Gap-Free T2T assemblies of Micropterus salmoides identify a Y-Linked SV hotspot underlying sexual dimorphism.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides, LMB), a globally significant aquaculture species, exhibits pronounced growth dimorphism between the sexes, yet the genetic basis of its sex determination remains unresolved. While published genomes exist, gaps, misassemblies, and unresolved repetitive regions hinder investigations into structural variations (SVs) linked to sexually dimorphic traits. High-quality telomere-to-telomere (T2T) assemblies are essential to address these limitations and advance sex determination studies.

Methodology

We generated the first T2T gap-free genome assemblies for male and female LMB using Oxford Nanopore (ONT), PacBio HiFi, and Hi-C sequencing. Genome quality was validated via BUSCO, Merqury, Hi-C contact maps, and synteny comparisons.

SUBMITTER: Liu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12836877 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature