The cavefish genome reveals candidate genes for eye loss

Nat Commun. 2014 Oct 20:5:5307. doi: 10.1038/ncomms6307.

Abstract

Natural populations subjected to strong environmental selection pressures offer a window into the genetic underpinnings of evolutionary change. Cavefish populations, Astyanax mexicanus (Teleostei: Characiphysi), exhibit repeated, independent evolution for a variety of traits including eye degeneration, pigment loss, increased size and number of taste buds and mechanosensory organs, and shifts in many behavioural traits. Surface and cave forms are interfertile making this system amenable to genetic interrogation; however, lack of a reference genome has hampered efforts to identify genes responsible for changes in cave forms of A. mexicanus. Here we present the first de novo genome assembly for Astyanax mexicanus cavefish, contrast repeat elements to other teleost genomes, identify candidate genes underlying quantitative trait loci (QTL), and assay these candidate genes for potential functional and expression differences. We expect the cavefish genome to advance understanding of the evolutionary process, as well as, analogous human disease including retinal dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Characidae / embryology
  • Characidae / genetics*
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Environment
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Eye / embryology*
  • Fish Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Genome
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phenotype
  • Quantitative Trait Loci
  • Retina / embryology*
  • Retina / physiology

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Fish Proteins

Associated data

  • BioProject/PRJNA177689
  • BioProject/PRJNA237016
  • BioProject/PRJNA258661
  • GENBANK/APWO00000000