Canalization of gene expression is a major signature of regulatory cold adaptation in temperate Drosophila melanogaster

摘要: Transcriptome analysis may provide means to investigate the underlying genetic causes of shared and divergent phenotypes in different populations help identify potential targets adaptive evolution. Applying RNA sequencing whole male Drosophila melanogaster from ancestral tropical African environment a very recently colonized cold-temperate European at both standard laboratory conditions following cold shock, we seek uncover transcriptional basis adaptation. In derived populations, predominant characteristic shock response is swift massive upregulation heat proteins other chaperones. Although find ~25 % genome be differentially expressed only relatively few genes (n = 16) are up- or down-regulated population-specific way. Intriguingly, 14 these 16 show greater degree differential expression population. Likewise, there an excess with particularly strong cold-induced changes Africa on genome-wide scale. The most prominently reveals components general stress response, which conserved over many taxa triggered by plethora stressors. Despite overall being fairly similar definite fold-change Africa. This consistent detrimental deregulation overshooting response. Thus, canalization gene might responsible for increased tolerance flies.