ZZ/ZW Sex Determination with Multiple Neo-Sex Chromosomes is Common in Madagascan Chameleons of the Genus Furcifer (Reptilia: Chamaeleonidae)

0521775 - ÚŽFG 2020 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Rovatsos, M. - Altmanová, Marie - Augstenová, B. - Mazzoleni, S. - Velenský, P. - Kratochvíl, L.
ZZ/ZW Sex Determination with Multiple Neo-Sex Chromosomes is Common in Madagascan Chameleons of the Genus Furcifer (Reptilia: Chamaeleonidae).
Genes. Roč. 10, č. 12 (2019), č. článku 1020. E-ISSN 2073-4425
Institutional support: RVO:67985904
Keywords : comparative genome hybridization (CGH) * evolution * fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) * heterochromatin * karyotype
OECD category: Zoology
Impact factor: 3.759, year: 2019
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/10/12/1020

Chameleons are well-known, highly distinctive lizards characterized by unique morphological and physiological traits, but their karyotypes and sex determination system have remained poorly studied. We studied karyotypes in six species of Madagascan chameleons of the genus Furcifer by classical (conventional stain, C-banding) and molecular (comparative genomic hybridization, in situ hybridization with rDNA, microsatellite, and telomeric sequences) cytogenetic approaches. In contrast to most sauropsid lineages, the chameleons of the genus Furcifer show chromosomal variability even among closely related species, with diploid chromosome numbers varying from 2n = 22 to 2n = 28. We identified female heterogamety with cytogenetically distinct Z and W sex chromosomes in all studied species. Notably, multiple neo-sex chromosomes in the form Z(1)Z(1)Z(2)Z(2) /Z(1)Z(2)W were uncovered in four species of the genus (F. bifidus, F. verrucosus, F. and previously studied F. pardalis). Phylogenetic distribution and morphology of sex chromosomes suggest that multiple sex chromosomes, which are generally very rare among vertebrates with female heterogamety, possibly evolved several times within the genus Furcifer. Although acrodontan lizards (chameleons and dragon lizards) demonstrate otherwise notable variability in sex determination, it seems that female heterogamety with differentiated sex chromosomes remained stable in the chameleons of the genus Furcifer for about 30 million years.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0306340