The Fire Ant Social Chromosome Exerts a Major Influence on Genome Regulation

About this study

Supergenes underlying complex trait polymorphisms ensure that sets of coadapted alleles remain genetically linked. Despite their prevalence in nature, the mechanisms of supergene effects on genome regulation are poorly understood. In the fire ant Solenopsis invicta, a supergene containing over 500 individual genes influences trait variation in multiple castes to collectively underpin a colony level social polymorphism. Here, we present results of an integrative investigation of supergene effects on gene regulation. We present analyses of ATAC-seq data to investigate variation in chromatin accessibility by supergene genotype and STARR-seq data to characterize enhancer activity by supergene haplotype. Integration with gene co-expression analyses, newly mapped intact transposable elements (TEs), and previously identified copy number variants (CNVs) collectively reveals widespread effects of the supergene on chromatin structure, gene transcription, and regulatory element activity, with a genome-wide bias for open chromatin and increased expression in the presence of the derived supergene haplotype, particularly in regions that harbor intact TEs. Integrated consideration of CNVs and regulatory element divergence suggests each evolved in concert to shape the expression of supergene encoded factors, including several transcription factors that may directly contribute to the trans-regulatory footprint of a heteromorphic social chromosome. Overall, we show how genome structure in the form of a supergene has wide-reaching effects on gene regulation and gene expression.