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Research article2018Peer reviewedOpen access

Convergent evolution of complex genomic rearrangements in two fungal meiotic drive elements

Svedberg, Jesper; Hosseini, Sara; Chen, Jun; Vogan, Aaron A.; Mozgova, Iva; Hennig, Lars; Manitchotpisit, Pennapa; Abusharekh, Anna; Hammond, Thomas M.; Lascoux, Martin; Johannesson, Hanna

Abstract

Meiotic drive is widespread in nature. The conflict it generates is expected to be an important motor for evolutionary change and innovation. In this study, we investigated the genomic consequences of two large multi-gene meiotic drive elements, Sk-2 and Sk-3, found in the filamentous ascomycete Neurospora intermedia. Using long-read sequencing, we generated the first complete and well-annotated genome assemblies of large, highly diverged, non-recombining regions associated with meiotic drive elements. Phylogenetic analysis shows that, even though Sk-2 and Sk-3 are located in the same chromosomal region, they do not form sister clades, suggesting independent origins or at least a long evolutionary separation. We conclude that they have in a convergent manner accumulated similar patterns of tandem inversions and dense repeat clusters, presumably in response to similar needs to create linkage between genes causing drive and resistance.

Published in

Nature Communications
2018, Volume: 9, article number: 4242Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

      SLU Authors

      • UKÄ Subject classification

      Genetics
      Evolutionary Biology

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06562-x

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/96968