The genome of Draba nivalis shows signatures of adaptation to the extreme environmental stresses of the Arctic

NOWAK, M.D., S. BIRKELAND, Terezie MANDÁKOVÁ, R.R. CHOUDHURY, Xinyi GUO, A.L.S. GUSTAFSSON, A. GIZAW, A. SCHRODER-NIELSEN, M. FRACASSETTI, A.K. BRYSTING, L. RIESEBERG, T. SLOTTE, C. PARISOD, Martin LYSÁK and C. BROCHMANN. The genome of Draba nivalis shows signatures of adaptation to the extreme environmental stresses of the Arctic. Molecular Ecology Resources. HOBOKEN: WILEY, 2021, vol. 21, No 3, p. 661-676. ISSN 1755-098X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13280.

Basic information

• Original name: The genome of Draba nivalis shows signatures of adaptation to the extreme environmental stresses of the Arctic
• Authors: NOWAK, M.D., S. BIRKELAND, Terezie MANDÁKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), R.R. CHOUDHURY, Xinyi GUO (156 China, belonging to the institution), A.L.S. GUSTAFSSON, A. GIZAW, A. SCHRODER-NIELSEN, M. FRACASSETTI, A.K. BRYSTING, L. RIESEBERG, T. SLOTTE, C. PARISOD, Martin LYSÁK (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and C. BROCHMANN.
• Edition: Molecular Ecology Resources, HOBOKEN, WILEY, 2021, 1755-098X.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 10608 Biochemistry and molecular biology
• Country of publisher: United States of America
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 8.678
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14740/21:00118890
• Organization unit: Central European Institute of Technology
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13280
• UT WoS: 000588640600001
• Keywords in English: adaptation; Arctic; Brassicaceae; chromosome‐ scale assembly; linkage map
• Tags: rivok
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

The Arctic is one of the most extreme terrestrial environments on the planet. Here, we present the first chromosome-scale genome assembly of a plant adapted to the high Arctic, Draba nivalis (Brassicaceae), an attractive model species for studying plant adaptation to the stresses imposed by this harsh environment. We used an iterative scaffolding strategy with data from short-reads, single-molecule long reads, proximity ligation data, and a genetic map to produce a 302 Mb assembly that is highly contiguous with 91.6% assembled into eight chromosomes (the base chromosome number). To identify candidate genes and gene families that may have facilitated adaptation to Arctic environmental stresses, we performed comparative genomic analyses with nine non-Arctic Brassicaceae species. We show that the D. nivalis genome contains expanded suites of genes associated with drought and cold stress (e.g., related to the maintenance of oxidation-reduction homeostasis, meiosis, and signaling pathways). The expansions of gene families associated with these functions appear to be driven in part by the activity of transposable elements. Tests of positive selection identify suites of candidate genes associated with meiosis and photoperiodism, as well as cold, drought, and oxidative stress responses. Our results reveal a multifaceted landscape of stress adaptation in the D. nivalis genome, offering avenues for the continued development of this species as an Arctic model plant.

Links

• GA15-18545S, research and development project: Name: Evoluce genomu a časoprostorová diversita v tribu Arabideae

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

• LQ1601, research and development project: Name: CEITEC 2020 (Acronym: CEITEC2020)

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR