Invertebrate post-segregation distorters: A new embryo-killing gene

Cytoplasmic incompatibility induced by inherited intracellular bacteria of arthropods, and Medea elements found in flour beetles, are both forms of postsegregation distortion involving the killing of embryos in order to increase the ratio of progeny that inherit them. The recently described peel-zee...

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Main Author: Sinkins, S
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2011
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author Sinkins, S
author_facet Sinkins, S
author_sort Sinkins, S
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description Cytoplasmic incompatibility induced by inherited intracellular bacteria of arthropods, and Medea elements found in flour beetles, are both forms of postsegregation distortion involving the killing of embryos in order to increase the ratio of progeny that inherit them. The recently described peel-zeel element of Caenorhabditis elegans also uses this mechanism; like Medea the genes responsible are in the nuclear genome but it shares a paternal mode of action with the bacteria. The peel-1 gene has now been shown to encode a potent toxin that is delivered by sperm, and rescued by zygotic transcription of the linked zeel-1. The predominance of self-fertilization in C. elegans has produced an unusual distribution pattern for a selfish genetic element; further population and functional studies will shed light on its evolution. The element might also have potential for use in disease control. © 2011 Steven P. Sinkins.
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spelling oxford-uuid:e9b5090c-817e-4d5c-a52f-964e685ca1b62022-03-27T10:56:12ZInvertebrate post-segregation distorters: A new embryo-killing geneJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:e9b5090c-817e-4d5c-a52f-964e685ca1b6EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2011Sinkins, SCytoplasmic incompatibility induced by inherited intracellular bacteria of arthropods, and Medea elements found in flour beetles, are both forms of postsegregation distortion involving the killing of embryos in order to increase the ratio of progeny that inherit them. The recently described peel-zeel element of Caenorhabditis elegans also uses this mechanism; like Medea the genes responsible are in the nuclear genome but it shares a paternal mode of action with the bacteria. The peel-1 gene has now been shown to encode a potent toxin that is delivered by sperm, and rescued by zygotic transcription of the linked zeel-1. The predominance of self-fertilization in C. elegans has produced an unusual distribution pattern for a selfish genetic element; further population and functional studies will shed light on its evolution. The element might also have potential for use in disease control. © 2011 Steven P. Sinkins.
spellingShingle Sinkins, S
Invertebrate post-segregation distorters: A new embryo-killing gene
title Invertebrate post-segregation distorters: A new embryo-killing gene
title_full Invertebrate post-segregation distorters: A new embryo-killing gene
title_fullStr Invertebrate post-segregation distorters: A new embryo-killing gene
title_full_unstemmed Invertebrate post-segregation distorters: A new embryo-killing gene
title_short Invertebrate post-segregation distorters: A new embryo-killing gene
title_sort invertebrate post segregation distorters a new embryo killing gene
work_keys_str_mv AT sinkinss invertebratepostsegregationdistortersanewembryokillinggene