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Alternative splicing and parallel patterns of gene expression underlie population and life history divergence in an amphibian
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  • Juntao Hu,
  • Xingyue Ren,
  • Rowan Barrett,
  • Eman Samma,
  • Mikloaj Sulkowski,
  • Steven Brady
Juntao Hu
Fudan University
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Xingyue Ren
Fudan University
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Rowan Barrett
McGill University
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Eman Samma
Southern Connecticut State University
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Mikloaj Sulkowski
Southern Connecticut State University
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Steven Brady
Southern Connecticut State University

Corresponding Author:brady.steven@gmail.com

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Abstract

Populations distributed across anthropogenic disturbance gradients can express different phenotypes adapted to distinct habitats. Previous studies have focused on the role of gene expression linking phenotypic and genetic variation in wild populations. However, recent studies have revealed the critical role of post-transcriptional processes such as alternative splicing in generating phenotypic variation in response to modified environments. Knowledge of alternative splicing should provide more comprehensive insights into understanding population responses to environmental change. Here, we examined gene expression and alternative splicing patterns in the wood frog, an amphibian known for strong phenotypic divergence in response to road-adjacency and runoff pollution. Roadside populations show locally maladaptive traits as embryos and larvae but adaptive traits as adults, suggesting potential tradeoffs across life history in response to road effects. Here, we found strong differences in gene expression and alternative splicing patterns between hatchlings and adults, along with population specific patterns. However, only two differentially expressed genes (Hsp70 and GPSM2) showed repeated divergence between roadside populations and populations located away from roads. These results suggest that while local populations and life history stages can diverge substantially in both gene expression and alternative splicing, a low degree of transcriptomic parallelism underlies (mal)adaptation to roads and pollution.