UTEP Bioinformatics Data Repository
| Title: | Comparing small and large genomes within monogonont rotifers |
| Authors: | Mohl, J.E., Brown, P.D., Robbins, A.J., Lavretsky, P., Hochberg, R., Wallace, R.L., Walsh, E.J. |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Journal: | Genome Biology and Evolution |
| Volume: | 17 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| Pages: | evaf041 |
| Abstract: | Genome size is an important correlate of many biological features including body size, metabolic rate, and developmental rate. Genome size can vary due to expansion, through incorporation of repetitive elements, duplication events, or reduction due to selective constraints. Unfortunately, genome size estimates are lacking for many non-model species, including monogonont rotifers. Here we used high throughput nanopore sequencing and flow cytometry to estimate genome sizes of nine species representing seven families, including three representatives of the Superorder Gnesiotrocha. We annotated the genomes and classified the repetitive elements. We also compared genome size with two biological features: body size and metabolic rate. Body sizes were obtained from the literature and our own estimates. Oxygen consumption was used as a proxy for metabolic rate and was determined using a Loligo respirometer. First, genome sizes were within the ranges found from previously sequenced monogonont species, which are mostly from family Brachionidae and one representative of Proalidae. Moreover, flow cytometry and sequencing provided roughly comparable genome sizes. We found that genome size variation is not due to increased numbers of repetitive elements or large regions of duplication. Instead, we observed higher numbers of predicted proteins as genome size increased but with many being unannotated. In addition, genome size was positively correlated with body size and size-specific respiration rate. Our results significantly expand the taxonomic scope of available genomes for Rotifera and provide opportunities for addressing genetic mechanisms underlying evolutionary and ecological processes in the phylum. |
| Keywords: | flow cytometry, metabolic rate, genome sequencing, Monogonont, rotifer |
The UTEP Bioinformatics Data Repository project is supported in part by NIH Grants #5G12RR008124 from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)/NIH to BBRC. Its contents are solely the
responsibility of the authors.
