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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.10.22.760680

Conflicts and coalitions among selfish toxin-antidote elements shape the evolution of hyperdivergent haplotypes

Koreshova, A.·Hagmueller, A.·Kara, A.·Pliota, P.·Liao, T.·Kobakhidze, G.·Braendle, C.·Dong, G.·Burga, A.
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Abstract

Genetic conflict drives evolutionary innovation, yet most research has focused on arms races between selfish elements and their hosts. A second layer-competition among selfish elements-remains largely unexplored. Here, we uncover such a conflict between two antagonistic toxin-antidote elements (TAs), loki-1/sgyn-1 and thor-1/sif-1, in Caenorhabditis tropicalis. Each toxin, LOKI-1 or THOR-1, selectively kills progeny homozygous for the opposing haplotype, favoring heterozygotes. Their antidotes, SGYN-1 and SIF-1, evolved from F-box proteins, although SIF-1 subsequently lost its F-box domain. We solved the crystal structure of the THOR-1-SIF-1 complex and used in vivo mutagenesis to validate the binding interface, supporting direct toxin neutralization independently of F-box-mediated degradation. A survey of 676 wild isolates revealed two contrasting evolutionary outcomes of antagonizing TAs: independently evolved loki-1/sgyn-1 and thor-1/sif-1 remain confined to alternative hyperdivergent haplotypes, whereas other homologous TAs can recombine to form composite haplotypes. Altogether, our findings establish competition among selfish elements as a distinct form of genetic conflict, and support models in which antagonistic TAs act as barriers that restrict gene flow between neighboring populations.

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Koreshova, A., Hagmueller, A., Kara, A., Pliota, P., Liao, T., Kobakhidze, G., Braendle, C., Dong, G., Burga, A.. 2026-10-23. Conflicts and coalitions among selfish toxin-antidote elements shape the evolution of hyperdivergent haplotypes. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.22.760680

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