Repeated co-option of HMG-box genes for sex determination in brown algae and animals.
Science
; 383(6689): eadk5466, 2024 Mar 22.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38513029
ABSTRACT
In many eukaryotes, genetic sex determination is not governed by XX/XY or ZW/ZZ systems but by a specialized region on the poorly studied U (female) or V (male) sex chromosomes. Previous studies have hinted at the existence of a dominant male-sex factor on the V chromosome in brown algae, a group of multicellular eukaryotes distantly related to animals and plants. The nature of this factor has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that an HMG-box gene acts as the male-determining factor in brown algae, mirroring the role HMG-box genes play in sex determination in animals. Over a billion-year evolutionary timeline, these lineages have independently co-opted the HMG box for male determination, representing a paradigm for evolution's ability to recurrently use the same genetic "toolkit" to accomplish similar tasks.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sex Chromosomes
/
Sex Determination Processes
/
HMGB Proteins
/
Phaeophyceae
/
Edible Seaweeds
/
Laminaria
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Science
Year:
2024
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Germany