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Evolutionary lability in Hox cluster structure and gene expression in Anolis lizards

Feiner, Nathalie LU (2019) In Evolution letters 3(5). p.474-484
Abstract
Hox genes orchestrate development by patterning the embryonic axis. Vertebrate Hox genes are arranged in four compact clusters, and the spacing between genes is assumed to be crucial for their function. The genomes of squamate reptiles are unusually rich and variable in transposable elements (TEs), and it has been suggested that TE invasion is responsible for the Hox cluster expansion seen in snakes and lizards. Using de novo TE prediction on 17 genomes of lizards and snakes, I show that TE content of Hox clusters are generally 50% lower than genome‐wide TE levels. However, two distantly related lizards of the species‐rich genus Anolis have Hox clusters with a TE content that approaches genomic levels. The age distribution of TEs in Anolis... (More)
Hox genes orchestrate development by patterning the embryonic axis. Vertebrate Hox genes are arranged in four compact clusters, and the spacing between genes is assumed to be crucial for their function. The genomes of squamate reptiles are unusually rich and variable in transposable elements (TEs), and it has been suggested that TE invasion is responsible for the Hox cluster expansion seen in snakes and lizards. Using de novo TE prediction on 17 genomes of lizards and snakes, I show that TE content of Hox clusters are generally 50% lower than genome‐wide TE levels. However, two distantly related lizards of the species‐rich genus Anolis have Hox clusters with a TE content that approaches genomic levels. The age distribution of TEs in Anolis lizards revealed that peaks of TE activity broadly coincide with speciation events. In accordance with theoretical models of Hox cluster regulation, I find that Anolis species with many TEs in their Hox clusters show aberrant Hox gene expression patterns, suggesting a functional link between TE accumulation and embryonic development. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that TEs play a role in developmental processes as well as in evolutionary diversifications. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Evolution letters
volume
3
issue
5
pages
474 - 484
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:31636940
  • scopus:85120752694
ISSN
2056-3744
DOI
10.1002/evl3.131
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0bca9cf4-d204-4b03-8708-5bf63ebec9f7
date added to LUP
2019-10-21 16:27:18
date last changed
2022-06-09 04:06:26
@article{0bca9cf4-d204-4b03-8708-5bf63ebec9f7,
  abstract     = {{Hox genes orchestrate development by patterning the embryonic axis. Vertebrate Hox genes are arranged in four compact clusters, and the spacing between genes is assumed to be crucial for their function. The genomes of squamate reptiles are unusually rich and variable in transposable elements (TEs), and it has been suggested that TE invasion is responsible for the Hox cluster expansion seen in snakes and lizards. Using de novo TE prediction on 17 genomes of lizards and snakes, I show that TE content of Hox clusters are generally 50% lower than genome‐wide TE levels. However, two distantly related lizards of the species‐rich genus Anolis have Hox clusters with a TE content that approaches genomic levels. The age distribution of TEs in Anolis lizards revealed that peaks of TE activity broadly coincide with speciation events. In accordance with theoretical models of Hox cluster regulation, I find that Anolis species with many TEs in their Hox clusters show aberrant Hox gene expression patterns, suggesting a functional link between TE accumulation and embryonic development. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that TEs play a role in developmental processes as well as in evolutionary diversifications.}},
  author       = {{Feiner, Nathalie}},
  issn         = {{2056-3744}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{474--484}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Evolution letters}},
  title        = {{Evolutionary lability in Hox cluster structure and gene expression in Anolis lizards}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/evl3.131}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/evl3.131}},
  volume       = {{3}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}