Evolutionary Plasticity of Mating-Type Determination Mechanisms in Paramecium aurelia Sibling Species.

ABSTRACT: The Paramecium aurelia complex, a group of morphologically similar but sexually incompatible sibling species, is a unique example of the evolutionary plasticity of mating-type systems. Each species has two mating types, O (Odd) and E (Even). Although O and E types are homologous in all species, three different modes of determination and inheritance have been described: genetic determination by Mendelian alleles, stochastic developmental determination, and maternally inherited developmental determination. Previous work in three species of the latter kind has revealed the key roles of the E-specific transmembrane protein mtA and its highly specific transcription factor mtB: type O clones are produced by maternally inherited genome rearrangements that inactivate either mtA or mtB during devel

SUBMITTER: Sawka-Gadek N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7900874 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature