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MRP3 is a sex determining gene in the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata

Author

Listed:
  • Monia T. Russo

    (Villa Comunale)

  • Laura Vitale

    (Villa Comunale)

  • Laura Entrambasaguas

    (Villa Comunale)

  • Konstantinos Anestis

    (Villa Comunale)

  • Neri Fattorini

    (Villa Comunale)

  • Filomena Romano

    (Villa Comunale)

  • Carmen Minucci

    (Villa Comunale)

  • Pasquale De Luca

    (Villa Comunale)

  • Elio Biffali

    (Villa Comunale)

  • Wim Vyverman

    (Ghent University)

  • Remo Sanges

    (Villa Comunale
    Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA))

  • Marina Montresor

    (Villa Comunale)

  • Maria I. Ferrante

    (Villa Comunale)

Abstract

A broad diversity of sex-determining systems has evolved in eukaryotes. However, information on the mechanisms of sex determination for unicellular microalgae is limited, including for diatoms, key-players of ocean food webs. Here we report the identification of a mating type (MT) determining gene for the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata. By comparing the expression profile of the two MTs, we find five MT-biased genes, of which one, MRP3, is expressed exclusively in MT+ strains in a monoallelic manner. A short tandem repeat of specific length in the region upstream of MRP3 is consistently present in MT+ and absent in MT− strains. MRP3 overexpression in an MT− strain induces sex reversal: the transgenic MT− can mate with another MT− strain and displays altered regulation of the other MT-biased genes, indicating that they lie downstream. Our data show that a relatively simple genetic program is involved in defining the MT in P. multistriata.

Suggested Citation

  • Monia T. Russo & Laura Vitale & Laura Entrambasaguas & Konstantinos Anestis & Neri Fattorini & Filomena Romano & Carmen Minucci & Pasquale De Luca & Elio Biffali & Wim Vyverman & Remo Sanges & Marina , 2018. "MRP3 is a sex determining gene in the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-07496-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07496-0
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