Molecular phenotyping uncovers differences in basic housekeeping functions among closely related species of hares (Lepus spp., Lagomorpha: Leporidae)

• Published in: Molecular Ecology
• Main Authors: Gaertner, Kateryna, Michell, Craig, Tapanainen, Riikka, Goffart, Steffi, Saari, Sina, Soininmäki, Manu, Dufour, Eric, Pohjoismäki, Jaakko L. O.
• Other Authors: Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Saudi Arabia, Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, FI-33014 Tampere University Finland, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, FI-80101 University of Eastern Finland Finland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Wiley 2022
• Subjects: Arctic; Jukka; Lauri; Lepus timidus; mountain hare; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10754/685389; https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16755

Speciation is a fundamental evolutionary process, which results in genetic differentiation of populations and manifests as discrete morphological, physiological and behavioral differences. Each species has travelled its own evolutionary trajectory, influenced by random drift and driven by various types of natural selection, making the association of genetic differences between the species with the phenotypic differences extremely complex to dissect. In the present study, we have used an in vitro model to analyze in depth the genetic and gene regulation differences between fibroblasts of two closely related mammals, the arctic/subarctic mountain hare (Lepus timidus Linnaeus) and the temperate steppe-climate adapted brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas). We discovered the existence of a species-specific expression pattern of 1,623 genes, manifesting in differences in cell growth, cell cycle control, respiration, and metabolism. Interspecific differences in the housekeeping functions of fibroblast cells suggest that speciation acts on fundamental cellular processes, even in these two interfertile species. Our results help to understand the molecular constituents of a species difference on a cellular level, which could contribute to the maintenance of the species boundary. We would like to thank Mr Lauri Peippo (Parikkala, Finland), Mr Jukka Pusa (Joensuu, Finland) and Mr Jari Kokkonen (Kontiolahti, Finland) for providing the samples for LT6, LE1 and LE3, respectively. This study belongs to the xHARES consortium funded by the R’ Life initiative of the Academy of Finland, grant number 329264