Convergent evolution of chromosomal sex-determining regions in the animal and fungal kingdoms

Sexual identity is governed by sex chromosomes in plants and animals, and by mating type (MAT) loci in fungi. Comparative analysis of the MAT locus from a species cluster of the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus revealed sequential evolutionary events that fashioned this large, highly unusual regio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS biology 2004-12, Vol.2 (12), p.e384-e384
Main Authors: Fraser, James A, Diezmann, Stephanie, Subaran, Ryan L, Allen, Andria, Lengeler, Klaus B, Dietrich, Fred S, Heitman, Joseph
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Animals
Biodiversity
Chromosomes
Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial
Chromosomes, Fungal
Cryptococcus - genetics
Cryptococcus neoformans - genetics
Evolution
Evolution, Molecular
Fungi
Fungi - physiology
Gene Conversion
Gene Library
Genes, Mating Type, Fungal
Genetics
Genetics/Genomics/Gene Therapy
Genome
Genome, Fungal
Genomics
Humans
Kinases
Models, Genetic
Molecular Sequence Data
Pheromones
Phylogeny
Proteins
Recombination, Genetic
Sex Chromosomes
Sex Determination Processes
Translocation, Genetic
Yeast and Fungi
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Summary:Sexual identity is governed by sex chromosomes in plants and animals, and by mating type (MAT) loci in fungi. Comparative analysis of the MAT locus from a species cluster of the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus revealed sequential evolutionary events that fashioned this large, highly unusual region. We hypothesize that MAT evolved via four main steps, beginning with acquisition of genes into two unlinked sex-determining regions, forming independent gene clusters that then fused via chromosomal translocation. A transitional tripolar intermediate state then converted to a bipolar system via gene conversion or recombination between the linked and unlinked sex-determining regions. MAT was subsequently subjected to intra- and interallelic gene conversion and inversions that suppress recombination. These events resemble those that shaped mammalian sex chromosomes, illustrating convergent evolution in sex-determining structures in the animal and fungal kingdoms.
ISSN:1545-7885
1544-9173
1545-7885
DOI:10.1371/journal.pbio.0020384