title: Evidence for a genetic sex determination in Cnidaria, the Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum).
abstract: Sexual reproduction is widespread among eukaryotes, and the sex-determining processes vary greatly among species. While genetic sex determination (GSD) has been intensively described in bilaterian species, no example has yet been recorded among non-bilaterians. However, the quasi-ubiquitous repartition of GSD among multicellular species suggests that similar evolutionary forces can promote this system, and that these forces could occur also in non-bilaterians. Studying sex determination across the range of Metazoan diversity is indeed important to understand better the evolution of this mechanism and its lability. We tested the existence of sex-linked genes in the gonochoric red coral (Corallium rubrum, Cnidaria) using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing. We analysed 27 461 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 354 individuals from 12 populations including 53 that were morphologically sexed. We found a strong association between the allele frequencies of 472 SNPs and the sex of individuals, suggesting an XX/XY sex-determination system. This result was confirmed by the identification of 435 male-specific loci. An independent test confirmed that the amplification of these loci enabled us to identify males with absolute certainty. This is the first demonstration of a GSD system among non-bilaterian species and a new example of its convergence in multicellular eukaryotes.
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, I2M, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3406-9829
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pratlong
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Université , CNRS, IRD, IMBE , Marseille , France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haguenauer
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Université , CNRS, IRD, IMBE , Marseille , France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chenesseau
authors.affiliation: Perpignan Via Domitia Univ, IHPE UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER , Montpellier Université , Perpignan , France.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brener
authors.affiliation: Perpignan Via Domitia Univ, IHPE UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER , Montpellier Université , Perpignan , France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mitta
authors.affiliation: Perpignan Via Domitia Univ, IHPE UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER , Montpellier Université , Perpignan , France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toulza
authors.affiliation: UMS BioCampus- MGX Montpellier GenomiX , Institut de Génomique Fonctionelle , 141 rue de la Cardonnille, 34094 Montpellier Cedex 05 , France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonabaud
authors.affiliation: UMS BioCampus- MGX Montpellier GenomiX , Institut de Génomique Fonctionelle , 141 rue de la Cardonnille, 34094 Montpellier Cedex 05 , France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rialle
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Université , CNRS, IRD, IMBE , Marseille , France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aurelle
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Univ , CNRS, Centrale Marseille, I2M , Marseille , France.
authors.forename: P
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7202-3648
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pontarotti
keywords: Cnidaria; Corallium rubrum; RAD-sequencing; genetic sex determination