Sex and the flower – developmental aspects of sex chromosome evolution

Hobza, Roman; Hudzieczek, Vojtěch; Kubát, Zdeněk; Čegan, Radim; Vyskot, Boris; Kejnovský, Eduard; Janoušek, Bohuslav

doi:10.1093/aob/mcy130

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 204 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This sex leakiness was mapped to the Y chromosome [22]. This result has recently been confirmed using zebularine, another DNAhypomethylating drug [23]. This epigenetic state can then be passed to the next generation from father to sons only.…”

Section: (A) the Epigenetics Of Sex Labilitymentioning

confidence: 77%

Epigenetics drive the evolution of sex chromosomes in animals and plants

Muyle

Bachtrog

Marais

et al. 2021

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We review how epigenetics affect sex chromosome evolution in animals and plants. In a few species, sex is determined epigenetically through the action of Y-encoded small RNAs. Epigenetics is also responsible for changing the sex of individuals through time, even in species that carry sex chromosomes, and could favour species adaptation through breeding system plasticity. The Y chromosome accumulates repeats that become epigenetically silenced which leads to an epigenetic conflict with the expression of Y genes and could accelerate Y degeneration. Y heterochromatin can be lost through ageing, which activates transposable elements and lowers male longevity. Y chromosome degeneration has led to the evolution of meiotic sex chromosome inactivation in eutherians (placentals) and marsupials, and dosage compensation mechanisms in animals and plants. X-inactivation convergently evolved in eutherians and marsupials via two independently evolved non-coding RNAs. In Drosophila , male X upregulation by the male specific lethal (MSL) complex can spread to neo-X chromosomes through the transposition of transposable elements that carry an MSL-binding motif. We discuss similarities and possible differences between plants and animals and suggest future directions for this dynamic field of research. This article is part of the theme issue ‘How does epigenetics influence the course of evolution?’

show abstract

Section: (A) the Epigenetics Of Sex Labilitymentioning

confidence: 77%

Epigenetics drive the evolution of sex chromosomes in animals and plants

Muyle

Bachtrog

Marais

et al. 2021

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Sex chromosomes evolved from autosomes [ 35 ]. The existence of SDR is the distinguishing features of nascent sex chromosomes in land plants [ 3 , 6 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methylation related genes affect sex differentiation in dioecious and gynodioecious papaya

Zhou

Zhang

et al. 2022

Horticulture Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Morphological, genic and epigenetic differences often exist in separate sexes of dioecious and trioecious plants. However, the connections and relationships among them in different breeding systems are still unclear. Papaya has three sex types, which is genetically determined and epigenetically regulated, and was chosen as a model to study sex differentiation. Bisulfite sequencing of genomic DNA extracted from early-stage flowers revealed sex-specific genomic methylation landscapes and seasonally methylome reprogramming processes in dioecious and gynodioecious papaya grown in spring and summer. Extensive methylation of sex-determining region (SDR) was the distinguishing epigenetic characteristics of nascent XY sex chromosomes in papaya. Seasonal methylome reprogramming of early-stage flowers in both dioecy and gynodioecy systems were detected, resulting from transcriptional expression pattern alterations of methylation-modification-related and chromatin-remodeling-related genes, particularly from those genes involved in active demethylation. Genes involved in phytohormone signal transduction pathway in male flowers have played an important role in the formation of male-specific characteristics. These findings enhanced the understanding of the genetic and epigenetic contributions to sex differentiation and the complexity of sex chromosome evolution in trioecious plants.

show abstract

“…Hobza (IBP) showed that separated sexes evolved independently and repeatedly in about 5 % of plant species. In many species, dioecy has evolved recently, so these plants provide an excellent model for studying the early stages of sex chromosome divergence, which later in evolution leads to gradual sex chromosome degeneration (Hobza et al 2018). Z. Kubát (IBP) showed that some TEs proliferate preferentially either in the male or in the female germline which can be connected with specific circumstances affecting TE management and activity in male and female plants and during gametophyte formation (Jesionek et al 2021).…”

Section: Unravelling the Mysteries Of Plant Sex-and B-chromosomesmentioning

confidence: 99%