A single gene underlies the dynamic evolution of poplar sex determination

编号 040025102

推送时间 20200810

研究领域 森林培育 

年份 2020 

类型 期刊 

语种 英语

标题 A single gene underlies the dynamic evolution of poplar sex determination

来源期刊 Nature Plants

期 第251期

发表时间 20200601

关键词 poplar;  dynamic evolution;  plant lineages;  dioecy; 

摘要 Although hundreds of plant lineages have independently evolved dioecy (that is, separation of the sexes), the underlying genetic basis remains largely elusive1. Here we show that diverse poplar species carry partial duplicates of the ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATOR 17 (ARR17) orthologue in the male-specific region of the Y chromosome. These duplicates give rise to small RNAs apparently causing male-specific DNA methylation and silencing of the ARR17 gene. CRISPR–Cas9-induced mutations demonstrate that ARR17 functions as a sex switch, triggering female development when on and male development when off. Despite repeated turnover events, including a transition from the XY system to a ZW system, the sex-specific regulation of ARR17 is conserved across the poplar genus and probably beyond. Our data reveal how a single-gene-based mechanism of dioecy can enable highly dynamic sex-linked regions and contribute to maintaining recombination and integrity of sex chromosomes.

服务人员 孙小满

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