Selection on VPS13A linked to migration in a songbird

Animal migration demands an interconnected suite of adaptations for individuals to navigate over long distances. This trait complex is crucial for small birds whose migratory behaviors—such as directionality—are more likely innate, rather than being learned as in many longer-lived birds. Identifying...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2019-09, Vol.116 (37), p.18272-18274
Main Authors: Toews, David P. L., Taylor, Scott A., Streby, Henry M., Kramer, Gunnar R., Lovette, Irby J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
Animal Migration
Animals
Biological Sciences
Bird migration
Birds
BRIEF REPORTS
Chorea
Ecological effects
Evolution, Molecular
Genes
Genetic Association Studies
Genetics
Genome
Genomes
Genomics
Geography
Migratory birds
Natural selection
Neurodegenerative diseases
Overwintering behavior
Protein transport
Selection, Genetic
Songbirds
Songbirds - genetics
Songbirds - physiology
Vesicular Transport Proteins - genetics
Vesicular Transport Proteins - metabolism
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Summary:Animal migration demands an interconnected suite of adaptations for individuals to navigate over long distances. This trait complex is crucial for small birds whose migratory behaviors—such as directionality—are more likely innate, rather than being learned as in many longer-lived birds. Identifying causal genes has been a central goal of migration ecology, and this endeavor has been furthered by genome-scale comparisons. However, even the most successful studies of migration genetics have achieved low-resolution associations, identifying large chromosomal regions that encompass hundreds of genes, one or more of which might be causal. Here we leverage the genomic similarity among golden-winged (Vermivora chrysoptera) and blue-winged (V. cyanoptera) warblers to identify a single gene—vacuolar protein sorting 13A (VPS13A)—that is associated with distinct differences in migration to Central American (CA) or South American (SA) wintering areas. We find reduced sequence variation in this gene region for SA wintering birds, and show this is the likely result of natural selection on this locus. In humans, variants of VPS13A are linked to the neurodegenerative disorder chorea-acanthocytosis. This association provides one of the strongest gene-level associations with avian migration differences.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1909186116