In:
Annual Review of Microbiology, Annual Reviews, Vol. 71, No. 1 ( 2017-09-08), p. 133-156
Abstract:
While sex is an ancient and highly conserved eukaryotic invention, self-incompatibility systems such as mating types or sexes appear to be derived limitations that show considerable evolutionary plasticity. Within a single class of ciliates, Paramecium and Tetrahymena species have long been known to present a wide variety of mating type numbers and modes of inheritance, but only recently have the genes involved been identified. Although similar transmembrane proteins mediate self/nonself recognition in both ciliates, the mechanisms of mating type determination differ widely, ranging from Mendelian systems to developmental nuclear differentiation, either stochastic or maternally inherited. The non-Mendelian systems rely on programmed editing of the germline genome that occurs during differentiation of the somatic nucleus, and they have co-opted different DNA recombination mechanisms—some previously unknown. Here we review the recent molecular advances and some remaining unsolved questions and discuss the possible implications of these diverse mechanisms for inbreeding/outbreeding balance regulation.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0066-4227
,
1545-3251
DOI:
10.1146/micro.2017.71.issue-1
DOI:
10.1146/annurev-micro-090816-093342
Language:
English
Publisher:
Annual Reviews
Publication Date:
2017
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1470471-7
SSG:
12
Permalink