Supervisor: dr hab. Maciej Pabijan, prof. UJ (maciej.pabijan@uj.edu.pl)

Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research

Background information:

Proteins encoded by interacting mitochondrial and nuclear genes catalyze essential metabolic processes such as oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells. The direct interaction of these proteins requires cooperation between mitonuclear allele combinations. However, the two genomes have different modes of inheritance, recombination and mutation rates. These differences have the potential to coerce reciprocal changes in interacting OXPHOS genes (mitonuclear coadaptation). In hybridizing species, mismatched combinations (mitonuclear incompatibilities), i.e. OXPHOS protein complexes with subunits from both of the parental species, could result in inferior enzymatic performance and reduced fitness of hybrid progeny. Selection for the maintenance of integrity of coadapted mitonuclear gene complexes may have major consequences for local adaptation, reproductive isolation and speciation. However, apart from a few systems, little is known of the role of mitonuclear match and mismatch on speciation. In particular, the extent of mitonuclear coadaptation among closely related species and the dynamics of mitonuclear associations in hybridizing species are not well understood.

The main question to be addressed in the project:

What is the effect of gene flow via hybridization on co-adapted mitonuclear gene complexes? Do co-adapted complexes flow more freely between hybridizing species than other nuclear loci? What is the role of co-adapted mitonuclear complexes in vertebrate speciation? The aim of the PhD project will be an assessment of mitonuclear co-adaptation in hybridizing amphibian/reptile species.

Information on the methods/description of work:

The PhD student will work on at least three frog (Anura: Amphibia) species complexes (for example Hyla arborea/orientalis sp., Rana temporaria/parvipalmata, Bombina bombina/variegata) with a possible extension towards reptiles (Anguis sp., Lacerta sp., Podarcis sp.). A major component of the project will involve labwork and bioinformatics using targeted sequencing approaches (target enrichment, molecular inversion probes) based on gene models from transcriptome/genomic data for each of the species complexes. Genes involved in mitonuclear interactions and a panel of control genes will be sequenced in replicated transects across hybrid zones in the species complexes. Possibility of field work for some species.

Additional information: (eg. Special requirements for the student)

Candidates are expected to have a strong interest in evolutionary biology and a basic knowledge of molecular ecology. Additional funding (NCN scholarship) for the PhD student is available for 1 year.

Place/name of potential foreign collaborator:

CIBIO - Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO Associate Laboratory, University of Porto, Portugal

References:

[1]Gershoni, M., Templeton, A. R., & Mishmar, D. (2009). Mitochondrial bioenergetics as a major motive force of speciation. Bioessays, 31(6), 642-650.

[2]Morales, H. E., Pavlova, A., Amos, N., Major, R., Kilian, A., Greening, C., & Sunnucks, P. (2018). Concordant divergence of mitogenomes and a mitonuclear gene cluster in bird lineages inhabiting different climates. Nature Ecology & Evolution 2(8), 1258.

[3]Hill, G. E. (2019). Mitonuclear ecology. Oxford University Press.