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MBE Advance Access published online on August 29, 2003
Molecular Biology and Evolution, doi:10.1093/molbev/msg239
Molecular Biology and Evolution © Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution 2003; all rights reserved
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Accepted August 6, 2003
© 2003 Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution

Original Articles

Adaptive Molecular Evolution of PKCIW, a Female-Specific Gene in Birds

Helene Ceplitis 1 and Hans Ellegren 1*

1 Department of Evolutionary Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: Hans.Ellegren{at}ebc.uu.se.


  Abstract

It is well established that many genes on the male-specific Y chromosome of organisms such as mammals are involved in male reproduction and may evolve rapidly due to positive selection on male reproductive traits. In contrast, very little is known about the function and evolution of W-linked genes restricted to the female genome of organisms with female heterogamety. For birds (males ZZ, females ZW), only one W-linked gene (PKCIW) is sufficiently different from its Z-linked homolog to indicate a female-specific function. Here we report that PKCIW shows evidence of adaptive molecular evolution, implying strong positive selection for new functional properties in female birds. Moreover, since PKCIW is expressed in the gonads of female birds just prior to sexual differentiation, and is thus a candidate for sex determination, it suggests adaptive evolution related to female development. This provides the first example of Darwinian evolution of a gene restricted to the female genome of any organism. Given that PKCIW exists in multiple copies on W, similar to some testis-specific genes amplified on mammalian Y, avian PKCIW may thus potentially represent a female parallel to the organization and evolution of Y chromosome genes involved in male reproduction and development.

Key Words: W chromosome, adaptive evolution, positive selection, sex chromosomes, birds


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