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Srinivasa AN, Campbell S, Venkatesan S, Nuckolls NL, Lange JJ, Halfmann R, Zanders SE. Functional constraints of wtf killer meiotic drivers. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2024.08.27.609905. [PMID: 39677646 PMCID: PMC11642804 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.27.609905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2024]
Abstract
Killer meiotic drivers are selfish DNA loci that sabotage the gametes that do not inherit them from a driver+/driver- heterozygote. These drivers often employ toxic proteins that target essential cellular functions to cause the destruction of driver- gametes. Identifying the mechanisms of drivers can expand our understanding of infertility and reveal novel insights about the cellular functions targeted by drivers. In this work, we explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the wtf family of killer meiotic drivers found in fission yeasts. Each wtf killer acts using a toxic Wtfpoison protein that can be neutralized by a corresponding Wtfantidote protein. The wtf genes are rapidly evolving and extremely diverse. Here we found that self-assembly of Wtfpoison proteins is broadly conserved and associated with toxicity across the gene family, despite minimal amino acid conservation. In addition, we found the toxicity of Wtfpoison assemblies can be modulated by protein tags designed to increase or decrease the extent of the Wtfpoison assembly, implicating assembly size in toxicity. We also identified a conserved, critical role for the specific co-assembly of the Wtfpoison and Wtfantidote proteins in promoting effective neutralization of Wtfpoison toxicity. Finally, we engineered wtf alleles that encode toxic Wtfpoison proteins that are not effectively neutralized by their corresponding Wtfantidote proteins. The possibility of such self-destructive alleles reveals functional constraints on wtf evolution and suggests similar alleles could be cryptic contributors to infertility in fission yeast populations. As rapidly evolving killer meiotic drivers are widespread in eukaryotes, analogous self-killing drive alleles could contribute to sporadic infertility in many lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Nidamangala Srinivasa
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Samuel Campbell
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Shriram Venkatesan
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Nicole L. Nuckolls
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey J. Lange
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Randal Halfmann
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Sarah E. Zanders
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States of America
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Ricou A, Simon M, Duflos R, Azzopardi M, Roux F, Budar F, Camilleri C. Identification of novel genes responsible for a pollen killer present in local natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS Genet 2025; 21:e1011451. [PMID: 39804925 PMCID: PMC11761171 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2024] [Revised: 01/24/2025] [Accepted: 12/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2025] Open
Abstract
Gamete killers are genetic loci that distort segregation in the progeny of hybrids because the killer allele promotes the elimination of the gametes that carry the sensitive allele. They are widely distributed in eukaryotes and are important for understanding genome evolution and speciation. We had previously identified a pollen killer in hybrids between two distant natural accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana. This pollen killer involves three genetically linked genes, and we previously reported the identification of the gene encoding the antidote that protects pollen grains from the killer activity. In this study, we identified the two other genes of the pollen killer by using CRISPR-Cas9 induced mutants. These two genes are necessary for the killer activity that we demonstrated to be specific to pollen. The cellular localization of the pollen killer encoded proteins suggests that the pollen killer activity involves the mitochondria. Sequence analyses reveal predicted domains from the same families in the killer proteins. In addition, the C-terminal half of one of the killer proteins is identical to the antidote, and one amino acid, crucial for the antidote activity, is also essential for the killer function. Investigating more than 700 worldwide accessions of A. thaliana, we confirmed that the locus is subject to important structural rearrangements and copy number variation. By exploiting available de novo genomic sequences, we propose a scenario for the emergence of this pollen killer in A. thaliana. Furthermore, we report the co-occurrence and behavior of killer and sensitive genotypes in several local populations, a prerequisite for studying gamete killer evolution in the wild. This highlights the potential of the Arabidopsis model not only for functional studies of gamete killers but also for investigating their evolutionary trajectories at complementary geographical scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Ricou
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences (IJPB), Versailles, France
| | - Matthieu Simon
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences (IJPB), Versailles, France
| | - Rémi Duflos
- LIPME, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CNRS, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Marianne Azzopardi
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences (IJPB), Versailles, France
| | - Fabrice Roux
- LIPME, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CNRS, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Françoise Budar
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences (IJPB), Versailles, France
| | - Christine Camilleri
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences (IJPB), Versailles, France
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Li J, Huang F, Jiang Y, Rao J, Fan Y, Yang J. Effect analysis of S5-interacting genes on rice hybrid sterility using nontransgenic gamete killer. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 352:112357. [PMID: 39675386 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2024] [Revised: 11/29/2024] [Accepted: 12/12/2024] [Indexed: 12/17/2024]
Abstract
While hybrids between japonica and indica rice exhibit strong heterosis, they often suffer from hybrid sterility (HS). Hybrid fertility of the embryo sac is predominantly regulated by a three-gene system (comprising closely linked ORF3, ORF4 and ORF5) at rice S5 locus. The cooperation of ORF5+ and ORF4+ can result in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and sporophytically kill all embryo sacs, while ORF3+ can gametophytically protect the residing embryo sac. We previously identified four S5-interacting genes (SIGs) using a transgenic line BLORF5+ (Balilla carrying transgenic ORF5+) and a wide compatibility variety Dular (DL or D). Homozygote and hemizygote of ORF5+ transgene had significantly different spikelet fertility (SF), which disturbed the phenotypic effects of SIGs. However, HS effects of SIGs under the endogenous (nontransgenic) gamete killer remained unknown. We formerly constructed a semisterile near isogenic line (NIL) S5-BL/NJ by introgressing S5 fragment of indica rice Nanjing11 (NJ or N, carrying ORF3+ORF4-ORF5+ haplotypes) into the genome of japonica rice Balilla (BL or B, carrying ORF3-ORF4+ORF5- haplotypes). The gamete-protecting effect of ORF3+ in NJ may confuse SF effect of the SIGs, so we knocked out ORF3+ of S5-NJ/NJ and crossed it with BL to get gamete-killing S5-BL/NJΔORF3+, which can kill all (KA) gametes (abbreviated as enS5KA). Compared with the exS5KA line (a NIL carrying ORF5+ transgenic, wihch can kill all gamete), the enS5KA line conferred SIGs a more pronounced SF effect. The enS5KA,SIG-DDDD (four SIGs carry homozygous DL alleles) genotype caused a SF of about 78 %, while SF of exS5KA,SIG-DDDD was only about 62 %. Moreover, all SIGs acted in a sporophytic manner without segregation distortion of genotype. Although enS5KA,SIG-DDDD plants had high SF, the ER stress still existed. The ovule section revealed that enS5KA,SIG-BBBB genotype (four SIGs carry homozygous BL allele, with ER stress and SF < 5 %) caused abnormal degradation of nucellar cells and functional megaspores. In contrast, enS5KA,SIG-DDDD genotype preserved most nucellar cells and functional megaspores. These results lay the foundation for further research on HS mechanism of S5 and SIGs and cloning of candidate genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro Bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Fu Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro Bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Yingxia Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro Bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jianglei Rao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro Bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Yourong Fan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro Bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
| | - Jiangyi Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro Bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
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Kuniyoshi D, Ishihara M, Yamamori K, Koide Y, Kishima Y. Tetraploid interspecific hybrids between Asian and African rice species restore fertility depending on killer-protector loci for hybrid sterility. Genetics 2024; 228:iyae104. [PMID: 38941481 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Interspecific F1 hybrids between Asian (Oryza sativa) and African rice (Oryza glaberrima) exhibit severe sterility caused by the accumulation of hybrid sterility genes/loci at 15 or more loci. The mechanisms underlying the hybrid sterility genes are largely unknown; however, a few genes associated with the killer-protector system, which is the system most frequently associated with hybrid sterility genes, have been identified. We previously produced fertile plants as tetraploids derived from diploid interspecific F1 hybrids through anther culture; therefore, it was suggested that hybrid sterility could be overcome following tetraploidization. We investigated whether tetraploid interspecific plants produced by crossing are fertile and tested the involvement of hybrid sterility genes in the process. Fertile tetraploid interspecific F1 hybrid plants were obtained by crossing 2 tetraploids of O. sativa and O. glaberrima. To elucidate the relationships between pollen fertility and the hybrid sterility loci in the tetraploid F1 microspores, we performed genetic analyses of the tetraploid F2 hybrids and diploid plants obtained from the microspores of tetraploid interspecific hybrids by anther culture. The result suggested that the tetraploid interspecific hybrids overcame pollen and seed infertility based on the proportion of loci with the killer-protector system present in the tetraploids. The heterozygous hybrid sterility loci with the killer-protector system in the tetraploid segregate the homozygous killed allele (16.7-21.4%), with more than three-quarters of the gametes surviving. We theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that fertile rice progenies can be grown from tetraploid interspecific hybrids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daichi Kuniyoshi
- Tropical Agriculture Research Front, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Ishigaki 305-8686, Japan
| | - Megumi Ishihara
- Laboratory of Plant Breeding, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0808, Japan
| | - Koichi Yamamori
- Laboratory of Plant Breeding, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0808, Japan
| | - Yohei Koide
- Laboratory of Plant Breeding, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0808, Japan
| | - Yuji Kishima
- Laboratory of Plant Breeding, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0808, Japan
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Castelli M, Nardi T, Giovannini M, Sassera D. Addictive manipulation: a perspective on the role of reproductive parasitism in the evolution of bacteria-eukaryote symbioses. Biol Lett 2024; 20:20240310. [PMID: 39288812 PMCID: PMC11496725 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2024.0310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia bacteria encompass noteworthy reproductive manipulators of their arthropod hosts. which influence host reproduction to favour their own transmission, also exploiting toxin-antitoxin systems. Recently, multiple other bacterial symbionts of arthropods have been shown to display comparable manipulative capabilities. Here, we wonder whether such phenomena are truly restricted to arthropod hosts. We focused on protists, primary models for evolutionary investigations on eukaryotes due to their diversity and antiquity, but still overall under-investigated. After a thorough re-examination of the literature on bacterial-protist interactions with this question in mind, we conclude that such bacterial 'addictive manipulators' of protists do exist, are probably widespread, and have been overlooked until now as a consequence of the fact that investigations are commonly host-centred, thus ineffective to detect such behaviour. Additionally, we posit that toxin-antitoxin systems are crucial in these phenomena of addictive manipulation of protists, as a result of recurrent evolutionary repurposing. This indicates intriguing functional analogy and molecular homology with plasmid-bacterial interplays. Finally, we remark that multiple addictive manipulators are affiliated with specific bacterial lineages with ancient associations with diverse eukaryotes. This suggests a possible role of addictive manipulation of protists in paving the way to the evolution of bacteria associated with multicellular organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Castelli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Tiago Nardi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Michele Giovannini
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Davide Sassera
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
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Wang H, Planche L, Shchur V, Nielsen R. Selfing Promotes Spread and Introgression of Segregation Distorters in Hermaphroditic Plants. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae132. [PMID: 38935581 PMCID: PMC11226791 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Segregation distorters (SDs) are genetic elements that distort the Mendelian segregation ratio to favor their own transmission and are able to spread even when they incur fitness costs on organisms carrying them. Depending on the biology of the host organisms and the genetic architecture of the SDs, the population dynamics of SDs can be highly variable. Inbreeding is considered an effective mechanism for inhibiting the spread of SDs in populations, and can evolve as a defense mechanism against SDs in some systems. However, we show that inbreeding in the form of selfing in fact promotes the spread of SDs acting as pollen killers in a toxin-antidote system in hermaphroditic plants by two mechanisms: (i) By reducing the effective recombination rate between killer and antidote loci in the two-locus system and (ii) by increasing the proportion of SD alleles in individual flowers, rather than in the general gene-pool. We also show that in rice (Oryza sativa L.), a typical hermaphroditic plant, all molecularly characterized SDs associated with pollen killing were involved in population hybridization and have introgressed across different species. Paradoxically, these loci, which are associated with hybrid incompatibility and can be thought of as Bateson-Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibility loci are expected to reduce gene-flow between species, in fact cross species boundaries more frequently than random loci, and may act as important drivers of introgression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongru Wang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Léo Planche
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Sciences du Numérique, Université Paris Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Vladimir Shchur
- International laboratory of statistical and computational genomics, HSE University, Moscow 109028, Russian Federation
| | - Rasmus Nielsen
- Department of Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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Wang C, Yu X, Wang J, Zhao Z, Wan J. Genetic and molecular mechanisms of reproductive isolation in the utilization of heterosis for breeding hybrid rice. J Genet Genomics 2024; 51:583-593. [PMID: 38325701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Heterosis, also known as hybrid vigor, is commonly observed in rice crosses. The hybridization of rice species or subspecies exhibits robust hybrid vigor, however, the direct harnessing of this vigor is hindered by reproductive isolation. Here, we review recent advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing reproductive isolation in inter-subspecific and inter-specific hybrids. This review encompasses the genetic model of reproductive isolation within and among Oryza sativa species, emphasizing the essential role of mitochondria in this process. Additionally, we delve into the molecular intricacies governing the interaction between mitochondria and autophagosomes, elucidating their significant contribution to reproductive isolation. Furthermore, our exploration extends to comprehending the evolutionary dynamics of reproductive isolation and speciation in rice. Building on these advances, we offer a forward-looking perspective on how to overcome the challenges of reproductive isolation and facilitate the utilization of heterosis in future hybrid rice breeding endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaolong Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China; State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiaowen Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zhigang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China.
| | - Jianmin Wan
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China; State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
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Oberhofer G, Johnson ML, Ivy T, Antoshechkin I, Hay BA. Cleave and Rescue gamete killers create conditions for gene drive in plants. NATURE PLANTS 2024; 10:936-953. [PMID: 38886522 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01701-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Gene drive elements promote the spread of linked traits and can be used to change the composition or fate of wild populations. Cleave and Rescue (ClvR) drive elements sit at a fixed chromosomal position and include a DNA sequence-modifying enzyme such as Cas9/gRNAs that disrupts endogenous versions of an essential gene and a recoded version of the essential gene resistant to cleavage. ClvR spreads by creating conditions in which those lacking ClvR die because they lack functional versions of the essential gene. Here we demonstrate the essential features of the ClvR gene drive in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana through killing of gametes that fail to inherit a ClvR that targets the essential gene YKT61. Resistant alleles, which can slow or prevent drive, were not observed. Modelling shows plant ClvRs are robust to certain failure modes and can be used to rapidly drive population modification or suppression. Possible applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Oberhofer
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Michelle L Johnson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Tobin Ivy
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Igor Antoshechkin
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Bruce A Hay
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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Myint ZM, Koide Y, Takanishi W, Ikegaya T, Kwan C, Hikichi K, Tokuyama Y, Okada S, Onishi K, Ishikawa R, Fujita D, Yamagata Y, Matsumura H, Kishima Y, Kanazawa A. OlCHR, encoding a chromatin remodeling factor, is a killer causing hybrid sterility between rice species Oryza sativa and O. longistaminata. iScience 2024; 27:109761. [PMID: 38706863 PMCID: PMC11067373 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The genetic mechanisms of reproductive isolation have been widely investigated within Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa); however, relevant genes between diverged species have been in sighted rather less. Herein, a gene showing selfish behavior was discovered in hybrids between the distantly related rice species Oryza longistaminata and O. sativa. The selfish allele S13l in the S13 locus impaired male fertility, discriminately eliminating pollens containing the allele S13s from O. sativa in heterozygotes (S13s/S13l). Genetic analysis revealed that a gene encoding a chromatin-remodeling factor (CHR) is involved in this phenomenon and a variety of O. sativa owns the truncated gene OsCHR745, whereas its homologue OlCHR has a complete structure in O. longistaminata. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated loss of function mutants restored fertility in hybrids. African cultivated rice, which naturally lacks the OlCHR homologue, is compatible with both S13s and S13l carriers. These results suggest that OlCHR is a Killer gene, which leads to reproductive isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zin Mar Myint
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yohei Koide
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Wakana Takanishi
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tomohito Ikegaya
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Choi Kwan
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kiwamu Hikichi
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Tokuyama
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shuhei Okada
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kazumitsu Onishi
- Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Ryo Ishikawa
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Yuji Kishima
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Akira Kanazawa
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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