Identification of sperm proteins as candidate biomarkers for the analysis of reproductive isolation in Mytilus: a case study for the enkurin locus
Bartel, M.; Hartmann, S.; Lehmann, K.; Postel, K.; Quesada, H.; Philipp, E.E.R.; Heilmann, K.; Micheel, B.; Stuckas, H. (2012). Identification of sperm proteins as candidate biomarkers for the analysis of reproductive isolation in Mytilus: a case study for the enkurin locus. Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 159(10): 2195-2207. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2005-7
In: Marine Biology: International Journal on Life in Oceans and Coastal Waters. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0025-3162; e-ISSN 1432-1793, more
|  |
| Authors | | Top |
- Bartel, M.
- Hartmann, S.
- Lehmann, K.
|
- Postel, K.
- Quesada, H.
- Philipp, E.E.R.
|
- Heilmann, K.
- Micheel, B.
- Stuckas, H.
|
| Abstract |
Sperm proteins of the marine sessile mussels of the Mytilus edulis species complex are models to investigate reproductive isolation and speciation. This study aimed at identifying sperm proteins and their corresponding genes. This was aided by the use of monoclonal antibodies that preferentially bind to yet unknown sperm molecules. By identifying their target molecules, this approach identified proteins with relevance to Mytilus sperm function. This procedure identified 16 proteins, for example, enkurin, laminin, porin and heat shock proteins. The potential use of these proteins as genetic markers to study reproductive isolation is exemplified by analysing the enkurin locus. Enkurin evolution is driven by purifying selection, the locus displays high levels of intraspecific variation and species-specific alleles group in distinct phylogenetic clusters. These findings characterize enkurin as informative candidate biomarker for analyses of clinal variation and differential introgression in hybrid zones, for example, to understand determinants of reproductive isolation in Baltic Mytilus populations. |
|
