The chicken Z chromosome is enriched for genes with preferential expression in ovarian somatic cells

0346754 - ÚMG 2012 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Mořkovský, L. - Storchová, R. - Plachý, Jiří - Ivánek, Robert - Divina, Petr - Hejnar, Jiří
The chicken Z chromosome is enriched for genes with preferential expression in ovarian somatic cells.
Journal of Molecular Evolution. Roč. 70, č. 2 (2010), s. 129-136. ISSN 0022-2844. E-ISSN 1432-1432
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50520514
Keywords : Z chromosome * meiotic sex chromosome inactivation * sexual antagonisms
Subject RIV: EB - Genetics ; Molecular Biology
Impact factor: 2.311, year: 2010

Over- or under-representation of sexually antagonistic mutations on avian X and Z chromosomes depends, in theory, on their average dominance coefficients. These coefficients, however, remain to be characterized. To elucidate the role of sexually antagonistic selection in the evolution of Z chromosome gene content in chicken, we analyzed publicly available microarray data from several somatic tissues as well as somatic and germ cells of the ovary. We found that the Z chromosome is enriched for genes showing preferential expression in ovarian somatic cells, but not for genes with preferential expression in primary oocytes or non-sex-specific somatic tissues. Our results suggest that sexual antagonism leads to higher abundance of female-benefit alleles on the Z chromosome. Our results are consistent with findings in mammals and indicate that recessive rather than dominant sexually antagonistic mutations shape the gene content of the X and Z chromosomes.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0187690