Transcriptomic insights into genetic diversity of protein-coding genes in X. laevis

•A catalogue of coding variants in two strains of Xenopus laevis including genomic.•A functional annotation of identified coding mutations is provided.•The ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous mutations suggests subfunctionalization.

We characterize the genetic diversity of Xenopus laevis strains using RNA-seq data and allele-specific analysis. This data provides a catalogue of coding variation, which can be used for improving the genomic sequence, as well as for better sequence alignment, probe design, and proteomic analysis. In addition, we paint a broad picture of the genetic landscape of the species by functionally annotating different classes of mutations with a well-established prediction tool (PolyPhen-2). Further, we specifically compare the variation in the progeny of four crosses: inbred genomic (J)-strain, outbred albino (B)-strain, and two hybrid crosses of J and B strains. We identify a subset of mutations specific to the B strain, which allows us to investigate the selection pressures affecting duplicated genes in this allotetraploid. From these crosses we find the ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous mutations is lower in duplicated genes, which suggests that they are under greater purifying selection. Surprisingly, we also find that function-altering ("damaging") mutations constitute a greater fraction of the non-synonymous variants in this group, which suggests a role for subfunctionalization in coding variation affecting duplicated genes.