Mechanism of Self-Sterility in a Hermaphroditic Chordate

Hermaphroditic organisms avoid inbreeding by a system of self-incompatibility (SI). A primitive chordate (ascidian) Ciona intestinalis is an example of such an organism, but the molecular mechanism underlying its SI system is not known. Here, we show that the SI system is governed by two gene loci t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2008-04, Vol.320 (5875), p.548-550
Main Authors: Harada, Yoshito, Takagaki, Yuhei, Sunagawa, Masahiko, Saito, Takako, Yamada, Lixy, Taniguchi, Hisaaki, Shoguchi, Eiichi, Sawada, Hitoshi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Aquatic life
Base Sequence
Biological and medical sciences
Chordata
Chromosomes
Ciona intestinalis
Ciona intestinalis - genetics
Ciona intestinalis - physiology
Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids
Disorders of Sex Development
Female
Fertility
Fertilization
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gametes
Genes
Genetic loci
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
Invertebrata
Invertebrates
Male
Marine
Molecular biology
Molecular Sequence Data
Molecules
Ova
Ovum - metabolism
Ovum - physiology
Receptors
Self fertilization
Siblings
Spermatozoa
Spermatozoa - physiology
TRPP Cation Channels - chemistry
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Summary:Hermaphroditic organisms avoid inbreeding by a system of self-incompatibility (SI). A primitive chordate (ascidian) Ciona intestinalis is an example of such an organism, but the molecular mechanism underlying its SI system is not known. Here, we show that the SI system is governed by two gene loci that act cooperatively. Each locus contains a tightly linked pair of polycystin 1-related receptor (s-Themis) and fibrinogen-like ligand (v-Themis) genes, the latter of which is located in the first intron of s-Themis but transcribed in the opposite direction. These genes may encode male- and female-side self-recognition molecules. The SI system of C. intestinalis has a similar framework to that of flowering plants but utilizing different molecules.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1152488