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The deep conservation of the Lepidoptera Z chromosome suggests a non-canonical origin of the W

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  • Christelle Fraïsse

    (Institute of Science and Technology Austria)

  • Marion A. L. Picard

    (Institute of Science and Technology Austria)

  • Beatriz Vicoso

    (Institute of Science and Technology Austria)

Abstract

Moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) usually have a pair of differentiated WZ sex chromosomes. However, in most lineages outside of the division Ditrysia, as well as in the sister order Trichoptera, females lack a W chromosome. The W is therefore thought to have been acquired secondarily. Here we compare the genomes of three Lepidoptera species (one Dytrisia and two non-Dytrisia) to test three models accounting for the origin of the W: (1) a Z-autosome fusion; (2) a sex chromosome turnover; and (3) a non-canonical mechanism (e.g., through the recruitment of a B chromosome). We show that the gene content of the Z is highly conserved across Lepidoptera (rejecting a sex chromosome turnover) and that very few genes moved onto the Z in the common ancestor of the Ditrysia (arguing against a Z-autosome fusion). Our comparative genomics analysis therefore supports the secondary acquisition of the Lepidoptera W by a non-canonical mechanism, and it confirms the extreme stability of well-differentiated sex chromosomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Christelle Fraïsse & Marion A. L. Picard & Beatriz Vicoso, 2017. "The deep conservation of the Lepidoptera Z chromosome suggests a non-canonical origin of the W," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01663-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01663-5
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