Year: 2026
Type: data-paper
Abstract: The Poitevin stickleback ( Pungitius vulgaris ) is a Near Threatened freshwater fish endemic to France. Using PacBio HiFi long reads and Hi-C scaffolding, we generated the first chromosome-level reference genome for this species. The assembly spans 489.65 Mb across 21 chromosomes, with a scaffold N50 of 21.77 Mb and 99.5% BUSCO completeness. A total of 21,656 protein-coding genes were predicted, and approximately 25.65% of the genome was identified as repetitive sequences. Based on the enrichment of male-specific k-mers on chromosome 12 (chr12), we identified this chromosome as the putative sex chromosome, is consistent with an XY sex-determination system. A short male-specific region (~4 kb; chr12: 24,419,000-24,423,000 bp) was identified that is located in a highly repetitive region and contains one protein-coding gene ( gata1a -like). Although the exact boundary of the sex-determining region (SDR) can not be determined, this short male-specific region embedded in highly repetitive elements suggests a sex-determining architecture distinct from that reported in other sticklebacks. This reference genome provides a foundational resource for population genomics and for studies of sex chromosome evolution in the Poitevin stickleback.
Source: Scientific Data
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,490
Award: G5333323589
OpenAlex ID: W7203772114