Gene transposition as a cause of hybrid sterility in Drosophila.
We describe reproductive isolation caused by a gene transposition. In certain Drosophila melanogaster-D. simulans hybrids, hybrid male sterility is caused by the lack of a single-copy gene essential for male fertility, JYAlpha. This gene is located on the fourth chromosome of D. melanogaster but on the third chromosome of D. simulans. Genomic and molecular analyses show that JYAlpha transposed to the third chromosome during the evolutionary history of the D. simulans lineage. Because of this transposition, a fraction of hybrids completely lack JYAlpha and are sterile, representing reproductive isolation without sequence evolution.
Masly
John P
JP
Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA. msly@mail.rochester.edu
Jones
Corbin D
CD
Noor
Mohamed A F
MA
Locke
John
J
Orr
H Allen
HA
D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics; D018628:Gene Dosage; D017344:Genes, Insect; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000235:genetics*; D013081:Sperm Motility
D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase