A deviation from the bipolar-tetrapolar mating paradigm in an early diverged basidiomycete.

ABSTRACT: In fungi, sexual identity is determined by specialized genomic regions called MAT loci which are the equivalent to sex chromosomes in some animals and plants. Usually, only two sexes or mating types exist, which are determined by two alternate sets of genes (or alleles) at the MAT locus (bipolar system). However, in the phylum Basidiomycota, a unique tetrapolar system emerged in which four different mating types are generated per meiosis. This occurs because two functionally distinct molecular recognition systems, each encoded by one MAT region, constrain the selection of sexual partners. Heterozygosity at both MAT regions is a pre-requisite for mating in both bipolar and tetrapolar basidiomycetes. Tetrapolar mating behaviour results from the absence of genetic linkage between the two regi

SUBMITTER: Coelho MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2916851 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature