RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Gender- and gamete-specific patterns of X chromosome segregation in a three-gendered nematode
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 205211
DO 10.1101/205211
A1 Sophie Tandonnet
A1 Maureen C. Farrell
A1 Georgios D. Koutsovoulos
A1 Mark L. Blaxter
A1 Manish Parihar
A1 Penny L. Sadler
A1 Diane C. Shakes
A1 Andre Pires-daSilva
YR 2017
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/10/18/205211.abstract
AB Meiosis is at the core of sexual reproduction and alterations to its program can have dramatic effects. In this study, we investigate the segregation pattern of the X chromosome in Auanema rhodensis, a three-gendered nematode. This species has an atypical pattern of X chromosome segregation during male spermatogenesis that results in the exclusive production of haplo-X sperm. Here we use a combination of genetic and cytological approaches to show that while XX females undergo conventional meiosis to produce mostly haplo-X oocytes, hermaphrodites undergo atypical meiosis to produce nullo-X oocytes and mostly diplo-X sperm. Gender- and gamete-specific alterations of the normal meiotic program include non-pairing of the X homologs and precocious separation of X chromatids. Given these intra-species, intra-individual and intra-gametogenesis variations in meiotic program of A. rhodensis, we argue that it is an ideal model to study the plasticity of meiosis and how it can be modulated.- Matings between A. rhodensis hermaphrodites and males generate only male crossprogeny.- Hermaphrodites generate mostly nullo-X oocytes and diplo-X sperm.- Following normal Mendelian genetics, XX females produce haplo-X oocytes.- In cross-progeny, sons always inherit the X chromosome from the father.Highlights