Impact of host evolutionary history on endosymbiont genome evolution: a
test in Camponotus carpenter ants and their Blochmannia endosymbionts
Abstract
Mutualism discernibly connects the evolution of two or more interacting
taxa. Endosymbioses, especially those that are obligate, are an intimate
mutualism that link the evolution of host and endosymbiont. In these
instances, we may expect codiversification of hosts and endosymbionts as
well as host demography discernibly affecting the course of endosymbiont
evolution. While many studies have demonstrated cospeciation of hosts
and endosymbionts, detailed investigations of the impact of host
demography on endosymbiont molecular evolution are generally lacking.
Here, we sequenced complete genomes of carpenter ants (Genus Camponotus)
and their Blochmannia endosymbionts to investigate their
codiversification and test hypotheses about how host demography impacts
molecular evolution in endosymbionts. Using whole genome phylogenomics,
we identified strong signatures of codiversification between carpenter
ants and their endosymbionts. We found that endosymbiont genes have
evolved rapidly, at a pace of ~30x that of their hosts.
Using multiple tests for selection in Blochmannia genes, we found
signatures of positive selection and shifts in selection strength across
the phylogeny. We identified a positive relationship between host
demography and shifts toward intensified selection in endosymbiont
genes, but no relationship between host demography and shifts toward
relaxed selection in endosymbiont genes. About 10% of the Blochmannia
genes exhibited variable presence and absence across endosymbiont
genomes. Of those, about half exhibited phylogenetic signal, indicating
somewhat random patterns of gene loss in endosymbiont genomes. Lastly,
we found no relationship between host demography and endosymbiont gene
loss.