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J Eukaryot Microbiol

Title:		"Evidence for gene duplication and allelic codominance (not hierarchical dominance) at the mating-type locus of the ciliate, Euplotes crassus"
Author(s):		Vallesi A; Alimenti C; Federici S; Di Giuseppe G; Dini F; Guella G; Luporini P;
Address:		"Laboratory of Eukaryotic Microbiology and Animal Biology, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy"
Journal Title:		J Eukaryot Microbiol
Year:		2014
Volume:		20140804
Issue:		6
Page Number:		620 - 629
DOI:		10.1111/jeu.12140
ISSN/ISBN:		1550-7408 (Electronic) 1066-5234 (Linking)
Abstract:		"The high-multiple mating system of Euplotes crassus is known to be controlled by multiple alleles segregating at a single locus and manifesting relationships of hierarchical dominance, so that heterozygous cells would produce a single mating-type substance (pheromone). In strain L-2D, now known to be homozygous at the mating-type locus, we previously identified two pheromones (Ec-alpha and Ec-1) characterized by significant variations in their amino acid sequences and structure of their macronuclear coding genes. In this study, pheromones and macronuclear coding genes have been analyzed in strain POR-73 characterized by a heterozygous genotype and strong mating compatibility with L-2D strain. It was found that POR-73 cells contain three distinct pheromone coding genes and, accordingly, secrete three distinct pheromones. One pheromone revealed structural identity in amino acid sequence and macronuclear coding gene to the Ec-alpha pheromone of L-2D cells. The other two pheromones were shown to be new and were designated Ec-2 and Ec-3 to denote their structural homology with the Ec-1 pheromone of L-2D cells. We interpreted these results as evidence of a phenomenon of gene duplication at the E. crassus mating-type locus, and lack of hierarchical dominance in the expression of the macronuclear pheromone genes in cells with heterozygous genotypes"
Keywords:		Alleles Amino Acid Sequence Ciliophora/*genetics *Gene Duplication Molecular Sequence Data Pheromones/*genetics Reproduction Cell chemical signals ciliate mating types conjugation macronuclear gene-size DNA molecules protein pheromones;
Notes:		"MedlineVallesi, Adriana Alimenti, Claudio Federici, Sergio Di Giuseppe, Graziano Dini, Fernando Guella, Graziano Luporini, Pierangelo eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2014/07/22 J Eukaryot Microbiol. 2014 Nov-Dec; 61(6):620-9. doi: 10.1111/jeu.12140. Epub 2014 Aug 4"