A Critical Component of Meiotic Drive in Neurospora Is Located Near a Chromosome Rearrangement. Issue 4 (1st August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harvey, Austin M; Rehard, David G; Groskreutz, Katie M; Kuntz, Danielle R; Sharp, Kevin J; Shiu, Patrick K T; Hammond, Thomas M
• Is Part Of: Genetics. Volume 197:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 1165
• Page End: 1174
• Publication Date: 2014-08-01
• Subjects: meiosis -- meiotic drive -- genome sequencing and mapping -- selfish elements -- Spore killer; Genetics -- Periodicals; 576.5
• DOI: 10.1534/genetics.114.167007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-6731

Abstract

Abstract: Neurospora fungi harbor a group of meiotic drive elements known as Spore killers ( Sk ). Spore killer-2 ( Sk-2 ) and Spore killer-3 ( Sk-3 ) are two Sk elements that map to a region of suppressed recombination. Although this recombination block is limited to crosses between Sk and Sk -sensitive ( Sk S ) strains, its existence has hindered Sk characterization. Here we report the circumvention of this obstacle by combining a classical genetic screen with next-generation sequencing technology and three-point crossing assays. This approach has allowed us to identify a novel locus called rfk-1, mutation of which disrupts spore killing by Sk-2 . We have mapped rfk-1 to a 45-kb region near the right border of the Sk-2 element, a location that also harbors an 11-kb insertion ( Sk-2 INS1 ) and part of a >220-kb inversion ( Sk-2 INV1 ). These are the first two chromosome rearrangements to be formally identified in a Neurospora Sk element, providing evidence that they are at least partially responsible for Sk -based recombination suppression. Additionally, the proximity of these chromosome rearrangements to rfk-1 (a critical component of the spore-killing mechanism) suggests that they have played a key role in the evolution of meiotic drive in Neurospora .