---
_id: '1991'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: Although transitions of sex-determination mechanisms are frequent in species
with homomorphic sex chromosomes, heteromorphic sex chromosomes are thought to
represent a terminal evolutionary stage owing to chromosome-specific adaptations
such as dosage compensation or an accumulation of sex-specific mutations. Here
we show that an autosome of Drosophila, the dot chromosome, was ancestrally a
differentiated X chromosome. We analyse the whole genome of true fruitflies (Tephritidae),
flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) and soldier flies (Stratiomyidae) to show that genes
located on the dot chromosome of Drosophila are X-linked in outgroup species,
whereas Drosophila X-linked genes are autosomal. We date this chromosomal transition
to early drosophilid evolution by sequencing the genome of other Drosophilidae.
Our results reveal several puzzling aspects of Drosophila dot chromosome biology
to be possible remnants of its former life as a sex chromosome, such as its minor
feminizing role in sex determination or its targeting by a chromosome-specific
regulatory mechanism. We also show that patterns of biased gene expression of
the dot chromosome during early embryogenesis, oogenesis and spermatogenesis resemble
that of the current X chromosome. Thus, although sex chromosomes are not necessarily
evolutionary end points and can revert back to an autosomal inheritance, the highly
specialized genome architecture of this former X chromosome suggests that severe
fitness costs must be overcome for such a turnover to occur.
acknowledgement: Funded by National Institutes of Health grants (R01GM076007 and R01GM093182)
and a Packard Fellowship to D.B.
author:
- first_name: Beatriz
full_name: Beatriz Vicoso
id: 49E1C5C6-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
last_name: Vicoso
orcid: 0000-0002-4579-8306
- first_name: Doris
full_name: Bachtrog, Doris
last_name: Bachtrog
citation:
ama: Vicoso B, Bachtrog D. Reversal of an ancient sex chromosome to an autosome
in Drosophila. Nature. 2013;499(7458):332-335. doi:10.1038/nature12235
apa: Vicoso, B., & Bachtrog, D. (2013). Reversal of an ancient sex chromosome
to an autosome in Drosophila. Nature. Nature Publishing Group. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12235
chicago: Vicoso, Beatriz, and Doris Bachtrog. “Reversal of an Ancient Sex Chromosome
to an Autosome in Drosophila.” Nature. Nature Publishing Group, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12235.
ieee: B. Vicoso and D. Bachtrog, “Reversal of an ancient sex chromosome to an autosome
in Drosophila,” Nature, vol. 499, no. 7458. Nature Publishing Group, pp.
332–335, 2013.
ista: Vicoso B, Bachtrog D. 2013. Reversal of an ancient sex chromosome to an autosome
in Drosophila. Nature. 499(7458), 332–335.
mla: Vicoso, Beatriz, and Doris Bachtrog. “Reversal of an Ancient Sex Chromosome
to an Autosome in Drosophila.” Nature, vol. 499, no. 7458, Nature Publishing
Group, 2013, pp. 332–35, doi:10.1038/nature12235.
short: B. Vicoso, D. Bachtrog, Nature 499 (2013) 332–335.
date_created: 2018-12-11T11:55:05Z
date_published: 2013-07-18T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2021-01-12T06:54:33Z
day: '18'
doi: 10.1038/nature12235
extern: 1
intvolume: ' 499'
issue: '7458'
month: '07'
page: 332 - 335
publication: Nature
publication_status: published
publisher: Nature Publishing Group
publist_id: '5092'
quality_controlled: 0
status: public
title: Reversal of an ancient sex chromosome to an autosome in Drosophila
type: journal_article
volume: 499
year: '2013'
...