TY - CHAP

T1 - Gametic isolation proteins in the model of intertidal snails sibling species

AU - Lobov, Arseniy A.

AU - Maltseva, Arina L.

AU - Varfolomeeva, Marina A.

AU - Mikhailova, Natalia A.

AU - Granovitch, Andrei I.

N1 - Conference code: 54

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - At the European sea shores, subgenus Neritrema (genus Littorina) is represented by two groups of closely related species: “obtusata”: L. obtusata, L. fabalis; and“saxatilis”: L. saxatilis, L. arcana, L. compressa. Although they are characterized by unique distribution pattern along the intertidal area, they coexist in sympatry,demonstrate similar morphology and breeding behaviour. This species are lowmoving, dioceous and polygamic (females are promiscuous and store sperm ofseveral males). Some species tend to form ecotypes (e.g. L. saxatilis).We were interested in barriers maintaining species identity in this system. First, we tested are there interspecies copulation and what are mating preferences? Most males copulated with conspecific females, although mating with heterospecific partners was observed regularly. This focused further study on postcopulatory prezygotic barriers, which still were not studied in Caenogastropoda. Among results of a complex proteomic analysis of male reproductive tissues was the identification of a novel protein with no known domain structure – LOSP. This protein is specifically expressed in the paraspermal cell line and most probably transferred to the female during insemination. The parasperms and their products might contribute to reproductive isolation via involvement in sperm competition. Congruently, LOSP is highly variable between species except L.saxatilis/L.arcana were LOSP mostvariable, but species form mixed clusters. LOSP might participate in gameticisolation and we have confirmed the previous idea that L.saxatilis/L.arcana have not diverged yet and there is strong reinforcement between them.

AB - At the European sea shores, subgenus Neritrema (genus Littorina) is represented by two groups of closely related species: “obtusata”: L. obtusata, L. fabalis; and“saxatilis”: L. saxatilis, L. arcana, L. compressa. Although they are characterized by unique distribution pattern along the intertidal area, they coexist in sympatry,demonstrate similar morphology and breeding behaviour. This species are lowmoving, dioceous and polygamic (females are promiscuous and store sperm ofseveral males). Some species tend to form ecotypes (e.g. L. saxatilis).We were interested in barriers maintaining species identity in this system. First, we tested are there interspecies copulation and what are mating preferences? Most males copulated with conspecific females, although mating with heterospecific partners was observed regularly. This focused further study on postcopulatory prezygotic barriers, which still were not studied in Caenogastropoda. Among results of a complex proteomic analysis of male reproductive tissues was the identification of a novel protein with no known domain structure – LOSP. This protein is specifically expressed in the paraspermal cell line and most probably transferred to the female during insemination. The parasperms and their products might contribute to reproductive isolation via involvement in sperm competition. Congruently, LOSP is highly variable between species except L.saxatilis/L.arcana were LOSP mostvariable, but species form mixed clusters. LOSP might participate in gameticisolation and we have confirmed the previous idea that L.saxatilis/L.arcana have not diverged yet and there is strong reinforcement between them.

KW - Littorina

KW - Speciation

KW - Gamete recognition proteins

KW - Gametic isolation

M3 - Other chapter contribution

SP - 83

BT - 54th European marine biology symposium

Y2 - 25 August 2019 through 29 August 2019

ER -