A single QTL with large effect is associated with female functional virginity in an asexual parasitoid wasp.

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State: Public
Version: author
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_D99EE1FCEE2C
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
A single QTL with large effect is associated with female functional virginity in an asexual parasitoid wasp.
Journal
Molecular ecology
Author(s)
Ma W.J., Pannebakker B.A., Li X., Geuverink E., Anvar S.Y., Veltsos P., Schwander T., van de Zande L., Beukeboom L.W.
ISSN
1365-294X (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0962-1083
Publication state
Published
Issued date
05/2021
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
30
Number
9
Pages
1979-1992
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
During the transition from sexual to asexual reproduction, a suite of reproduction-related sexual traits become superfluous, and may be selected against if costly. Female functional virginity refers to asexual females resisting to mate or not fertilizing eggs after mating. These traits appear to be among the first that evolve during transitions from sexual to asexual reproduction. The genetic basis of female functional virginity remains elusive. Previously, we reported that female functional virginity segregates as expected for a single recessive locus in the asexual parasitoid wasp Asobara japonica. Here, we investigate the genetic basis of this trait by quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and candidate gene analyses. Consistent with the segregation of phenotypes, we found a single QTL of large effect, spanning over 4.23 Mb and comprising at least 131 protein-coding genes, of which 15 featured sex-biased expression in the related sexual species Asobara tabida. Two of the 15 sex-biased genes were previously identified to differ between related sexual and asexual population/species: CD151 antigen and nuclear pore complex protein Nup50. A third gene, hormone receptor 4, is involved in steroid hormone mediated mating behaviour. Overall, our results are consistent with a single locus, or a cluster of closely linked loci, underlying rapid evolution of female functional virginity in the transition to asexuality. Once this variant, causing rejection to mate, has swept through a population, the flanking region does not get smaller owing to lack of recombination in asexuals.
Keywords
Animals, Female, Phenotype, Quantitative Trait Loci/genetics, Reproduction, Asexual/genetics, Sexual Abstinence, Wasps/genetics, asexuality, candidate genes, female functional virginity, introgression, linkage map, loss of sex, resistance to mating, single major QTL
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
09/03/2021 14:32
Last modification date
07/07/2021 6:37
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