Taxon-specific, phased siRNAs underlie a speciation locus in monkeyflowers

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Liang, Mei; Chen, Wenjie; LaFountain, Amy M.; Liu, Yuanlong; Peng, Foen; Xia, Rui; Bradshaw, H. D.; Yuan, Yao-Wu
• 署名单位: University of Connecticut; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Chinese Academy of Sciences; South China Agricultural University; University of Washington; University of Washington Seattle; Haverford College; University of Connecticut
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-10294
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adf1323
• 发表日期: 2023-02-10
• 页码: 576-582
• 关键词: reproductive isolation; mimulus-lewisii; floral traits; evo-devo; EVOLUTION; genes; biosynthesis; anthocyanin; biogenesis; secondary

摘要

Taxon-specific small RNA loci are widespread in eukaryotic genomes, yet their role in lineage-specific adaptation, phenotypic diversification, and speciation is poorly understood. Here, we report that a speciation locus in monkeyflowers (Mimulus), YELLOW UPPER (YUP), contains an inverted repeat region that produces small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in a phased pattern. Although the inverted repeat is derived from a partial duplication of a protein-coding gene that is not involved in flower pigmentation, one of the siRNAs targets and represses a master regulator of floral carotenoid pigmentation. YUP emerged with two protein-coding genes that control other aspects of flower coloration as a superlocus in a subclade of Mimulus and has contributed to subsequent phenotypic diversification and pollinator -mediated speciation in the descendant species.