Gamete recognition proteins in the light of comparative genomics

CAMPOS, MARÍA CLARA; PISCIOTTANO, FRANCISCO; BRUQUE, CARLOS DAVID; SARAGÜETA, PATRICIA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta SAIC ? SAI ? SAFIS; 2022

SAIC SAI SAFIS

The mammalian fertilization process has been extensively described byboth physiology and molecular biology. Gamete recognition proteins(GRP) such as members of the Zona Pellucida protein family (ZP) andIZUMO1-JUNO pair play a key role in this process, facilitating theinteraction and fusion between the oocyte and the sperm, respectively.The interactions between oocyte and sperm counterparts may constitutea prezygotic reproductive isolation mechanism. The story of proteinevolution has greatly changed with the large number of genomesreported as their sequencing advanced. We have improved the phylogenyof gamete interaction proteins using chromosome-resolved genomeassembled by Hi-C long-range sequencing.As we reported before, ZP3 and ZP2, gamete interaction ZP proteins,display a similar pattern of evolution along their phylogenies showingadaptive changes in the canids subtree but not among felid species. Onthe other hand, structural cross-linker ZP1 and ZP4 display a differentevolutionary history, showing signatures of positive selection inside felidssubtree and, the fusion protein IZUMO1R did not show positive selectionamong all studied phylogenetic groups. Moreover, we showed thatconservation of all carnivora gamete interaction proteins wassignificantly higher in felids compared to canids (p-value < 0.05), exceptfor the case of ZP4.Here we extend our analysis to sperm surface proteins involved ingamete intraction. In order to reveal the evolutionary history of spermGRP in carnivores and bring light to the process of coevolution with theiroocyte conterparts we analysed IZUMO1, ZP3r, PKDREJ, SLLP1.The results will be useful to undestand the molecular basis of the lack ofprecygotic reproductive isolation mechanisms in felids and comparethem to canids, its sister group. In addition, they will allow us delve intothe coevolution process between sperm and oocyte GRP.