scholarly journals Mating Type in Chlamydomonas Is Specified by mid, the Minus-Dominance Gene

Genetics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 146 (3) ◽  
pp. 859-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick J Ferris ◽  
Ursula W Goodenough
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Codon Bias ◽  
Leucine Zipper ◽  
Laboratory Strain ◽  
Leucine Zipper Motif ◽  
Type Locus ◽  
Diploid Cells ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient

Diploid cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that are heterozygous at the mating-type locus (mt  +/mt  –) differentiate as minus gametes, a phenomenon known as minus dominance. We report the cloning and characterization of a gene that is necessary and sufficient to exert this minus dominance over the plus differentiation program. The gene, called mid, is located in the rearranged (R) domain of the mt  – locus, and has duplicated and transposed to an autosome in a laboratory strain. The imp11 mt  – mutant, which differentiates as a fusion-incompetent plus gamete, carries a point mutation in mid. Like the fus1 gene in the mt  + locus, mid displays low codon bias compared with other nuclear genes. The mid sequence carries a putative leucine zipper motif, suggesting that it functions as a transcription factor to switch on the minus program and switch off the plus program of gametic differentiation. This is the first sex-determination gene to be characterized in a green organism.

Regulation of STA1 gene expression by MAT during the life cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 3992-3998
Author(s):  
A M Dranginis
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Sporulation Medium ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Type Locus ◽  
Diploid Cells

STA1 encodes a secreted glucoamylase of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. diastaticus. Glucoamylase secretion is controlled by the mating type locus MAT; a and alpha haploid yeast cells secrete high levels of the enzyme, but a/alpha diploid cells produce undetectable amounts. It has been suggested that STA1 is regulated by MATa2 (I. Yamashita, Y. Takano, and S. Fukui, J. Bacteriol. 164:769-773, 1985), which is a MAT transcript of previously unknown function. In contrast, this work shows that deletion of the entire MATa2 gene had no effect on STA1 regulation but that deletion of MATa1 sequences completely abolished mating-type control. In all cases, glucoamylase activity levels reflected STA1 mRNA levels. It appears that STA1 is a haploid-specific gene that is regulated by MATa1 and a product of the MAT alpha locus and that this regulation occurs at the level of RNA accumulation. STA1 expression was also shown to be glucose repressible. STA1 mRNA was induced in diploids during sporulation along with SGA, a closely linked gene that encodes an intracellular sporulation-specific glucoamylase of S. cerevisiae. A diploid strain with a MATa1 deletion showed normal induction of STA1 in sporulation medium, but SGA expression was abolished. Therefore, these two homologous and closely linked glucoamylase genes are induced by different mechanisms during sporulation. STA1 induction may be a response to the starvation conditions necessary for sporulation, while SGA induction is governed by the pathway by which MAT regulates sporulation. The strain containing a complete deletion of MATa2 grew, mated, and sporulated normally.

scholarly journals MATING-TYPE REGULATION OF METHYL METHANESULFONATE SENSITIVITY IN SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

Genetics ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-271
Author(s):  
George P Livi ◽  
Vivian L Mackay
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
S Phase ◽  
Methyl Methanesulfonate ◽  
Survival Curves ◽  
Repair Capacity ◽  
Type Locus ◽  
X Ray ◽  
G2 Phase ◽  
Diploid Cells

ABSTRACT Heterozygosity at the mating-type locus (MAT) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been shown previously to enhance X-ray survival in diploid cells. We now show that a/α diploids are also more resistant to the radiomimetic agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) that are diploids that are homozygous at MAT (i.e., either a/a or α/α). Log-phase a/α cultures exhibit biphasic MMS survival curves, in which the more resistant fraction consists of budded cells (those cells in the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle). Survival curves for log-phase cultures of a/a or α/α diploids have little if any biphasic nature, suggesting that the enhanced S- and G2-phase repair capacity of a/α cells may be associated with heterozygosity at MAT. The survival of cells arrested at the beginning of the S phase with hydroxyurea indicates that MAT-dependent MMS repair is limited to S and G2, whereas MAT-independent repair can occur in Gl.

scholarly journals Characterization of Functional Domains of the su(Hw) Protein That Mediate the Silencing Effect of mod(mdg4) Mutations

Genetics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-161
Author(s):  
David A Gdula ◽  
Victor G Corces
Keyword(s):  
Leucine Zipper ◽  
Drosophila Species ◽  
Functional Domains ◽  
Leucine Zipper Motif ◽  
Binding Region ◽  
Enhancer Activity ◽  
Repressive Effect ◽  
Enhancer Function

The suppressor of Hairy-wing [su(Hw)] protein represses enhancer function in a unidirectional fashion: enhancers segregated from the promoter by the su(Hw) binding region are rendered inactive, whereas those in the same domain are unaffected. In the case of the gypsy-induced y2 allele, the repressive effect of su(Hw) is rendered bidirectional in mod(mdg4) mutant flies, and all enhancers of the affected gene become inactive. This silencing of enhancer elements might be due to exposure of specific domains of su(Hw) when the mod(mdg4) protein is absent. Two of three regions of su(Hw) that are located adjacent to the leucine zipper motif and are conserved across Drosophila species are necessary for both the unidirectional and bidirectional repression of transcription by su(Hw). In contrast, two acidic domains that are dispensable for the unidirectional repression of enhancer elements are critical for the bidirectional silencing of enhancer activity observed in mutants lacking functional mod(mdg4) protein.

scholarly journals The Plot Thickens: Haploid and Triploid-Like Thalli, Hybridization, and Biased Mating Type Ratios in Letharia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Lorena Ament-Velásquez ◽  
Veera Tuovinen ◽  
Linnea Bergström ◽  
Toby Spribille ◽  
Dan Vanderpool ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mating Type ◽  
Pure Culture ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Common Belief ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Type Locus ◽  
Genomic Study ◽  
The Common ◽  
Mat Locus

The study of the reproductive biology of lichen fungal symbionts has been traditionally challenging due to their complex lifestyles. Against the common belief of haploidy, a recent genomic study found a triploid-like signal in Letharia. Here, we infer the genome organization and reproduction in Letharia by analyzing genomic data from a pure culture and from thalli, and performing a PCR survey of the MAT locus in natural populations. We found that the read count variation in the four Letharia specimens, including the pure culture derived from a single sexual spore of L. lupina, is consistent with haploidy. By contrast, the L. lupina read counts from a thallus' metagenome are triploid-like. Characterization of the mating-type locus revealed a conserved heterothallic configuration across the genus, along with auxiliary genes that we identified. We found that the mating-type distributions are balanced in North America for L. vulpina and L. lupina, suggesting widespread sexual reproduction, but highly skewed in Europe for L. vulpina, consistent with predominant asexuality. Taken together, we propose that Letharia fungi are heterothallic and typically haploid, and provide evidence that triploid-like individuals are hybrids between L. lupina and an unknown Letharia lineage, reconciling classic systematic and genetic studies with recent genomic observations.

MATING TYPE AND SPORULATION IN YEAST. II. MEIOSIS, RECOMBINATION, AND RADIATION SENSITIVITY IN AN αα DIPLOID WITH ALTERED SPORULATION CONTROL

Genetics ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-76
Author(s):  
Anita K Hopper ◽  
J Kirsch ◽  
Benjamin D Hall
Keyword(s):  
Mating Type ◽  
Meiotic Recombination ◽  
Meiotic Chromosome ◽  
Preceding Paper ◽  
Radiation Sensitivity ◽  
Sporulation Medium ◽  
Minimal Growth ◽  
Type Locus ◽  
Entire Cell ◽  
Diploid Cells

ABSTRACT In wild-type S. cerevisiae, diploid cells must be heterozygous at the mating-type locus in order to sporulate. In the preceding paper, we described a number of mutants (CSP mutants), isolated from nonsporulating aa and αα parent strains, in which sporulation appeared to be uncoupled from control by mating type. The characterization of one of these mutants (CSP1) is now extended to other processes controlled by mating type. This mutant is indistinguishable from αα cells and unlike aα cells for mating factor production and response, zygote formation, intragenic mitotic recombination, and for X-ray sensitivity. The mutant apparently undergoes a full round of DNA synthesis in sporulation medium, but with delayed kinetics. Only 20% of the cells complete sporulation. Among spores in completed asci, the frequency of both intra- and intergenic recombination is the same as it is for spores produced by aα cells. However, experiments in which cells were shifted from sporulation medium back to minimal growth medium gave a frequency of meiotic recombination between ade2 or leu2 heteroalleles only 25% to 29% as high for CSP1 αα diploid or CSP1  aa disomic cells as for aα diploid or disomic cells. Because the latter result, indicating recombination defectiveness, measured recombinant production in the entire cell population, whereas the result indicating normal recombination sampled only completed spores, we infer that all meiotic recombination events occurring in the population of CSP1 αα cells are concentrated in those few cells which complete sporulation. This high degree of correlation between meiotic recombination and the completion of meiosis and sporulation suggests that recombination may be required for proper meiotic chromosome segregation in yeast just as it appears to be in maize and in Drosophila

Transcriptional control of the sporulation-specific glucoamylase gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 3069-3073
Author(s):  
I Yamashita ◽  
S Fukui
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Northern Blot Analysis ◽  
Insertion Mutation ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Type Locus ◽  
Mating Type Genes ◽  
Diploid Cells ◽  
Glucoamylase Gene

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, glucoamylase activity appears specifically in sporulating cells heterozygous for the mating-type locus (MAT). We identified a sporulation-specific glucoamylase gene (SGA) and show that expression of SGA is positively regulated by the mating-type genes, both MATa1 and MAT alpha 2. Northern blot analysis revealed that control of SGA is exerted at the level of RNA production. Expression of SGA or the consequent degradation of glycogen to glucose in cells is not required for meiosis or sporulation, since MATa/MAT alpha diploid cells homozygous for an insertion mutation at SGA still formed four viable ascospores.

Characterization of a Human Homolog (BACH1) of the MouseBach1Gene Encoding a BTB-Basic Leucine Zipper Transcription Factor and Its Mapping to Chromosome 21q22.1

Genomics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 300-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miki Ohira ◽  
Naohiko Seki ◽  
Takahiro Nagase ◽  
Ken-ichi Ishikawa ◽  
Nobuo Nomura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Leucine Zipper ◽  
Human Homolog ◽  
Basic Leucine Zipper

scholarly journals Regulation of STA1 gene expression by MAT during the life cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 3992-3998 ◽  
Author(s):  
A M Dranginis
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Sporulation Medium ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Type Locus ◽  
Diploid Cells

STA1 encodes a secreted glucoamylase of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. diastaticus. Glucoamylase secretion is controlled by the mating type locus MAT; a and alpha haploid yeast cells secrete high levels of the enzyme, but a/alpha diploid cells produce undetectable amounts. It has been suggested that STA1 is regulated by MATa2 (I. Yamashita, Y. Takano, and S. Fukui, J. Bacteriol. 164:769-773, 1985), which is a MAT transcript of previously unknown function. In contrast, this work shows that deletion of the entire MATa2 gene had no effect on STA1 regulation but that deletion of MATa1 sequences completely abolished mating-type control. In all cases, glucoamylase activity levels reflected STA1 mRNA levels. It appears that STA1 is a haploid-specific gene that is regulated by MATa1 and a product of the MAT alpha locus and that this regulation occurs at the level of RNA accumulation. STA1 expression was also shown to be glucose repressible. STA1 mRNA was induced in diploids during sporulation along with SGA, a closely linked gene that encodes an intracellular sporulation-specific glucoamylase of S. cerevisiae. A diploid strain with a MATa1 deletion showed normal induction of STA1 in sporulation medium, but SGA expression was abolished. Therefore, these two homologous and closely linked glucoamylase genes are induced by different mechanisms during sporulation. STA1 induction may be a response to the starvation conditions necessary for sporulation, while SGA induction is governed by the pathway by which MAT regulates sporulation. The strain containing a complete deletion of MATa2 grew, mated, and sporulated normally.

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