Genome of Spea multiplicata a Rapidly Developing Phenotypically Plastic and Desert-Adapted Spadefoot Toad

摘要

Frogs and toads (anurans) are widely used to study many biological processes. Yet, few anuran genomes have been sequenced, limiting research on these organisms. Here, we produce a draft genome for the Mexican spadefoot toad, , which is a member of an unsequenced anuran clade. Atypically for amphibians, spadefoots inhabit deserts. Consequently, they possess many unique adaptations, including rapid growth and development, prolonged dormancy, phenotypic (developmental) plasticity, and adaptive, interspecies hybridization. We assembled and annotated a 1.07 Gb genome containing 19,639 genes. By comparing this sequence to other available anuran genomes, we found gene amplifications in the gene families of in spadefoots, and obtained evidence that anuran genome size differences are partially driven by variability in intergenic DNA content. We also used the genome to identify genes experiencing positive selection and to study gene expression levels in spadefoot hybrids relative to their pure-species parents. Completion of the genome advances efforts to determine the genetic bases of spadefoots’ unique adaptations and enhances comparative genomic research in anurans.