Comparative Genomic Characterization of the Multimammate Mouse Mastomys coucha. (20th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hardin, Aaron; Nevonen, Kimberly A; Eckalbar, Walter L; Carbone, Lucia; Ahituv, Nadav
• Is Part Of: Molecular biology and evolution. Volume 36:Number 12(2019)
• Page Start: 2805
• Page End: 2812
• Publication Date: 2019-08-20
• Subjects: Mastomys -- Comparative genomics -- mammary glands; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Molecular evolution -- Periodicals; Evolution, Molecular -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz188
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0737-4038

Abstract

Abstract: Mastomys are the most widespread African rodent and carriers of various diseases such as the plague or Lassa virus. In addition, mastomys have rapidly gained a large number of mammary glands. Here, we generated a genome, variome, and transcriptomes for Mastomys coucha . As mastomys diverged at similar times from mouse and rat, we demonstrate their utility as a comparative genomic tool for these commonly used animal models. Furthermore, we identified over 500 mastomys accelerated regions, often residing near important mammary developmental genes or within their exons leading to protein sequence changes. Functional characterization of a noncoding mastomys accelerated region, located in the HoxD locus, showed enhancer activity in mouse developing mammary glands. Combined, our results provide genomic resources for mastomys and highlight their potential both as a comparative genomic tool and for the identification of mammary gland number determining factors.