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Positive selection and comparative molecular evolution of reproductive proteins from New Zealand tree weta (Orthoptera, Hemideina)

Twort, Victoria G. LU ; Dennis, Alice B. ; Park, Duckchul ; Lomas, Kathryn F. ; Newcomb, Richard D. and Buckley, Thomas R. (2017) In PLoS ONE 12(11).
Abstract

Animal reproductive proteins, especially those in the seminal fluid, have been shown to have higher levels of divergence than non-reproductive proteins and are often evolving adaptively. Seminal fluid proteins have been implicated in the formation of reproductive barriers between diverging lineages, and hence represent interesting candidates underlying speciation. RNA-seq was used to generate the first male reproductive transcriptome for the New Zealand tree weta species Hemideina thoracica and H. crassidens. We identified 865 putative reproductive associated proteins across both species, encompassing a diverse range of functional classes. Candidate gene sequencing of nine genes across three Hemideina, and two Deinacrida species... (More)

Animal reproductive proteins, especially those in the seminal fluid, have been shown to have higher levels of divergence than non-reproductive proteins and are often evolving adaptively. Seminal fluid proteins have been implicated in the formation of reproductive barriers between diverging lineages, and hence represent interesting candidates underlying speciation. RNA-seq was used to generate the first male reproductive transcriptome for the New Zealand tree weta species Hemideina thoracica and H. crassidens. We identified 865 putative reproductive associated proteins across both species, encompassing a diverse range of functional classes. Candidate gene sequencing of nine genes across three Hemideina, and two Deinacrida species suggests that H. thoracica has the highest levels of intraspecific genetic diversity. Non-monophyly was observed in the majority of sequenced genes indicating that either gene flow may be occurring between the species, or that reciprocal monophyly at these loci has yet to be attained. Evidence for positive selection was found for one lectin-related reproductive protein, with an overall omega of 7.65 and one site in particular being under strong positive selection. This candidate gene represents the first step in the identification of proteins underlying the evolutionary basis of weta reproduction and speciation.

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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
PLoS ONE
volume
12
issue
11
article number
e0188147
publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
external identifiers
  • scopus:85033728101
  • pmid:29131842
  • wos:000414997800046
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0188147
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0e6e2937-cef5-4075-9f2c-d4d08ff3ca4d
date added to LUP
2017-12-08 09:48:16
date last changed
2024-01-29 08:59:12
@article{0e6e2937-cef5-4075-9f2c-d4d08ff3ca4d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Animal reproductive proteins, especially those in the seminal fluid, have been shown to have higher levels of divergence than non-reproductive proteins and are often evolving adaptively. Seminal fluid proteins have been implicated in the formation of reproductive barriers between diverging lineages, and hence represent interesting candidates underlying speciation. RNA-seq was used to generate the first male reproductive transcriptome for the New Zealand tree weta species Hemideina thoracica and H. crassidens. We identified 865 putative reproductive associated proteins across both species, encompassing a diverse range of functional classes. Candidate gene sequencing of nine genes across three Hemideina, and two Deinacrida species suggests that H. thoracica has the highest levels of intraspecific genetic diversity. Non-monophyly was observed in the majority of sequenced genes indicating that either gene flow may be occurring between the species, or that reciprocal monophyly at these loci has yet to be attained. Evidence for positive selection was found for one lectin-related reproductive protein, with an overall omega of 7.65 and one site in particular being under strong positive selection. This candidate gene represents the first step in the identification of proteins underlying the evolutionary basis of weta reproduction and speciation.</p>}},
  author       = {{Twort, Victoria G. and Dennis, Alice B. and Park, Duckchul and Lomas, Kathryn F. and Newcomb, Richard D. and Buckley, Thomas R.}},
  issn         = {{1932-6203}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  number       = {{11}},
  publisher    = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
  series       = {{PLoS ONE}},
  title        = {{Positive selection and comparative molecular evolution of reproductive proteins from New Zealand tree weta (Orthoptera, Hemideina)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0188147}},
  doi          = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0188147}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}