Two major clades of blind mole rats (Nannospalax sp.) revealed by mtDNA and microsatellite genotyping in Western and Central Turkey

The Anatolian and the Lesser blind mole rats (Nannospalax xanthodon and N. leucodon) are widely distributed in Anatolia and Thrace and feature remarkable diversity of chromosomal races. The evolutionary relationship among various cytotypes has not been fully resolved, and little is known about the genetic diversity at the population level. Traditionally, N. xanthodon is divided into Western and Central Anatolian phylogenetic clades, but the inclusion of particular cytotypes into one or the other clade still causes controversy, and the relationship of N. leucodon from Thrace to other Turkish populations is not known. We genotyped 67 and 62 individuals, sampled across Western Turkey, respectively at one mtDNA (1048 bp long fragment of cyt b) and ten highly polymorphic microsatellite markers. The population genetic structure was analyzed (i) in respect to previously assigned karyotype (cytotypes 2n = 38, 50, 52, 56 and 60 of N. xanthodon and 2n = 56 of N. leucodon) and geographic locality data, and (ii) without assuming any prior grouping. Both the phylogeny constructed from the cyt b sequence and the population structure revealed by the microsatellite genotyping revealed the presence of two major clades. The first included the Western Anatolian populations of N. xanthodon (cytotypes 2n = 38, 2n = 50 and 2n = 52), but also N. leucodon from Thrace (2n = 56). The second clade included the Central Anatolian populations of N. xanthodon with cytotypes 2n = 56 and 2n = 60. These findings support and refine the previously suggested relationships between 2n = 38, Thracian N. leucodon and 2n = 60 (Hadid et al., 2012). We also revealed higher genetic diversity, particularly within cytotype 2n = 38 (race anatolicus), and stronger population structuring within the Western Anatolian clade. In contrast, the microsatellite genotypes of two races in Central Anatolian clade (2n = 60 and 2n = 56 from Manisa province), showed less diversity and weaker population structure. © 2018 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Säugetierkunde2008-13-06-01, 2004-13-06-08 101T084, 106T225This study was supported by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK 101T084 and 106T225 ), and Zonguldak Karaelmas University ( 2004-13-06-08 , 2008-13-06-01 ). We thank all colleagues at the Institute of Vertebrate Biology of Czech Academy of Sciences where the laboratory analysis was performed

The role of retrotransposons in gene family expansions in the human andmouse genomes

Retrotransposons comprise a large portion ofmammalian genomes. They contribute to structural changes and more importantly to gene regulation. The expansion and diversification of gene families have been implicated as sources of evolutionary novelties. Given the roles retrotransposons play in genomes, their contribution to the evolution of gene families warrants further exploration. In this study, we found a significant association between two major retrotransposon classes, LINEs and LTRs, and lineage-specific gene family expansions in both the human andmouse genomes. The distribution and diversity differ between LINEs and LTRs, suggesting that each has a distinct involvement in gene family expansion. LTRs are associated with open chromatin sites surrounding the gene families, supporting their involvement in gene regulation, whereas LINEsmay play a structural role promoting gene duplication. Our findings also suggest that gene family expansions, especially in the mouse genome, undergo two phases. The first phase is characterized by elevated deposition of LTRs and their utilization in reshaping gene regulatory networks. The second phase is characterized by rapid gene family expansion due to continuous accumulation of LINEs and it appears that, in some instances at least, this could becomea runawayprocess.Weprovideanexampleinwhichthishashappenedandwepresenta simulation supporting the possibility of the runaway process. Altogether we provide evidence of the contribution of retrotransposons to the expansion and evolution of gene families. Our findings emphasize the putative importance of these elements in diversification and adaptation in the human and mouse lineages. © The Author(s) 2016

A global initiative for ecological and evolutionary hologenomics

The Earth Hologenome Initiative (EHI) is a global collaboration to generate and analyse hologenomic data from wild animals and associated microorganisms using standardised methodologies underpinned by open and inclusive research principles. Initially focused on vertebrates, it aims to re-examine ecological and evolutionary questions by studying host–microbiota interactions from a systemic perspective