Graph-based pangenome analysis uncovers structural and functional impacts of allopolyploidization events
, a yeast shaped by multiple allopolyploidization events, offers a compelling model due to its well-characterized genomic and phenotypic diversity. Here, we integrated subgenome-resolved assemblies with population-scale genomic and transcriptomic datasets to characterize SV distribution and functional impact at the species level. Leveraging a reference graph pangenome, we detected 5972 unique SVs across 1060 isolates. Allopolyploid genomes harbored significantly more SVs (320 on average) than diploids (116), reflecting hybridization's extensive impact on genome architecture. Functional association analysis revealed that 27.5% of SVs locally influence gene expression. Furthermore, a subset of SVs originating from ancestral divergence between subgenomes (hybridization-associated SVs) formed hotspots of structural diversity and disproportionately affect gene expression, with larger effect sizes than other SVs. These findings underscore allopolyploidization as a driver of structural and functional genomic diversification, highlighting the value of graph-based approaches in dissecting complex genome evolution.
Authors
- Anne Friedrich (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3558-9356)
- Victor Loegler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9663-0709)
- Joseph Schacherer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6606-6884)
Institutions
- Ikerbasque (ES)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Inserm (FR)
- Institut Universitaire de France (FR)
- Institut de génétique et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire (FR)
- CIC bioGUNE (ES)
- Université de Strasbourg (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science Advances
- Published
- 2026-10-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aea5812
- Primary Topic
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- H2020 European Research Council