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CC BY-NC-SA V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Compact genome of the Antarctic midge is likely an adaptation to an extreme environment
Nature communications, Vol.5(1), pp.4611-4611
08/12/2014
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/110335
PMCID: PMC4164542
PMID: 25118180
Abstract
The midge, Belgica antarctica , is the only insect endemic to Antarctica, and thus it offers a powerful model for probing responses to extreme temperatures, freeze tolerance, dehydration, osmotic stress, ultraviolet radiation and other forms of environmental stress. Here we present the first genome assembly of an extremophile, the first dipteran in the family Chironomidae, and the first Antarctic eukaryote to be sequenced. At 99 megabases, B. antarctica has the smallest insect genome sequenced thus far. Although it has a similar number of genes as other Diptera, the midge genome has very low repeat density and a reduction in intron length. Environmental extremes appear to constrain genome architecture, not gene content. The few transposable elements present are mainly ancient, inactive retroelements. An abundance of genes associated with development, regulation of metabolism and responses to external stimuli may reflect adaptations for surviving in this harsh environment. The Antarctic midge, Belgica antarctica , is the only insect endemic to Antarctica. Here, the authors sequence the B. antarctica genome, the smallest insect genome yet reported, and suggest that genes involved in development, metabolism and stimuli response may have had a role in how this insect adapted to survive in such a harsh environment.
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Details
- Title
- Compact genome of the Antarctic midge is likely an adaptation to an extreme environment
- Creators
- Joanna L Kelley - , 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, California 94305Justin T Peyton - , 300 Aronoff Laboratory, 318W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210Anna-Sophie Fiston-Lavier - , 371 Serra St., Stanford, California 94305Nicholas M Teets - , 300 Aronoff Laboratory, 318W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210Muh-Ching Yee - , 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, California 94305J. Spencer Johnston - , College Station, Texas 77843Carlos D Bustamante - , 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, California 94305Richard E Lee - , Oxford, Ohio 45056David L Denlinger - , 300 Aronoff Laboratory, 318W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210
- Publication Details
- Nature communications, Vol.5(1), pp.4611-4611
- Academic Unit
- Kelley Lab; Biological Sciences, School of
- Publisher
- Nature Pub. Group
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- GM087069 / NIH NRSA; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA 1341393 / Directorate For Geosciences; National Science Foundation (NSF); NSF - Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) OPP-ANT-0837613; ANT-0837559 / NSF; National Science Foundation (NSF) F32GM087069 / NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- Identifiers
- 99900547226901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article