Intergenomic interactions between mitochondrial and Y-linked genes shape male mating patterns and fertility in Drosophila melanogaster. (1st November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yee, Winston K.W.; Rogell, Björn; Lemos, Bernardo; Dowling, Damian K.
• Is Part Of: Evolution. Volume 69:Number 11(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 2876
• Page End: 2890
• Publication Date: 2015-11-01
• Subjects: Adaptation -- genomic conflict -- mitonuclear -- mtDNA -- male fertility -- sexual conflict; Evolution -- Periodicals; Heredity -- Periodicals; Évolution (Biologie) -- Périodiques; Hérédité -- Périodiques; 338.47004094
• DOI: 10.1111/evo.12788
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-3820

Abstract

Abstract: Under maternal inheritance, mitochondrial genomes are prone to accumulate mutations that exhibit male-biased effects. Such mutations should, however, place selection on the nuclear genome for modifier adaptations that mitigate mitochondrial-incurred male harm. One gene region that might harbor such modifiers is the Y-chromosome, given the abundance of Y-linked variation for male fertility, and because Y-linked modifiers would not exert antagonistic effects in females because they would be found only in males. Recent studies in Drosophila revealed a set of nuclear genes whose expression is sensitive to allelic variation among mtDNA- and Y-haplotypes, suggesting these genes might be entwined in evolutionary conflict between mtDNA and Y. Here, we test whether genetic variation across mtDNA and Y haplotypes, sourced from three disjunct populations, interacts to affect male mating patterns and fertility across 10 days of early life in D. melanogaster . We also investigate whether coevolved mito-Y combinations outperform their evolutionarily novel counterparts, as predicted if the interacting Y-linked variance is comprised of modifier adaptations. Although we found no evidence that coevolved mito-Y combinations outperformed their novel counterparts, interactions between mtDNA and Y-chromosomes affected male mating patterns. These interactions were dependent on male age; thus male reproductive success was shaped by G × G × E interactions.