Dynamic karyotype evolution and unique sex determination systems in Leptidea wood white butterflies

0444142 - BC 2016 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Šíchová, Jindra - Voleníková, A. - Dincă, A. - Nguyen, Petr - Vila, R. - Sahara, K. - Marec, František
Dynamic karyotype evolution and unique sex determination systems in Leptidea wood white butterflies.
BMC Evolutionary Biology. Roč. 15, č. 1 (2015), article number 89. ISSN 1471-2148. E-ISSN 1471-2148
R&D Projects: GA AV ČR IAA600960925; GA ČR(CZ) GP14-35819P; GA ČR(CZ) GA14-22765S
Grant - others:GA JU(CZ) 063/2012/P; Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad(ES) CGL2013-48277-P; GA JU(CZ) 052/2013/P; 7th European Community Framework Programme(CZ) 625997; JSPS(JP) 23380030
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : Lepidoptera * wood white butteflies * karyotype variability
Subject RIV: EB - Genetics ; Molecular Biology
Impact factor: 3.406, year: 2015
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/s12862-015-0375-4.pdf

In this work, we examined karyotypes of three cryptic Leptidea species (L. juvernica, L. sinapis, and L. reali) by means of standard and molecular cytogenetic techniques. The chromosome numbers ranged from 2n=85-91 in L. juvernica and 2n=69-73 in L. sinapis to 2n=51-55 in L. reali. Besides inter- and intraspecific variability, we observed significant differences in chromosome numbers and localization of cytogenetic markers (rDNA and H3 histone genes) even between the offspring of individual females. The analysis of male and female meiotic chromosomes revealed the presence of complex chromosome rearrangements and the unique sex chromosome system with multiple W and Z chromosomes (W1W2W3Z1Z2Z3Z4 in L. juvernica, W1W2W3Z1Z2Z3 in L. sinapis, and W1W2W3W4Z1Z2Z3Z4 in L. reali.), which is unique not only in the Lepidoptera but also in the animal kingdom. Our results suggest a dynamic karyotype evolution and point to the role of chromosomal rearrangements in speciation of Leptidea butterflies.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0248628