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PubMed2006

Among- and within-population variation in outcrossing rate of a mixed-mating freshwater snail.

Mixed-mating animals self-fertilize a proportion of their offspring. Outcrossing rate may covary with the ecological and historical factors affecting the population. Theory predicts that outcrossing is favored when inbreeding depression is high and when individual heterozygosity is important. Self-fertilization is predicted to be favored when costs of male function, or mate finding are high, for example, when empty patches are colonized by few individuals. In this study, we assessed primary (after hatching) and secondary (after juvenile mortality) outcrossing rates of two mixed-mating snail populations. Our purpose was to assess the variation in mating-system parameters and estimate significance of inbreeding depression for secondary outcrossing rate (the realized outcrossing rate of parents that produce the next generation). Secondary outcrossing rate was higher than the primary outcrossing rate in one of the two populations, suggesting considerable inbreeding depression. In the other study population, secondary outcrossing rates were found to increase when initially low, or decrease when initially high, depending on the family. Moderate outcrossing rates were found to be more stable. Parental inbreeding coefficients were close to zero in both populations. Outcrossing rate was much more variable among families in the population with the lower average outcrossing rate, suggesting that individuals differed considerably in their mating system. Our results add to recent studies suggesting that populations of mixed-mating animals may differ in their mating system parameters and expression of inbreeding depression.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Chemosensory cues are essential for mating-induced dopamine release in MPOA of male Syrian hamsters.

The medial preoptic area (MPOA) is crucial for male sex behavior. Dopamine (DA) is released in MPOA during copulation, and contributes to the reinforcing effects of mating. The aim of the present study was to identify sensory stimuli responsible for mating-induced DA release. Specifically, we determined if chemosensory cues are essential for mating-induced MPOA DA release using in vivo microdialysis in male Syrian hamsters. Hamsters were used because chemosensory cues from the olfactory mucosa and vomeronasal organ are essential for sexual behavior in this species. Sexually experienced adult male hamsters were implanted with a microdialysis guide cannula over MPOA. At the same time, males received sham olfactory bulbectomy (Sham Bx, n = 11), bilateral bulbectomy (Bibx, n = 6), or unilateral bulbectomy (Ubx) ipsilateral (Ipsi Ubx, n = 9) or contralateral (Contra Ubx, n = 8) to the microdialysis probe. This model takes advantage of the predominantly ipsilateral projections of the olfactory bulbs. Microdialysis samples were collected from the MPOA during baseline, exposure to a receptive female, and after removal of female. Extracellular DA was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. During mating, DA increased in MPOA of Sham Bx males (to 146.7 +/- 17.5% of baseline). Bibx males did not mate, and MPOA DA did not increase (96.1 +/- 15.8% of baseline). Although both groups of Ubx males mated to ejaculation, MPOA DA increased significantly only in Contra Ubx males (to 161.8 +/- 35.3% of baseline), and not in males with Ipsi Ubx (107.6 +/- 11.5% of baseline). The results demonstrate that chemosensory cues are essential for MPOA DA release during mating in male Syrian hamsters.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2001

Microsatellite analysis of female mating behaviour in lek-breeding sage grouse.

We used microsatellite DNA markers to genotype chicks in 10 broods of lek-breeding sage grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus, whose mothers' behaviour was studied by radio-tracking and observing leks. Previous behavioural studies suggested that almost all matings are performed by territorial males on leks and that multiple mating is rare. Two broods (20%) were sired by more than one male. Genetic analyses of the broods of eight females that visited an intensively studied lek were consistent with behavioural observations. Four females observed mating produced singly sired broods and males other than the individual observed copulating were excluded as sires for most or all of their chicks. Territorial males at the study lek were excluded as sires of broods of four other females that visited the lek but were not observed mating there. Radio-tracking suggested that two of these females mated at other leks. Our results confirm the reliability of mating observations at leks, but do not rule out a possible unseen component of the mating system.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

The RGS domain-containing fission yeast protein, Rgs1p, regulates pheromone signalling and is required for mating.

BACKGROUND: When nutritionally starved, the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe enters a cell differentiation process which leads to mating and meiosis. The Ste11 protein is a key regulator of this differentiation pathway, activating the transcription of mating and meiotic genes upon starvation. RESULTS: Here, we describe rgs1, a member of the Regulator of G-protein Signalling (RGS) family, as a novel Ste11 target gene. rgs1 expression requires both an Ste11-mediated nitrogen starvation signal and the pheromone-induced activation of the Byr2/Byr1/Spk1 MAPK pathway. We show that rgs1 deletion results in a sensitivity to pheromone and in a mating defect. Deltargs1 cells initiate the mating pathway normally, undergoing sexual agglutination and G1 arrest, while inducing pheromone-dependent transcription, but then fail to fuse with a mating partner while elongating abnormal conjugation tubes. Endogenous Rgs1 tagged with GFP localizes to the nucleus and cytoplasm, and this localization pattern is not altered during pheromone treatment. Importantly, Rgs1 function requires its C-terminal RGS domain, as well as a central DEP domain and a novel homology domain present in its N-terminal region (Fungal-DR domain). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that rgs1 expression requires nutritional starvation and pheromone signalling. Rgs1 negatively regulates pheromone signalling during mating, acting in a negative feedback loop that is essential for the mating process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Population structure and mating biology of the polygynous ponerine ant Gnamptogenys striatula in Brazil.

Gnamptogenys striatula is a polygynous ponerine ant, whose colonies contain either several differentiated queens or several gamergates. Population structure, queen mating frequency and deviation from random mating were investigated in a north-eastern Brazilian population. Eight workers from each of 33 queenright colonies and 17 queens and their progeny (20-40 offspring) were genotyped using eight variable microsatellite markers. Population differentiation tests indicated limited gene flow at the scale of several kilometres, and tests of isolation by distance revealed population viscosity at the scale of a few metres. This population structure, together with the frequent colony migrations and fissions observed in the field, suggest that new nests are founded by budding in G. striatula. Genetic data showed that 13 of our 17 queens were single-mated and four were double-mated. The estimation of the range of maximal frequency of double-mated queens in the population was 0.232-0.259, demonstrating that mating frequency is low in G. striatula. The low estimated mean relatedness between the 17 queens and their mates (-0. 04 +/- 0.49) indicated no evidence of inbreeding in G. striatula.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Social pairing and female mating fidelity predicted by restriction fragment length polymorphism similarity at the major histocompatibility complex in a songbird.

Female birds often copulate outside the pair-bond to produce broods of mixed paternity, but despite much recent attention the adaptive significance of this behaviour remains elusive. Although several studies support the idea that extra-pair copulations (EPCs) allow females to obtain 'good genes' for their offspring, many others have found no relationship between female mating fidelity and traits likely to reflect male quality. A corollary to the good genes hypothesis proposes that females do use EPCs to increase the quality of young, but it is the interaction between maternal and paternal genomes - and not male quality per se - that is the target of female choice. We tested this 'genetic compatibility' hypothesis in a free-living population of Savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) by determining whether females mated nonrandomly with respect to the major histocompatibility complex (Mhc). During both the 1994 and 1995 breeding seasons, female yearlings (but not older birds) avoided pairing with Mhc-similar males (P < 0.005). The Mhc similarity between mates also predicted the occurrence of extra-pair young in first broods (P < 0.007) and covaried with estimates of genome-wide levels of similarity derived from multilocus DNA fingerprinting profiles (P = 0.007). The overall genetic similarity between adults tended to predict female mating fidelity, but with less precision than their Mhc similarity (P = 0.09). In contrast, females appeared insensitive to the size, weight or age of males, none of which explained variation in female mating fidelity. Taken together, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that females sought complementary genes for their offspring and suggest either that the benefits of heterozygosity (at the Mhc) drive female mating patterns or that the avoidance of inbreeding is an ultimate cause of social and genetic mate choice in Savannah sparrows.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Transgenic male mating advantage provides opportunity for Trojan gene effect in a fish.

Genetically modified (GM) strains now exist for many organisms, producing significant promise for agricultural production. However, if these organisms have some fitness advantage, they may also pose an environmental harm when released. High mating success of GM males relative to WT males provides such an important fitness advantage. Here, we provide documentation that GM male medaka fish modified with salmon growth hormone possess an overwhelming mating advantage. GM medaka offspring possess a survival disadvantage relative to WT, however. When both of these fitness components are included in our model, the transgene is predicted to spread if GM individuals enter wild populations (because of the mating advantage) and ultimately lead to population extinction (because of the viability disadvantage). Mating trials indicate that WT males use alternative mating tactics in an effort to counter the mating advantage of GM males, and we use genetic markers to ascertain the success of these alternative strategies. Finally, we model the impact of alternative mating tactics by WT males on transgene spread. Such tactics may reduce the rate of transgene spread, but not the outcome.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Mating-responsive genes in reproductive tissues of female Drosophila melanogaster.

Male-derived accessory gland proteins that are transferred to females during mating have profound effects on female reproductive physiology including increased ovulation, mating inhibition, and effects on sperm utilization and storage. The extreme rates of evolution seen in accessory gland proteins may be driven by sperm competition and sexual conflict, processes that may ultimately drive complex interactions between female- and male-derived molecules and sperm. However, little is known of how gene expression in female reproductive tissues changes in response to the presence of male molecules and sperm. To characterize this response, we conducted parallel genomic and proteomic analyses of gene expression in the reproductive tract of 3-day-old unmated and mated female Drosophila melanogaster. Using DNA microarrays, we identified 539 transcripts that are differentially expressed in unmated vs. mated females and revealed a striking peak in differential expression at 6 h postmating and a marked shift from primarily down-regulated to primarily up-regulated transcripts within 3 h after mating. Combining two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analyses, we identified 84 differentially expressed proteins at 3 h postmating, including proteins that appeared to undergo posttranslational modification. Together, our observations define transcriptional and translational response to mating within the female reproductive tract and suggest a bimodal model of postmating gene expression initially correlated with mating and the final stages of female reproductive tract maturation and later with the declining presence of male reproductive molecules and with sperm maintenance and utilization.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

A dominant truncation allele identifies a gene, STE20, that encodes a putative protein kinase necessary for mating in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

This work reports the identification, characterization, and nucleotide sequence of STE20, a newly discovered gene involved in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating response pathway, to date one of the best understood signal transduction pathways. STE20 encodes a putative serine/threonine-specific protein kinase with a predicted molecular mass of 102 kDa. Its expression pattern is similar to that of several other protein kinases in the mating response pathway. Deletion of the kinase domain of STE20 causes sterility in both haploid mating types. This sterility can be partially suppressed by high-level production of STE12 but is not suppressible by high levels of STE4 or a dominant STE11 truncation allele. A truncation allele of STE20 was isolated that can activate the mating response pathway in the absence of exogenous mating pheromone. This allele causes dominant growth arrest that cannot be suppressed by deletions of STE4, STE5, STE7, STE11, or STE12. The allele is able to suppress the mating defect of a strain in which the STE20 kinase domain has been deleted, but not the mating defects of strains carrying mutations in STE4, STE5, STE7, STE11, or STE12.

Alleles↗

PubMed1989

Wheat germ agglutinin induces mating reactions in Chlamydomonas eugametos by cross-linking agglutinin-associated glycoproteins in the flagellar membrane.

Species-specific binding between the flagellar surfaces of mating types plus and minus (mt+ and mt-) gametes of Chlamydomonas eugametos is mediated by mating type-specific agglutinins. Their interaction triggers several mating responses that are necessary for cell fusion, such as flagellar twitching, flagellar tip activation, redistribution of agglutinin molecules to the flagellar tip (tipping), and mating structure activation. Earlier, we reported that a monoclonal antibody (mAb 66.3) can induce mating reactions by cross-linking the agglutinins (Homan, W. L., A. Musgrave, H. de Nobel, R. Wagter, A. H. J. Kolk, D. de Wit, and H. van den Ende. 1988. J. Cell Biol. 107:177-189). Here we report that the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), which does not bind to the agglutinins, can also invoke all these mating reactions. We show, by immunofluorescence studies using anti-WGA and an agglutinin-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb 66.3), that WGA induces the redistribution of agglutinin to the flagellar tips of mt- gametes. Vice versa, when agglutinin tipping is induced by mAb 66.3, the WGA-binding glycoproteins are also tipped. Under the same conditions, the major flagellar glycoproteins are not redistributed, indicating that membrane transport is limited to a few components. We conclude that each agglutinin is associated with a WGA-binding glycoprotein. When cells lacking agglutinin or cells possessing inactive agglutinins are treated with WGA, mating responses are again elicited. The data suggest that clustering of agglutinin-containing complexes results in the production of intracellular signals, such as cAMP, and the coupling of the complex to a force generating system. In nature, the complexes are clustered via the agglutinins, but artificially they can be clustered by lectins or antibodies directed against other proteins in the complex.

Cell Membrane↗

PubMed1993

The role of calcium in the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mating reaction.

The mating reaction of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii entails a rapid series of cell-cell interactions leading to cell fusion. We have demonstrated (Pasquale, S. M., and U. Goodenough. 1987. J. Cell Biol. 105:2279-2293) that cAMP plays a key role in this process: gametic flagellar adhesion elicits a sharp increase in intracellular cAMP, and presentation of dibutyryl-cAMP to unmated gametes elicits all known mating responses. The present study evaluates the role of Ca2+ in this system. We document that the mating-induced increase in cAMP, and hence the mating responses themselves, are blocked by a variety of drugs known to interfere with Ca(2+)-sensitive processes. These data suggest that Ca(2+)-mediated events may couple adhesion to the generation of cAMP. Such events, however, appear to be localized to the flagellar membrane; we find no evidence for the mating-related increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ that has been postulated by others. Indeed, by monitoring the length of the Ca(2+)-sensitive centrin-containing nucleus-basal body connector, we show that cytosolic free Ca2+ levels, if anything, decrease in response to cAMP signaling. We confirm a previous report that Ca2+ levels increase in the mating medium, but document that this represents a response to augmented cAMP levels and not a prelude. Finally, we show that IP3 levels remain constant throughout the mating reaction. These results are discussed in terms of the various signal transduction systems that have now been identified in Chlamydomonas.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

FAR1 is required for oriented polarization of yeast cells in response to mating pheromones.

Cell polarization involves specifying an area on the cell surface and organizing the cytoskeleton towards that landmark. The mechanisms by which external signals are translated into internal landmarks for polarization are poorly understood. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae exhibits polarized growth during mating: the actin cytoskeleton of each cell polarizes towards its partner, presumably to allow efficient cell fusion. The external signal which determines the landmark for polarization is thought to be a gradient of peptide pheromone released by the mating partner. Here we described mutants that exhibit random polarization. Using two assays, including a direct microscope assay for orientation (Segall, J. 1993. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 90:8332-8337), we show that these mutants cannot locate the source of a pheromone gradient although they are able to organize their cytoskeleton. These mutants appear to be defective in mating because they are unable to locate the mating partner. They carry mutations of the FAR1 gene, denoted far1-s, and identify a new function for the Far1 protein. Its other known function is to promote cell cycle arrest during mating by inhibiting a cyclin-dependent kinase (Peter, M., and I. Herskowitz. 1994. Science (Wash. DC). 265:1228-1232). The far1-s mutants exhibit normal cell cycle arrest in response to pheromone, which suggests that Far1 protein plays two distinct roles in mating: one in cell cycle arrest and the other in orientation towards the mating partner.

Alleles↗

PubMed1996

Pea2 protein of yeast is localized to sites of polarized growth and is required for efficient mating and bipolar budding.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae exhibits polarized growth during two phases of its life cycle, budding and mating. The site for polarization during vegetative growth is determined genetically: a and alpha haploid cells exhibit an axial budding pattern, and a/alpha diploid cells exhibit a bipolar pattern. During mating, each cell polarizes towards its partner to ensure efficient mating. SPA2 is required for the bipolar budding pattern (Snyder. M 1989. J. Cell Biol. 108:1419-1429; Zahner, J.A., H.A. Harkins, and J.R. Pringle. 1996. Mol. Cell. Biol. 16:1857-1870) and polarization during mating (Snyder, M., S. Gehrung, and B.D. Page. 1991. J. Cell Biol. 114: 515-532). We previously identified mutants defective in PEA2 and SPA2 which alter cell polarization in the presence of mating pheromone in a similar manner (Chenevert, J., N. Valtz, and I. Herskowitz. 1994. Genetics, 136:1287-1297). Here we report the further characterization of these mutants. We have found that PEA2 is also required for the bipolar budding pattern and that it encodes a novel protein with a predicted coiled-coil domain. Pea2p is expressed in all cell types and is localized to sites of polarized growth in budding and mating cells in a pattern similar to Spa2p, Pea2p and Spa2p exhibit interdependent localization: Spa2p is produced in pea2 mutants but fails to localize properly; Pea2p is not stably produced in spa2 mutants. These results suggest that Pea2p and Spa2p function together as a complex to generate the bipolar budding pattern and to guarantee proper polarization during mating.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1975

Gametic differentiation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. III. Cell wall lysis and microfilament-associated mating structure activation in wild-type and mutant strains.

Cell fusion between mating type plus (mt+) and minus (mt-) gametes of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is analyzed structurally and subjected to experimental manipulation. Cell wall lysis, a necessary prelude to fusion, is shown to require flagellar agglutination between competent gametes; glutaraldehyde-fixed gametes ("corpses") of one mating type will elicit both agglutination and cell wall lysis in the opposite mating type, whereas nonagglutinating impotent (imp) mutant strains are without effect. The fusion process is mediated by a narrow fertilization tubule which extends from the mt+ gamete and establishes contact with the mt- gamete. Formation of the tubule requires the "activation" of a specialized mating structure associated with the ml+ cell membrane; activation causes microfilaments to polymerize from the mating structure into the growing fertilization tubule. Mating structure activation is shown to depend on gametic flagellar agglutination; isoagglutination mediated by the lectin concanavalin A has no effect. Gametes carrying the imp-l mt+ mutation are able to agglutinate but not fuse with mt- cells; the imp-l gametes are shown to have structurally defective mating structures that do not generate microfilaments in response to gametic agglutination.

Agglutination↗

PubMed1995

Schizosaccharomyces pombe zfs1+ encoding a zinc-finger protein functions in the mating pheromone recognition pathway.

We isolated the Schizosaccharomyces pombe zfs1 gene as a multicopy suppressor of the sterility caused by overexpression of a double-stranded RNase. The deduced zfs1 gene product of 404 amino acids showed similarity to a mouse growth factor-inducible nuclear protein Nup475. Its C-terminal region carried two putative zinc-fingers, both of which should be intact for the protein to be functional as the suppressor. This protein appeared to localize in nuclei. Disruption of zfs1 was not lethal but conferred deficiency in mating and sporulation. Activation of transcription in response to the mating pheromone signaling was greatly reduced in the zfs1-disrupted cells. The mating deficiency of the zfs1-disruptant was suppressed partially by overexpression of either gpa1, ras1, byr1, or byr2, which are involved in the transmission of the pheromone signal. Disruption of zfs1 reduced both hypersensitivity of the ras1Val17 mutant to the mating pheromone and uncontrolled mating response caused by mutational activation of Gpa1, the G protein alpha subunit coupled to the mating pheromone receptors. However, overexpression of zfs1 could not bypass complete loss of function of either gpa1, ras1, byr1, or byr2. These observations indicate that the function of zfs1 is involved in the mating pheromone signaling pathway, and are consistent with its function being required to fully activate a factor in this pathway, either directly or indirectly.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1983

A mutation allowing expression of normally silent a mating-type information in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Mating type in haploid cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is determined by a pair of alleles MATa and MAT alpha. Under various conditions haploid mating types can be interconverted. It has been proposed that transpositions of silent cassettes of mating-type information from HML OR HMR to MAT are the source of mating type conversions. A mutation described in this work, designated AON1, has the following properties. (1) MAT alpha cells carring AON1 are defective in mating. (2) AON1 allows MAT alpha/MAT alpha but not MATa/MATa diploids to sporulate; thus, AON1 mimics the MATa requirement for sporulation. (3) mata-1 cells that carry AON1 are MATa phenocopies, i.e., MAT alpha/mata-1 AON1 diploids behave as standard MAT alpha/MATa cells; therefore, AON1 suppresses the defect of mata-1. (4) AON1 maps at or near HMRa. (5) Same-site revertants from AON1 lose the ability to convert mating type to MATa, indicating that reversion is associated with the loss of a functional HMRa locus. In addition, AON1 is a dominant mutation. We conclude that AON1 is a regulatory mutation, probably cis-acting, that leads to the constitutive expression of silent a mating-type information located at HMRa.

Chromosome Mapping↗

PubMed1989

Pheromones and pheromone receptors are the primary determinants of mating specificity in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae has two haploid cell types, a and alpha, each of which produces a unique set of proteins that participate in the mating process. We sought to determine the minimum set of proteins that must be expressed to allow mating and to confer specificity. We show that the capacity to synthesize alpha-factor pheromone and a-factor receptor is sufficient to allow mating by mat alpha 1 mutants, mutants that normally do not express any alpha- or a-specific products. Likewise, the capacity to synthesize a-factor receptor and alpha-factor pheromone is sufficient to allow a ste2 ste6 mutants, which do not produce the normal a cell pheromone and receptor, to mate with wild-type a cells. Thus, the a-factor receptor and alpha-factor pheromone constitute the minimum set of alpha-specific proteins that must be produced to allow mating as an alpha cell. Further evidence that the pheromones and pheromone receptors are important determinants of mating specificity comes from studies with mat alpha 2 mutants, cells that simultaneously express both pheromones and both receptors. We created a series of strains that express different combinations of pheromones and receptors in a mat alpha 2 background. These constructions reveal that mat alpha 2 mutants can be made to mate as either a cells or as alpha cells by causing them to express only the pheromone and receptor set appropriate for a particular cell type. Moreover, these studies show that the inability of mat alpha 2 mutants to respond to either pheromone is a consequence of two phenomena: adaptation to an autocrine response to the pheromones they secrete and interference with response to alpha factor by the a-factor receptor.

Cell Cycle↗

PubMed1991

The unusual sexual preferences of a chlamydomonas mutant may provide insight into mating-type evolution.

Chlamydomonas monoica undergoes intraclonal mating-type differentiation (homothallism). Although the species differs in this regard from the more commonly studied heterothallic C. reinhardtii, cell-cell interactions and progression of the sexual cycle are similar for many homothallic and heterothallic species of the genus. Regulation of chloroplast gene transmission by the nuclear mating-type alleles (mt+ and mt-) is another common denominator for Chlamydomonas species studied thus far. We have previously reported the use of chloroplast inheritance patterns to identify mutants of C. monoica that have lost the potential to function as the mt+ mating-type. A similar screening procedure led to the isolation of an unusual mutant, mtl-3 whose phenotype is less readily explained. Chloroplast gene transmission patterns in crosses involving mtl-3 suggest that the mtl-3 strain mates preferentially as mt+. However, normal mating efficiencies and high zygospore viability are observed in clonal culture, indicating the unbiased production of functional opposite mating-types. By construction of appropriately marked strains we have been able to show that mtl-3 mt- gametes prefer the mt+ gametes of their own strain. A model is presented which invokes unequal crossing over between highly homologous flagellar agglutinin genes to account for the unusual properties of the mtl-3 strain and for the evolution of mating barriers within the genus.

Alleles↗