Comparative Genome Analysis Reveals Divergent Genome Size Evolution in a Carnivorous Plant Genus

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Authors

VU Giang T. H. SCHMUTZER Thomas BULL Fabian CAO Hieu X. FUCHS Joerg TRAN Trung D. JOVTCHEV Gabriele PISTRICK Klaus STEIN Nils PEČINKA Aleš NEUMANN Pavel NOVAK Petr MACAS Jiří DEAR Paul H. BLATTNER Frank R. SCHOLZ Uwe SCHUBERT Ingo

Year of publication 2015
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source PLANT GENOME
MU Faculty or unit

Central European Institute of Technology

Citation
Web https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/tpg/articles/8/3/plantgenome2015.04.0021
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.3835/plantgenome2015.04.0021
Field Genetics and molecular biology
Keywords DOUBLE-STRAND BREAKS; NUCLEAR-DNA CONTENT; TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS; ARABIDOPSIS-THALIANA; CHROMOSOME-NUMBER; MINIATURE GENOME; FLOW-CYTOMETRY; WEB SERVER; MECHANISMS; SEQUENCE
Description The C-value paradox remains incompletely resolved after > 40 yr and is exemplified by 2,350-fold variation in genome sizes of flowering plants. The carnivorous Lentibulariaceae genus Genlisea, displaying a 25-fold range of genome sizes, is a promising subject to study mechanisms and consequences of evolutionary genome size variation. Applying genomic, phylogenetic, and cytogenetic approaches, we uncovered bidirectional genome size evolution within the genus Genlisea. The Genlisea nigrocaulis Steyerm. genome (86 Mbp) has probably shrunk by retroelement silencing and deletion-biased double-strand break (DSB) repair, from an ancestral size of 400 to 800 Mbp to become one of the smallest among flowering plants. The G. hispidula Stapf genome has expanded by whole-genome duplication (WGD) and retrotransposition to 1550 Mbp. Genlisea hispidula became allotetraploid after the split from the G. nigrocaulis clade similar to 29 Ma. Genlisea pygmaea A. St.-Hil. (179 Mbp), a close relative of G. nigrocaulis, proved to be a recent (auto) tetraploid. Our analyses suggest a common ancestor of the genus Genlisea with an intermediate 1C value (400-800 Mbp) and subsequent rapid genome size evolution in opposite directions. Many abundant repeats of the larger genome are absent in the smaller, casting doubt on their functionality for the organism, while recurrent WGD seems to safeguard against the loss of essential elements in the face of genome shrinkage. We cannot identify any consistent differences in habitat or life strategy that correlate with genome size changes, raising the possibility that these changes may be selectively neutral.
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