Rapid and dynamic evolution of a giant Y chromosome in <i>Silene latifolia</i>

Some plants have massive sex-linked regions. To test hypotheses about their evolution, we sequenced the genome of <i>Silene latifolia</i>, in which giant heteromorphic sex chromosomes were first discovered in 1923. It has long been known that the Y chromosome consists mainly of a male-specific region that does not recombine with the X chromosome and carries the sex-determining genes and genes with other male functions. However, only with a whole Y chromosome assembly can candidate genes be validated experimentally and their locations determined and related to the suppression of recombination. We describe the genomic changes as the ancestral chromosome evolved into the current XY pair, testing ideas about the evolution of large nonrecombining regions and the mechanisms that created the present recombination pattern.

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Publication Details

Journal
Science
Published
2025-02-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adk9074
Citations
22
Primary Topic
Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
38.50
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article

Rapid and dynamic evolution of a giant Y chromosome in Silene latifolia

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22 citations
Science
Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
38.50
article

Rapid and dynamic evolution of a giant Y chromosome in Silene latifolia

Kiyotaka Nagaki, Takashi Akagi, Eriko Kuwada, Koichiro Ushijima, Atsushi Toyoda, Deborah Charlesworth, Yoko Ikeda, Naoko Fujita, Kenta Shirasawa, Koki Nakamura, Takehiko Itoh, Kanae Masuda, Ayano Horiuchi, Riko Kunou, Hiroyuki Tanaka, K. Kawai
article en
22 citations

Abstract

Some plants have massive sex-linked regions. To test hypotheses about their evolution, we sequenced the genome of <i>Silene latifolia</i>, in which giant heteromorphic sex chromosomes were first discovered in 1923. It has long been known that the Y chromosome consists mainly of a male-specific region that does not recombine with the X chromosome and carries the sex-determining genes and genes with other male functions. However, only with a whole Y chromosome assembly can candidate genes be validated experimentally and their locations determined and related to the suppression of recombination. We describe the genomic changes as the ancestral chromosome evolved into the current XY pair, testing ideas about the evolution of large nonrecombining regions and the mechanisms that created the present recombination pattern.

ScienceVol. 387(6734)
National Institute of Genetics (JP), Tokyo Institute of Technology (JP), Kihara Institute for Biological Research (JP), Okayama University (JP), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JP), Kazusa DNA Research Institute (JP), National Museum of Nature and Science (JP), Yokohama City University (JP), University of Edinburgh (GB)
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 0%
Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
38.50
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