Male-biased gene expression resolves sexual conflict through the evolution of sex-specific genetic architecture

TY - JOUR

T1 - Male-biased gene expression resolves sexual conflict through the evolution of sex-specific genetic architecture

AU - Wright, Alison E

AU - Fumagalli, Matteo

AU - Cooney, Christopher R

AU - Bloch, Natasha I

AU - Vieira, Filipe G

AU - Buechel, Severine D

AU - Kolm, Niclas

AU - Mank, Judith E

PY - 2018/4

Y1 - 2018/4

N2 - Many genes are subject to contradictory selection pressures in males and females, and balancing selection resulting from sexual conflict has the potential to substantially increase standing genetic diversity in populations and thereby act as an important force in adaptation. However, the underlying causes of sexual conflict, and the potential for resolution, remains hotly debated. Using transcriptome-resequencing data from male and female guppies, we use a novel approach, combining patterns of genetic diversity and intersexual divergence in allele frequency, to distinguish the different scenarios that give rise to sexual conflict, and how this conflict may be resolved through regulatory evolution. We show that reproductive fitness is the main source of sexual conflict, and this is resolved via the evolution of male-biased expression. Furthermore, resolution of sexual conflict produces significant differences in genetic architecture between males and females, which in turn lead to specific alleles influencing sex-specific viability. Together, our findings suggest an important role for sexual conflict in shaping broad patterns of genome diversity, and show that regulatory evolution is a rapid and efficient route to the resolution of conflict.

AB - Many genes are subject to contradictory selection pressures in males and females, and balancing selection resulting from sexual conflict has the potential to substantially increase standing genetic diversity in populations and thereby act as an important force in adaptation. However, the underlying causes of sexual conflict, and the potential for resolution, remains hotly debated. Using transcriptome-resequencing data from male and female guppies, we use a novel approach, combining patterns of genetic diversity and intersexual divergence in allele frequency, to distinguish the different scenarios that give rise to sexual conflict, and how this conflict may be resolved through regulatory evolution. We show that reproductive fitness is the main source of sexual conflict, and this is resolved via the evolution of male-biased expression. Furthermore, resolution of sexual conflict produces significant differences in genetic architecture between males and females, which in turn lead to specific alleles influencing sex-specific viability. Together, our findings suggest an important role for sexual conflict in shaping broad patterns of genome diversity, and show that regulatory evolution is a rapid and efficient route to the resolution of conflict.

U2 - 10.1002/evl3.39

DO - 10.1002/evl3.39

M3 - Letter

C2 - 30283664

SN - 2056-3744

VL - 2

SP - 52

EP - 61

JO - Evolution Letters

JF - Evolution Letters

IS - 2

ER -