Microsatellites as Agents of Adaptive Change: An RNA-Seq-Based Comparative Study of Transcriptomes from Five Helianthus Species

Mutations that provide environment-dependent selective advantages drive adaptive divergence among species. Many phenotypic differences related species are more likely to result from gene expression rather than non-synonymous mutations. In this regard, cis-regulatory mutations play an important part in generating functionally significant variation. Some proposed mechanisms explore the role of involve microsatellites. Microsatellites exhibit high mutation rates achieved through symmetric or asymmetric processes and abundant both coding non-coding regions positions could influence function products. Here we tested hypothesis microsatellites contribute with 50 individuals five closely Helianthus using RNA-seq approach. Differential analyses transcriptomes revealed genes containing (UTRs introns) be differentially expressed when compared transcripts lacking We detected a greater proportion shared 5?UTRs 3?UTRs spp. Furthermore, allele frequency measured by pairwise FST at single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), indicate genetic those A ontology (GO) analysis microsatellite-containing significantly enriched for GO terms associated regulation transcription factor activity. Collectively, our study provides compelling evidence support divergence.