Title: | Sexual reproduction and sex determination in green algae |
Address: | "Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women's University, 2-8-1 Mejirodai, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8681, Japan. sekimoto@fc.jwu.ac.jp" |
DOI: | 10.1007/s10265-017-0908-6 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1618-0860 (Electronic) 0918-9440 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "The sexual reproductive processes of some representative freshwater green algae are reviewed. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a unicellular volvocine alga having two mating types: mating type plus (mt(+)) and mating type minus (mt(-)), which are controlled by a single, complex mating-type locus. Sexual adhesion between the gametes is mediated by sex-specific agglutinin molecules on their flagellar membranes. Cell fusion is initiated by an adhesive interaction between the mt(+) and mt(-) mating structures, followed by localized membrane fusion. The loci of sex-limited genes and the conformation of sex-determining regions have been rearranged during the evolution of volvocine algae; however, the essential function of the sex-determining genes of the isogamous unicellular Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is conserved in the multicellular oogamous Volvox carteri. The sexual reproduction of the unicellular charophycean alga, Closterium peracerosum-strigosum-littorale complex, is also focused on here. The sexual reproductive processes of heterothallic strains are controlled by two multifunctional sex pheromones, PR-IP and PR-IP Inducer, which independently promote multiple steps in conjugation at the appropriate times through different induction mechanisms. The molecules involved in sexual reproduction and sex determination have also been characterized" |
Keywords: | Biological Evolution Cell Adhesion/physiology Cell Fusion Chlamydomonas reinhardtii/genetics/growth & development Chlorophyta/*genetics/growth & development/*physiology Closterium/genetics/growth & development Fresh Water Life Cycle Stages/genetics/physio; |
Notes: | "MedlineSekimoto, Hiroyuki eng Review Japan 2017/02/12 J Plant Res. 2017 May; 130(3):423-431. doi: 10.1007/s10265-017-0908-6. Epub 2017 Feb 10" |