A sex recognition glycoprotein is encoded by the plus mating-type gene fus1 of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

• Published in: Molecular biology of the cell Vol. 7; no. 8; pp. 1235 - 1248
• Main Authors: Ferris, P J, Woessner, J P, Goodenough, U W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.1996
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Base Sequence; Biological Evolution; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii - genetics; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii - ultrastructure; Codon - genetics; DNA Primers - genetics; DNA Transposable Elements; DNA, Protozoan - genetics; Gene Expression; Genes, Protozoan; Glycoproteins - genetics; Microscopy, Electron; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation; Plant Proteins; Protozoan Proteins - genetics; Transformation, Genetic
• ISSN: 1059-1524; 1939-4586
• DOI: 10.1091/mbc.7.8.1235

Sexual fusion between plus and minus gametes of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii entails adhesion between plus-specific and minus-specific "fringe" proteins displayed on the plasma membrane of gametic mating structures. We report the identification of the gene (fus1) encoding the plus fringe glycoprotein, which resides in a unique domain of the mating-type plus (mt+) locus, and which was identified by transposon insertions in three fusion-defective mutant strains. Transformation with fus1+ restores fringe and fusion competence to these mutants and to the pseudo-plus mutant imp11 mt-, defective in minus differentiation. The fus1 gene is remarkable in lacking the codon bias found in all other nuclear genes of C. reinhardtii.