Mitochondrial Involvement in Vertebrate Speciation? The Case of Mito-nuclear Genetic Divergence in Chameleons.

ABSTRACT: Compatibility between the nuclear (nDNA) and mitochondrial (mtDNA) genomes is important for organismal health. However, its significance for major evolutionary processes such as speciation is unclear, especially in vertebrates. We previously identified a sharp mtDNA-specific sequence divergence between morphologically indistinguishable chameleon populations (Chamaeleo chamaeleon recticrista) across an ancient Israeli marine barrier (Jezreel Valley). Because mtDNA introgression and gender-based dispersal were ruled out, we hypothesized that mtDNA spatial division was maintained by mito-nuclear functional compensation. Here, we studied RNA-seq generated from each of ten chameleons representing the north and south populations and identified candidate nonsynonymous substitutions (NSSs) matchin

SUBMITTER: Bar-Yaacov D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4700957 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature