Germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) is widespread among songbirds

Torgasheva, A A; Malinovskaya, L P; Zadesenets, K S; Karamysheva, T V; Kizilova, E A; Akberdina, E A; Pristyazhnyuk, I E; Shnaider, E P; Volodkina, V A; Saifitdinova, A F; Galkina, S A; Larkin, D M; Rubtsov, N B; Borodin, P M

doi:10.1073/pnas.1817373116

Germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) is widespread among songbirds

Torgasheva, A A; Malinovskaya, L P; Zadesenets, K S; Karamysheva, T V; Kizilova, E A; Akberdina, E A; Pristyazhnyuk, I E; Shnaider, E P; Volodkina, V A; Saifitdinova, A F; Galkina, S A; Larkin, D M; Rubtsov, N B; Borodin, P M

Authors

A A Torgasheva

L P Malinovskaya

K S Zadesenets

T V Karamysheva

E A Kizilova

E A Akberdina

I E Pristyazhnyuk

E P Shnaider

V A Volodkina

A F Saifitdinova

S A Galkina

D M Larkin

N B Rubtsov

P M Borodin

Abstract

An unusual supernumerary chromosome has been reported for two related avian species, the zebra and Bengalese finches. This large, germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) is eliminated from somatic cells and spermatids and transmitted via oocytes only. Its origin, distribution among avian lineages, and function were mostly unknown so far. Using immunolocalization of key meiotic proteins, we found that GRCs of varying size and genetic content are present in all 16 songbird species investigated and absent from germline genomes of all eight examined bird species from other avian orders. Results of fluorescent in situ hybridization of microdissected GRC probes and their sequencing indicate that GRCs show little homology between songbird species and contain a variety of repetitive elements and unique sequences with paralogs in the somatic genome. Our data suggest that the GRC evolved in the common ancestor of all songbirds and underwent significant changes in the extant descendant lineages.

Citation

Torgasheva, A. A., Malinovskaya, L. P., Zadesenets, K. S., Karamysheva, T. V., Kizilova, E. A., Akberdina, E. A., Pristyazhnyuk, I. E., Shnaider, E. P., Volodkina, V. A., Saifitdinova, A. F., Galkina, S. A., Larkin, D. M., Rubtsov, N. B., & Borodin, P. M. (2019). Germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) is widespread among songbirds. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1817373116

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Apr 23, 2019
Publication Date	Apr 29, 2019
Deposit Date	Jun 6, 2019
Publicly Available Date	Jun 6, 2019
Journal	PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1817373116
Public URL	https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1382623