The ectodysplasin-A receptor is a candidate gene for lateral plate number variation in stickleback fish

• Published in: G3 : genes - genomes - genetics Vol. 12; no. 6
• Main Authors: Laurentino, Telma G, Boileau, Nicolas, Ronco, Fabrizia, Berner, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-06-2022
• Subjects: Animals; Ectodysplasins - genetics; Gene Frequency; Genetics, Population; Investigation; Receptors, Ectodysplasin - genetics; Smegmamorpha - genetics; genetic architecture; population genomics; lateral plates; pooled sequencing; Gasterosteus aculeatus; genome scan
• ISSN: 2160-1836; 2160-1836
• DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac077

Variation in lateral plating in stickleback fish represents a classical example of rapid and parallel adaptation in morphology. The underlying genetic architecture involves polymorphism at the ectodysplasin-A gene (EDA). However, lateral plate number is influenced by additional loci that remain poorly characterized. Here, we search for such loci by performing genome-wide differentiation mapping based on pooled whole-genome sequence data from a European stickleback population variable in the extent of lateral plating, while tightly controlling for the phenotypic effect of EDA. This suggests a new candidate locus, the EDA receptor gene (EDAR), for which additional support is obtained by individual-level targeted Sanger sequencing and by comparing allele frequencies among natural populations. Overall, our study illustrates the power of pooled whole-genome sequencing for searching phenotypically relevant loci and opens opportunities for exploring the population genetics and ecological significance of a new candidate locus for stickleback armor evolution.