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Genetic and epigenetic incompatibilities underlie hybrid dysgenesis in Peromyscus

Nature Genetics volume 25, pages 120–124 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Crosses between the two North American rodent species Peromyscus polionotus (PO) and Peromyscus maniculatus (BW) yield parent-of-origin effects on both embryonic and placental growth1,2. The two species are approximately the same size, but a female BW crossed with a male PO produces offspring that are smaller than either parent. In the reciprocal cross, the offspring are oversized and typically die before birth. Rare survivors are exclusively female, consistent with Haldane's rule, which states that in instances of hybrid sterility or inviability, the heterogametic sex tends to be more severely affected3. To understand these sex- and parent-of-origin-specific patterns of overgrowth, we analysed reciprocal backcrosses. Our studies reveal that hybrid inviability is partially due to a maternally expressed X-linked PO locus and an imprinted paternally expressed autosomal BW locus. In addition, the hybrids display skewing of X-chromosome inactivation in favour of the expression of the BW X chromosome. The most severe overgrowth is accompanied by widespread relaxation of imprinting of mostly paternally expressed genes. Both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlie hybrid inviability in Peromyscus and hence have a role in the establishment and maintenance of reproductive isolation barriers in mammals.

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Figure 1: Genetic analysis of (F1×BW) hybrid Peromyscus.
Figure 2: Allelic expression of X-linked genes in Peromyscus hybrids.
Figure 3: Genetic analysis of placental weight in (PO×F1) hybrid Peromyscus.
Figure 4: Allelic expression of imprinted genes in (PO×F1) hybrid placentas.
Figure 5: Genetic analysis of placental weight in F2 hybrid Peromyscus.

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Acknowledgements

We thank W. Dawson for advice on Peromyscus and support, and R.S. Ingram for DNA sequencing. This work was supported by a grant from the NIGMS (GM51460). S.M.T. is an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

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  1. Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, 08544, New Jersey, USA

    Paul B. Vrana, John A. Fossella, Paul Matteson, Tony del Rio, Michael J. O'Neill & Shirley M. Tilghman

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  1. Paul B. Vrana
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  2. John A. Fossella
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Correspondence to Shirley M. Tilghman.

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Vrana, P., Fossella, J., Matteson, P. et al. Genetic and epigenetic incompatibilities underlie hybrid dysgenesis in Peromyscus. Nat Genet 25, 120–124 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/75518

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