研究表明，小麦羽毛颜色的趋同进化涉及一种单基因结构，在刺突信号蛋白（agouti signaling protein， ASIP）位点存在模块化变异渗入。一个新的转座元件插入的渗入和相关的蛋白质编码变异支持了跨特异性喉咙颜色多态性，稳定同位素表明这与替代觅食生态位有关。关联的调控性ASIP变异的共渗入导致了一个物种的衣色趋同，而在属组水平上的趋同色进化需要新的变异。他们的结果证明了在单基因结构的约束下实现的渐渗变异的进化轨迹。
研究人员表示，来自多个起源的基因组变异的重组是表型多样化的重要贡献者，但对这种组合过程的进化轨迹及其与遗传结构的相互作用的见解仍然很少。
附：英文原文
Title: A mosaic of modular variation at a single gene underpins convergent plumage coloration
Author: Dave Lutgen, Valentina Peona, Madeline A. Chase, Niloofar Alaei Kakhki, Fritjof Lammers, Stacey G. de Souza, Anne-Lyse Ducrest, Marta Burri, Pavlos Andriopoulos, Sifiso M. Lukhele, Michaella Moysi, Elizabeth Yohannes, Abdin Abbasov, Tamer Albayrak, Mansour Aliabadian, Nicolas Auchli, Vasileios Bontzorlos, Ioulios Christoforou, José Luis Copete, Egidio Fulco, Jesus T. Garcia, Zura Javakhishvili, Anna Kazazou, Fumin Lei, Yang Liu, Nika Paposhvili, Robert Patchett, áron Péter, Raphael Ritter, Attila D. Sándor, Fabian Schneider, Petar Shurulinkov, Sergey Sklyarenko, Borut Stumberger, Abulfaz Tagiyev, Alessia Uboldi, Nikitas Vogiatzis, Fanny Taborsak-Lines, Joel Gruselius, Liqun Yao, Catherine L. Peichel, Alexander Suh, Pierre-Alexandre Gagnaire, Alexander N. G. Kirschel, Manuel Schweizer, Holger Schielzeth, Reto Burri
Issue&Volume: 2025-10-16
Abstract: The reshuffling of genomic variation from multiple origins is an important contributor to phenotypic diversification, yet insights into the evolutionary trajectories of this combinatorial process and their interplay with genetic architecture remain scarce. We show that convergent plumage color evolution in wheatears involves a monogenic architecture with modular variation introgressed at the agouti signaling protein (ASIP) locus. Introgression of a new transposable element insertion and linked protein-coding variation underpin a transspecific throat color polymorphism, which stable isotopes suggest is associated with alternative foraging niches. Cointrogression of linked regulatory ASIP variation resulted in mantle color convergence in one species, whereas convergent color evolution at the genus level required new variation. Our results demonstrate evolutionary trajectories from introgressed variation realized within the constraints of a monogenic architecture.
DOI: ado8005
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado8005