Silene latifolia (white campion) is a dioecious species possessing heteromorphic sex chromosomes, heterogametic in males (24, XY) and homogametic in females (24, XX). Due to their relatively recent origin and heteromorphic nature, the sex chromosomes in white campion are extensively studied. Although many aspects of sex chromosome evolution in S. latifolia were already described, the sex determining region, genes involved in sex determination and potential epigenetic control of sex expression are still poorly understood. We have found, using genomic and cytogenetic techniques, that various DNA repeats (DNA transposons, retroelements and satellites) are not only specifically distributed on the Y, but also significantly affect the X chromosome structure. These results indicate that some DNA repeats (namely Ogre and Athila elements) are under sex specific control. In addition, immunostaining, using antibodies against active (e.g., H3K9ac, H3K4me) and inactive histone modifications (e.g., H3K9me, H3K27me), allowed us to differentiate gene rich regions and to decipher the epigenetic state of the X and Y chromosomes. Finally, transcriptome profiling of hermaphroditic individuals, induced by epigenetic drug treatment, enabled us to identify candidate genes for sex expression. These genes are now studied by reverse genetic approaches (e.g., by CRISPR/Cas9 nucleases) to confirm their function in sex determination.
This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation project No. P501/12/G090.
Silene latifolia (white campion) is a dioecious species possessing heteromorphic sex chromosomes, heterogametic in males (24, XY) and homogametic in females (24, XX). Due to their relatively recent origin and heteromorphic nature, the sex chromosomes in white campion are extensively studied. Although many aspects of sex chromosome evolution in S. latifolia were already described, the sex determining region, genes involved in sex determination and potential epigenetic control of sex expression are still poorly understood. We have found, using genomic and cytogenetic techniques, that various DNA repeats (DNA transposons, retroelements and satellites) are not only specifically distributed on the Y, but also significantly affect the X chromosome structure. These results indicate that some DNA repeats (namely Ogre and Athila elements) are under sex specific control. In addition, immunostaining, using antibodies against active (e.g., H3K9ac, H3K4me) and inactive histone modifications (e.g., H3K9me, H3K27me), allowed us to differentiate gene rich regions and to decipher the epigenetic state of the X and Y chromosomes. Finally, transcriptome profiling of hermaphroditic individuals, induced by epigenetic drug treatment, enabled us to identify candidate genes for sex expression. These genes are now studied by reverse genetic approaches (e.g., by CRISPR/Cas9 nucleases) to confirm their function in sex determination.
This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation project No. P501/12/G090.
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