Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The B Chromosomes of the Grasshopper Eyprepocnemis Plorans and the Intragenomic Conflict

  • Published:
Genetica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans harbours an extremely widespread polymorphism for supernumerary (B) chromosomes, which is found in almost all circum-Mediterranean and Caucasian populations hitherto analysed. B chromosomes in this species have been shown to evolve through several stages of parasitic and near-neutral nature, presumably because of an arms race between the standard (A) and B chromosomes. This intragenomic conflict can either be solved with the extinction of the neutralised B chromosome or, more interestingly, with the replacement of the neutralised B by a mutant version being parasitic again and thus prolonging B chromosome life. This species thus provides a complete view of the long-term life-cycle of parasitic B chromosomes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bakkali, 2001. Evolución de los cromosomas B del saltamontes Eyprepocnemis plorans enMarrueccos. PhD Thesis, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakkali, M., F. Perfectti & J.P.M. Camacho, 2002. The Bchromosome polymorphism of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans in North Africa. II. Parasitic and neutralized B1 chromosomes. Heredity 88: 14–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakkali, M., J. Cabrero, M.D. López-León, F. Perfectti & J.P.M. Camacho, 1999. The B chromosome polymorphism of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans in North Africa. I. B variants and frequency. Heredity 83: 428–434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, G. & A. Burt, 1990. B-chromosomes: germ-line parasites which induce changes in host recombination. Parasitology 100: S19-S26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bugrov, A., E. Warchalowska-Sliwa & L. Vysotskaya, 1999. Karyotypic features of Eyprepocnemidinae grasshoppers from Russia and Central Asia with reference to the B chromosomes in Eyprepocnemis plorans (Charp.). Folia biol. (Kraków) 47: 97–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabrero, J., J.D. Alché & J.P.M. Camacho, 1987. Effects of B chromosomes of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans on nucleolar organiser regions activity. Activation of a latent NOR on a B chromosome fused to an autosome. Genome 29: 116–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabrero, J., M.D. López-León, R. Gómez, A.J. Castro, A. Martín-Alganza & J.P.M. Camacho, 1997. Geographical distribution of B chromosomes in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans, along a river basin, is mainly shaped by non-selective historical events. Chromosome Res. 5, 194–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabrero, J., M.D. López-León, M. Bakkali & J.P.M. Camacho, 1999. Common origin of B chromosome variants in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Heredity 83: 435–439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camacho, J.P.M., M. Bakkali, J.M. Corral, J. Cabrero, M.D. López-León, I. Aranda, A. Martín-Alganza & F. Perfectti, 2002. Host recombination is dependent on the degree of parasitism. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. B 269: 2173–2177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camacho, J.P.M., A.R. Carballo & J. Cabrero, 1980. The B chromosome system of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans sub. plorans (Charpentier). Chromosoma 80: 163–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camacho, J.P.M., T.F. Sharbel & L.W. Beukeboom, 2000. B chromosome evolution. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 355: 163–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camacho, J.P.M., M.W. Shaw, M.D. López-León, M.C. Pardo & J. Cabrero, 1997. Population dynamics of a selfish B chromosome neutralized by the standard genome in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Am. Nat. 149: 1030–1050.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cano, M.I., N. Henriques-Gil, P. Arana & J.L. Santos, 1986. The relationship between chiasma frequency and bivalent length: effects of genotype and supernumerary chromosomes. Heredity 56: 305–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cano, M.I., G.H. Jones & J.L. Santos, 1987. Sex differences in chiasma frequency and distribution in natural populations of Eyprepocnemis plorans containing B chromosomes. Heredity 59: 237–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chao, L., K.A. Hanley, C.L. Burch, C. Dahlberg & P.E. Turner, 2000. Kin selection and parasite evolution: higher and lower virulence with hard and soft selection. Quart. Rev. Biol. 75: 261–275.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dirsh, V.M., 1958. Revision of the genus Eyprepocnemis Fieber, 1853 (Orthoptera:Acridoidea). Proc. Roy. Ent. Soc. Lond. B 27: 33–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank, S.A., 2000. Polymorphism of attack and defence. Trends Ecol. Evol. 15: 167–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henriques-Gil, N. & P. Arana, 1990. Origin and substitution of B chromosomes in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Evolution 44: 747–753.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henriques-Gil, N., J.L. Santos & P. Arana, 1984. Evolution of a complex polymorphism in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Chromosoma 89: 290–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henriques-Gil, N., J.L. Santos & R. Giráldez, 1982. Genotypedependent effect of B-chromosomes on chiasma frequency in Eyprepocnemis plorans (Acrididae: Orthoptera). Genetica 59: 223–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrera, J.A., M.D. López-León, J. Cabrero, M.W. Shaw & J.P.M. Camacho, 1996. Evidence for B chromosome drive suppression in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Heredity 76: 633–639.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiatt, E.N., E.K. Kentner & K. Dawe, 2002. Independently regulated neocentromere activity of two classes of tandem repeat arrays. The Plant Cell 14: 407–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • John, B. & K.R. Lewis, 1965. Genetic speciation in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Chromosoma 16: 548–578.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, N.A., 1997. Selfish genetic elements: long-range dynamics predicted by non-equilibrium models. Trends Ecol. Evol. 12: 376–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, R.N., 1985. Are B chromosomes selfish? pp. 397–425 in The Evolution of Genome Size, edited by T. Cavalier-Smith, Wiley, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, R.N. & H. Rees, 1982. B Chromosomes. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann, T., 1993. Ectoparasites: direct impact on host fitness. Parasitol. Today 9: 8–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • López-Fernández, C., R. Mezzanotte & J. Gosálvez, 1992. Autosomal, sex and B chromosomes in Eyprepocnemis plorans (Orthoptera) viewed with restriction endonuclease in situ digestion. Heredity 68: 365–372.

    Google Scholar 

  • López-León, M.D., J. Cabrero & J.P.M. Camacho, 1991. A nucleolus organizer region in a B chromosome inactivated by DNA methylation. Chromosoma 100: 134–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • López-León, M.D., J. Cabrero & J.P.M. Camacho, 1995. Changes in DNA methylation during development in the B chromosome NOR of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Heredity 74: 296–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • López-León, M.D., J. Cabrero, J.P.M. Camacho, M.I. Cano & J.L. Santos, 1992a. A widespread B chromosome polymorphism maintained without apparent drive. Evolution 46: 529–539.

    Google Scholar 

  • López-León, M.D., M.C. Pardo, J. Cabrero & J.P.M. Camacho, 1992b. Random mating and absence of sexual selection for B chromosomes in two natural populations of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Heredity 69: 558–561.

    Google Scholar 

  • López-León, M.D., J. Cabrero, M.C. Pardo, E. Viseras, J.P.M. Camacho & J.L. Santos, 1993. Generating high variability of B chromosomes in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Heredity 71: 352–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • López-León, M.D., N. Neves, T. Schwarzacher, T.S. Heslop-Harrison, G.M. Hewitt & J.P.M. Camacho, 1994. Possible origin of a B chromosome deduced from its DNA composition using double FISH technique. Chromosome Res. 2: 87–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • López-León, M.D., P. Vázquez, G.M. Hewitt & J.P.M. Camacho, 1995. Cloning and sequence analysis of an extremely homogeneous tandemly repeated DNA in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Heredity 75: 370–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martín-Alganza, A., J. Cabrero, M.D. López-León, F. Perfectti & J.P.M. Camacho, 1997. Supernumerary heterochromatin does not affect several morphological and physiological traits in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Hereditas 126: 187–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muñoz, E., F. Perfectti, A. Martín-Alganza & J.P.M. Camacho, 1998. Parallel effect of a B chromosome and a mite decreasing female fitness in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. B. 265: 1903–1909.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nur, U., 1977 Maintenance of a 'parasitic' B chromosome in the grasshopper Melanoplus femur-rubrum. Genetics 87: 499–512.

    Google Scholar 

  • Östergren, G., 1945. Parasitic nature of extra fragment chromosomes. Bot. Notiser 2: 157–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rausher, M.D., 2001. Co-evolution and plant resistance to natural enemies. Nature 411: 857–864.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, M.W., 1984. The population genetics of the B-chromosome polymorphism of Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Orthoptera: Acridae). Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 23: 77–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorci, G., A.P. Møller & T. Boulinier, 1997. Genetics of host-parasite interactions. Trends Ecol. Evol. 12: 196–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stouthamer, R., M. van Tilborg, J.H. de Jong, L. Nunney & R.F. Luck, 2001. Selfish element maintains sex in natural populations of a parasitoid wasp. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. 268: 617–622.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werren, J.H., 1991. The paternal-sex-ratio chromosome of Nasonia. Am. Nat. 137: 392–402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werren, J.H. & R. Stouthamer. PRS (Paternal Sex Ratio) chromosomes: the ultimate selfish genetic element. Genetica, this issue. White, M.J.D., 1973. Animal Cytology and Evolution. 3rd edn. Cambridge University Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, E.B., 1907. The supernumerary chromosomes of Hemiptera. Science 26: 870–871.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zurita, S., J. Cabrero, M.D. López-León & J.P.M. Camacho, 1998. Polymorphism regeneration for a neutralized selfish B chromosome. Evolution 52: 274–277.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    J.P.M. Camacho, J. Cabrero, M.D. López-León, M. Bakkali & F. Perfectti

Authors
  1. J.P.M. Camacho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Cabrero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M.D. López-León
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Bakkali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. F. Perfectti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Camacho, J., Cabrero, J., López-León, M. et al. The B Chromosomes of the Grasshopper Eyprepocnemis Plorans and the Intragenomic Conflict. Genetica 117, 77–84 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022311320394

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022311320394

Search

Navigation