Journal article
Identification of a candidate sex determination region and sex-specific molecular markers based on whole-genome re‑sequencing in the sea star Asterias amurensis
DNA research, Vol.32(1), pp.1-10
2025
PMCID: PMC11757944
PMID: 39792457
Abstract
Sex determination systems are diverse in echinoderms, however, our understanding is still very limited in this research field, especially for Asteroidea species. The northern Pacific seastar, Asterias amurensis, has attracted widespread concern due to its population outbreaks and high-risk invasions. Using whole-genome re-sequencing data from 40 females and 40 males, we identified a candidate sex determination region in A. amurensis. Based on the distribution characteristics of 525 sex-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms, identified by GWAS analysis, 119 sex-specific loci were isolated combining a custom Perl script, PCA analysis and the selection signatures of fixation index FST, suggesting that a 7-12 Mb region on chromosome 10 is a candidate sex-determining region. The existence of female-specific sequences and the genotypes of sex-specific loci indicated that A. amurensis might utilize a ZZ/ZW sex determination system. We also developed two pairs of sex-specific primers which could distinguish the genetic sex of this starfish with 100% accuracy. As the first study on sex determination in Asteroidea, it will provide novel insights into diverse sex determination systems in echinoderms and allow for in-depth studies on sex-related eco-physiological issues in A. amurensis.
Details
- Title
- Identification of a candidate sex determination region and sex-specific molecular markers based on whole-genome re‑sequencing in the sea star Asterias amurensis
- Authors
- Yanlin Wang - Ocean University of ChinaHongliang Yang - Ocean University of ChinaYixin Wang - Ocean University of ChinaYulong Li - Institute of OceanologyGang Ni - Ocean University of ChinaScott F Cummins - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for BioinnovationMuyan Chen (Corresponding Author) - Ocean University of China
- Publication details
- DNA research, Vol.32(1), pp.1-10
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1093/dnares/dsaf003
- ISSN
- 1756-1663
- PMID
- 39792457; PMC11757944
- Copyright note
- © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Kazusa DNA Research Institute. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Data Availability
- The raw re-sequencing data has been deposited in the NCBI Sequence Read Archive (SRA) under BioProject Accession No. PRJNA1120217. Other data supporting the findings of this study are available in the main manuscript and additional supporting files.
- Grant note
- This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 42276103].
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991093989902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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