Sex-Linked markers and Satellite DNA analysis in metatherian mammal species with focus on the evolution of sex chromosomes

• Grant number: 23/15593-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: April 10, 2025
• End date: January 09, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo de Bello Cioffi
• Grantee: Geize Aparecida Deon
• Supervisor: Tariq Ezaz
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Canberra (UC), Australia
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/14096-6 - Evolutionary history of the rare multiple XY1Y2 sex chromosome system. Satellitome analysis in fish and mammal species, BP.PD

Abstract

The present research project will integrate cytogenetic and genomic approaches to explore the chromosomal rearrangements and the evolution of the multiple @XX/BXY1Y2 sex chromosome system in marsupial species endemic to Australia. For this purpose, Wallabia bicolor, a metatherian mammal, will be chosen as a model for isolating and characterizing the satellite DNA library (satellitome) and searching sex-linked markers. Firstly, the satellitome herein obtained will be employed to check the presence of conserved satellite DNAs in other marsupial genomes. Subsequently, a comparative analysis of the chromosomal distribution patterns between male and female individuals of W. bicolor and in the congenerous species harboring the @XX/BXY system (Notamacropus eugenii) will be conducted. Moreover, satellite DNA families distinctively distributed among the sex chromosomes will be selected to evaluate the rates of recombination and homogenization of different haplotypes. After the satellite's investigation, we will apply the genotyping by sequencing (GBS) analyses to find potential sex-linked markers present in the XY1Y2 chromosomes of the W. bicolor. The gathered findings will allow us to shed light on the evolutionary scenarios concerning the many chromosomal rearrangements that occurred in the Macropodidae group as well the steps of accumulation and/or loss of repetitive DNA sequences that occurred in the sex chromosomes (Y1 and Y2) and will provide new insights of the fine-scale methodology to looking for sex-linked markers in marsupial's sex chromosomes. Also, it presents a great opportunity to work and interact with an international group reference in sex chromosome evolution with a global relevance.