inform us of which populations are the most severely endangered. Furthermore, analysis of variation among chromosomes can give insights into whether any particular chromosomes are likely to accumulate deleterious mutations.

Phylotranscriptomics of Pristionchus Nematodes Reveals Parallel Gene Loss in Six Hermaphroditic Lineages.

Mutation and recombination are main drivers of phenotypic diversity, but the ability to create new allelic combinations is strongly dependent on the mode of reproduction. While most animals are dioecious (i.e., separated male and female sexes), in a number of evolutionary lineages females have gained the ability to self-fertilize [1, 2], with drastic consequences on effective recombination rate, genetic diversity, and the efficacy of selection [3]. In the genus Caenorhabditis, such hermaphroditic or androdioecious lineages, including C. briggsae and C. tropicalis, display a genome shrinkage relative to their dioecious sister species C. nigoni and C. brenneri, respectively [4, 5]. However, common consequences of reproductive modes on nematode genomes remain unknown, because most taxa contain single or few androdioecious species. One exception is the genus Pristionchus, with seven androdioecious species. Pristionchus worms are found in association with scarab beetles in worldwide samplings, resulting in deep taxon sampling and currently 39 culturable and available species. Here, we use phylotranscriptomics of all 39 Pristionchus species to provide a robust phylogeny based on an alignment of more than 2,000 orthologous clusters, which indicates that the seven androdioecious species represent six independent lineages. We show that gene loss is more prevalent in all hermaphroditic lineages than in dioecious relatives and that the majority of lost genes evolved recently in the Pristionchus genus. Further, we provide evidence that genes with male-biased expression are preferentially lost in hermaphroditic lineages. This supports a contribution of adaptive gene loss to shaping nematode genomes following the evolution of hermaphroditism.