title: Genomes of Ellobius species provide insight into the evolutionary dynamics of mammalian sex chromosomes.
abstract: The X and Y sex chromosomes of placental mammals show hallmarks of a tumultuous evolutionary past. The X Chromosome has a rich and conserved gene content, while the Y Chromosome has lost most of its genes. In the Transcaucasian mole vole Ellobius lutescens, the Y Chromosome including Sry has been lost, and both females and males have a 17,X diploid karyotype. Similarly, the closely related Ellobius talpinus, has a 54,XX karyotype in both females and males. Here, we report the sequencing and assembly of the E. lutescens and E. talpinus genomes. The results indicate that the loss of the Y Chromosome in E. lutescens and E. talpinus occurred in two independent events. Four functional homologs of mouse Y-Chromosomal genes were detected in both female and male E. lutescens, of which three were also detected in the E. talpinus genome. One of these is Eif2s3y, known as the only Y-derived gene that is crucial for successful male meiosis. Female and male E. lutescens can carry one and the same X Chromosome with a largely conserved gene content, including all genes known to function in X Chromosome inactivation. The availability of the genomes of these mole vole species provides unique models to study the dynamics of sex chromosome evolution.
authors: Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus MC, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Institut Curie, Genetics and Developmental Biology Unit, 75248, Paris, France;
authors: Eskeatnaf
authors: E
authors: Mulugeta
authors: Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus MC, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
authors: Evelyne
authors: E
authors: Wassenaar
authors: Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus MC, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Sleddens-Linkels
authors: Erasmus Center for Biomics, Erasmus MC, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
authors: Wilfred F J
authors: WF
authors: van IJcken
authors: Institut Curie, Genetics and Developmental Biology Unit, 75248, Paris, France;
authors: Edith
authors: E
authors: Heard
authors: Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus MC, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
authors: J Anton
authors: JA
authors: Grootegoed
authors: Institute of Human Genetics, University of Ulm, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Just
authors: Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus MC, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
authors: Joost
authors: J
authors: Gribnau
authors: Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus MC, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
authors: Willy M
authors: WM
authors: Baarends
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000235:genetics; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D012730:Sex Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics*; D019849:Sex Determination Processes / Q000235:genetics*; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*