Self-Incompatibility Genes in Flowering Plants. In: Verma DPS, Goldberg RB, editors. Temporal and Spatial Regulation of Plant Genes. Vienna: Springer; 1988. pp. 117-30. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7091-6950-6_7]

Gamete self-discrimination in ascidians: a role for the follicle cells

Gamete self-incompatibility in the hermaphrodite tunicate Ciona intestinalis is a useful system with which to study self-nonself recognition. We have used in vitro fertilization of oocytes isolated from the gonad of Ciona intestinalis to identify the cellular source of self-sterility elements present on the egg envelopes. Here we show for the first time that self-discrimination, which occurs on the egg vitelline coat, is established there in late oogenesis and is contributed or controlled by products of the overlying follicle cells. The acquisition of self-sterility by the oocyte is prevented by the ionophore monensin, which suggests that the follicle cell self-sterility controlling factor is a glycoprotein.