Reproductive -omics of a wild avian speciation model unveils candidate genes for gamete interaction

• The complex nature of interspecific interactions contributing to reproductive isolation means that we still know little about their molecular basis. Male reproductive traits are notorious for their fast evolution at the phenotypic and genotypic level, and divergence in components of the ejaculate can lead to incompatibilities between closely related species. Making use of recent advances of molecular tools and the extensive knowledge on the biology and ecology of young sister species, here the pied (Ficedula hypoleuca) and collared flycatcher (F. albicollis), allows the identification of candidate phenotypes and the underlying genotypes maintaining species boundaries. Pied flycatcher females can avoid costly production of sterile hybrids when mated to collared flycatchers by cryptically favouring conspecific sperm. Here, we describe the testes transcriptome and sperm proteome of both species, confirm the complexity of avian sperm development and functions and identify several candidate genes for interactions between sperm and the female reproductive tract, using multiple independent measures of divergence between the species. We show that divergence at the transcriptional and translational levels can potentially lead to the evolution of reproductive incompatibilities despite low levels of sequence divergence, and suggest that integrating several -omics techniques with knowledge of the biology of naturally hybridizing species will greatly improve our understanding of the molecular basis of speciation in the near future. 

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Evolutionsbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Evolutionary Biology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Reproductive isolation

cryptic female choice

sperm

proteomics

transcriptomics

Ficedula flycatchers

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)