Prezygotic and postzygotic control of uniparental mitochondrial DNA inheritance in Cryptococcus neoformans.

ABSTRACT:

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Uniparental inheritance of mitochondrial DNA is pervasive in nonisogamic higher eukaryotes during sexual reproduction, and postzygotic and/or prezygotic factors are shown to be important in ensuring such an inheritance pattern. Although the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans undergoes sexual production with isogamic partners of opposite mating types a and α, most progeny derived from such mating events inherit the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the a parent. The homeodomain protein complex Sxi1α/Sxi2a, formed in the zygote after a-α cell fusion, was previously shown to play a role in this uniparental mtDNA inheritance. Here, we defined the timing of the establishment of the mtDNA inheritance pattern during the mating process and demonstrated a critical role in determining th

SUBMITTER: Gyawali R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3638309 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature