Biology subjects

Morice, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Morice, J..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Genomic divergence shaped the genetic regulation of meiotic homologous recombination in Brassica allopolyploids

The tight regulation of meiotic recombination between homologs is disrupted in Brassica AAC allotriploids, a genomic configuration that may have facilitated the formation of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) [~]7,500 years ago. Indeed, the presence of the haploid C genome induces supernumerary crossovers between homologous A chromosomes with dramatically reshaped distribution. However, the genetic mechanisms driving this phenomenon and their divergence between nascent and established lineages remain unclear. To address these concerns, we generated hybrids carrying additional C chromosomes derived either from an established lineage of the allotetraploid B. napus or from its diploid progenitor B. oleracea. We then assessed recombination variation across twelve populations by mapping male meiotic crossovers using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism markers evenly distributed across the sequenced A genome. Our findings reveal that the C09 chromosome of B. oleracea is responsible for the formation of additional crossovers near pericentromeric regions. Interestingly, its counterpart from an established lineage of B. napus shows no significant effect on its own, despite having a similar content of meiotic genes. However, we showed that the B. napus C09 chromosome influences crossover formation through inter-chromosomal epistatic interactions with other specific C chromosomes. These results provide new insights into the genetic regulation of homologous recombination in Brassica and emphasize the role of genomic divergence since the formation of the allopolyploid B. napus.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2024

Playing with the ploidy level enables to switch on and off the strict recombination control even in the vicinity of Brassica centromeres

Meiotic recombination is a key biological process in plant evolution and breeding, as it generates novel genetic diversity at each generation. However, due to its importance in chromosome segregation and genomic stability, crossovers are highly regulated in both frequency and distribution. We previously demonstrated that this strict regulation is not a fatality and that it can be naturally modified (3.6-fold increased frequency and altered distribution) in an allotriploid Brassica hybrid (2n=3x=29; AAC), resulting from a cross between B. napus (2n=4x=38; AACC) and B. rapa (2n=2x=20; AA). Taking advantage of the recently updated Brassica napus genome assembly, which now includes the pericentromeric regions, we unambiguously demonstrated that crossovers occur in these normally cold regions in allotriploids, with the presence of crossovers as close as 375 kb from the centromere. We deciphered that this modified recombination landscape (both frequency and distribution) can be maintained in successive generations of allotriploidy, with even a slight increase of crossover frequency. We also showed that this deregulated meiotic behavior may revert back to a strictly regulated one when recovering an allotetraploid progeny in the second generation. Overall, we provide here for the first time a practical and natural way to switch on and off the tight recombination control in a polyploid crop. We also discuss the potential role of this modified regulation of recombination in polyploid speciation success.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2020

Untangling structural factors and evolutionary drivers in nascent polyploids

O_LIAllopolyploids have globally higher fitness than their diploid progenitors however, by comparison, most resynthesized allopolyploids have poor fertility and highly unstable genome. Elucidating the evolutionary processes promoting genome stabilization and fertility is thus essential to comprehend allopolyploid success. C_LIO_LIUsing the Brassica model, we mimicked the speciation process of a nascent allopolyploid species by resynthesizing allotetraploid B. napus and systematically selecting for euploid individuals over eight generations in four independent allopolyploidization events with contrasted genetic backgrounds, cytoplasmic donors and polyploid formation type. We evaluated the evolution of meiotic behavior, fertility and identified rearrangements in S1 to S9 lineages, to explore the positive consequences of euploid selection on B. napus genome stability. C_LIO_LIRecurrent selection of euploid plants for eight generations drastically reduced the percentage of aneuploid progenies as early as the fourth generation, concomitantly with a quasi disappearance of newly fixed homoeologous rearrangements. The consequences of homoeologous rearrangements on meiotic behavior and seed number strongly depended on the genetic background and cytoplasm donor. C_LIO_LIThe combined use of both self-fertilisation and outcrossing as well as recurrent euploid selection, allowed identification of genomic regions associated with fertility and meiotic behavior, providing complementary evidence to explain B. napus speciation success. C_LI

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Long-reads assembly of the Brassica napus reference genome, Darmor-bzh

BackgroundThe combination of long-reads and long-range information to produce genome assemblies is now accepted as a common standard. This strategy not only allow to access the gene catalogue of a given species but also reveals the architecture and organisation of chromosomes, including complex regions like telomeres and centromeres. The Brassica genus is not exempt and many assemblies based on long reads are now available. The reference genome for Brassica napus, Darmor-bzh, which was published in 2014, has been produced using short-reads and its contiguity was extremely low if compared to current assemblies of the Brassica genus. FindingsHere, we report the new long-reads assembly of Darmor-bzh genome (Brassica napus) generated by combining long-reads sequencing data, optical and genetic maps. Using the PromethION device and six flowcells, we generated about 16M long-reads representing 93X coverage and more importantly 6X with reads longer than 100Kb. This ultralong-reads dataset allows us to generate one of the most contiguous and complete assembly of a Brassica genome to date (contigs N50 > 10Mb). In addition, we exploited all the advantages of the nanopore technology to detect modified bases and sequence transcriptomic data using direct RNA to annotate the genome and focus on resistance genes. ConclusionUsing these cutting edge technologies, and in particular by relying on all the advantages of the nanopore technology, we provide the most contiguous Brassica napus assembly, a resource that will be valuable for the Brassica community for crop improvement and will facilitate the rapid selection of agronomically important traits.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

Large genomic variants reveal unexplored intraspecific diversity in Brassica rapa genomes

ABSTRACTTraditionally, reference genomes in crop species rely on the assembly of one accession, thus occulting most of intraspecific diversity. However, rearrangements, gene duplications and transposable element content may have a large impact on the genomic structure, which could generate new phenotypic traits. Using two Brassica rapa genomes recently sequenced and assembled using long-read technology and optical mapping, we investigated structural variants and repetitive content between the two accessions and genome size variation among a core collection.We explored the structural consequences of the presence of large repeated sequences in B. rapa ‘Z1’ genome versus the B. rapa ‘Chiifu’ genome, using comparative genomics and cytogenetic approaches. First, we showed that large genomic variants on chromosomes A05, A06, A09 and A10 are due to large insertions and inversions when comparing B. rapa ‘Z1’ and B. rapa ‘Chiifu’ at the origin of important length differences in some chromosomes. For instance, lengths of ‘Z1’ and ‘Chiifu’ A06 chromosomes were estimated in silico to be 55Mb and 29Mb, respectively. To validate these observations, we compared using fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) the two A06 chromosomes present in a F1 hybrid produced by crossing these two varieties. We confirmed a length difference of 17.6% between the A06 chromosomes of ‘Z1’ compared to ‘Chiifu’. Alternatively, using a Copy Number Variation approach, we were able to quantify the presence of a higher number of rDNA and Gypsy elements in ‘Z1’ genome compared to ‘Chiifu’ on different chromosomes including A06. Using flow cytometry, the total genome size of 12 Brassica accessions corresponding to a B. rapa available core collection was estimated and revealed a genome size variation of up to 16% between these accessions as well as some shared inversions.This study revealed the contribution of long-read sequencing of new accessions belonging to different cultigroups of B. rapa and highlighted the potential impact of differential insertion of repeat elements and inversions of large genomic regions in genome size intraspecific variability.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.View Full Text

genomics↗