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J Evol Biol

Title:		Mate choice among yeast gametes can purge deleterious mutations
Author(s):		Tazzyman SJ; Seymour RM; Pomiankowski A; Greig D;
Address:		"CoMPLEX, University College London, Gower St., London, UK. s.tazzyman@ucl.ac.uk"
Journal Title:		J Evol Biol
Year:		2012
Volume:		20120518
Issue:		8
Page Number:		1463 - 1471
DOI:		10.1111/j.1420-9101.2012.02539.x
ISSN/ISBN:		1420-9101 (Electronic) 1010-061X (Linking)
Abstract:		"Meiosis in Saccharomyces yeast produces four haploid gametes that usually fuse with each other, an extreme form of self-fertilization among the products of a single meiosis known as automixis. The gametes signal to each other with sex pheromone. Better-quality gametes produce stronger signals and are preferred as mates. We suggest that the function of this signalling system is to enable mate choice among the four gametes from a single meiosis and so to promote the clearance of deleterious mutations. To support this claim, we construct a mathematical model that shows that signalling during automixis (i) improves the long-term fitness of a yeast colony and (ii) lowers its mutational load. We also show that the benefit to signalling is greater with larger numbers of segregating mutations"
Keywords:		"Genetic Loci/genetics *Germ Cells *Models, Biological *Mutation Pheromones/genetics Reproduction, Asexual/*genetics Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/*physiology;"
Notes:		"MedlineTazzyman, S J Seymour, R M Pomiankowski, A Greig, D eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Switzerland 2012/05/19 J Evol Biol. 2012 Aug; 25(8):1463-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2012.02539.x. Epub 2012 May 18"