The sexual inducer of <i>Volvox carteri</i>

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of Volvox is modified during development or in response to external stimuli, like the sex-inducing pheromone. It has recently been demonstrated that a number of genes triggered by the sex-inducing pheromone are also inducible by wounding. By differential screening of a cDNA library, a novel gene was identified that is transcribed in response to the pheromone. Its gene product was characterized as an ECM glycoprotein with a striking feature: it exhibits a hydroxyproline content of 68% and therefore is an extreme member of the family of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs). HRGPs are known as constituents of higher plant ECMs and seem to function as structural barriers in defense responses. The Volvox HRGP is also found to be inducible by wounding. This indicates that the wound response scenarios of higher plants and multicellular green algae may be evolutionary related.

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“…Strain 153-48 was grown in the presence of 1 mM NH 4 Cl. The sex-inducing pheromone was used as described (22).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response to the Sexual Pheromone and Wounding in the Green Alga Volvox: Induction of an Extracellular Glycoprotein Consisting Almost Exclusively of Hydroxyproline

Ender¹,

Hallmann²,

Amon

et al. 1999

Journal of Biological Chemistry

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“…Synchronous cultures were grown in Volvox medium at 28 °C under an 8 h dark/16 h light (10 000 lux) cycle [3]. The sex-inducing pheromone was used as described by Haas and Sumper [44]. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene silencing pathways found in the green alga Volvox carteri reveal insights into evolution and origins of small RNA systems in plants

et al. 2016

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Background Volvox carteri (V. carteri) is a multicellular green alga used as model system for the evolution of multicellularity. So far, the contribution of small RNA pathways to these phenomena is not understood. Thus, we have sequenced V. carteri Argonaute 3 (VcAGO3)-associated small RNAs from different developmental stages.ResultsUsing this functional approach, we define the Volvox microRNA (miRNA) repertoire and show that miRNAs are not conserved in the closely related unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Furthermore, we find that miRNAs are differentially expressed during different life stages of V. carteri. In addition to miRNAs, transposon-associated small RNAs or phased siRNA loci, which are common in higher land plants, are highly abundant in Volvox as well. Transposons not only give rise to miRNAs and other small RNAs, they are also targets of small RNAs.ConclusionOur analyses reveal a surprisingly complex small RNA network in Volvox as elaborate as in higher land plants. At least the identified VcAGO3-associated miRNAs are not conserved in C. reinhardtii suggesting fast evolution of small RNA systems. Thus, distinct small RNAs may contribute to multicellularity and also division of labor in reproductive and somatic cells.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-3202-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…The gene that encodes the pheromone could be found (Tschochner et al ., ) and the corresponding protein contains 208 amino acids with a molecular mass of 22 kDa (Mages et al ., ). Production through heterologous expression in yeast and mammalian cells and bioassays confirmed its function, although the native Volvox pheromone acted at lower concentrations (Haas and Sumper, ; Jaenicke et al ., ). Related species appear to rely on similar pheromone chemistry as demonstrated by the finding that the Volvox carteri f. weismannia pheromone can sexually cross‐induce Volvox carteri f. nagariensis males.…”

Section: Sex Pheromones In Green Algaementioning

confidence: 99%

Pheromone signaling during sexual reproduction in algae

2014

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SUMMARYAlgae are found in all aquatic and many terrestrial habitats. They are dominant in phytoplankton and biofilms thereby contributing massively to global primary production. Since algae comprise photosynthetic representatives of the various protoctist groups their physiology and appearance is highly diverse. This diversity is also mirrored in their characteristic life cycles that exhibit various facets of ploidy and duration of the asexual phase as well as gamete morphology. Nevertheless, sexual reproduction in unicellular and colonial algae usually has as common motive that two specialized, sexually compatible haploid gametes establish physical contact and fuse. To guarantee mating success, processes during sexual reproduction are highly synchronized and regulated. This review focuses on sex pheromones of algae that play a key role in these processes. Especially, the diversity of sexual strategies as well as of the compounds involved are the focus of this contribution. Discoveries connected to algal pheromone chemistry shed light on the role of key evolutionary processes, including endosymbiotic events and lateral gene transfer, speciation and adaptation at all phylogenetic levels. But progress in this field might also in the future provide valid tools for the manipulation of aquaculture and environmental processes.

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The sexual inducer of Volvox carteri

Cited by 12 publications

References 10 publications

Response to the Sexual Pheromone and Wounding in the Green Alga Volvox: Induction of an Extracellular Glycoprotein Consisting Almost Exclusively of Hydroxyproline

Response to the Sexual Pheromone and Wounding in the Green Alga Volvox: Induction of an Extracellular Glycoprotein Consisting Almost Exclusively of Hydroxyproline

Gene silencing pathways found in the green alga Volvox carteri reveal insights into evolution and origins of small RNA systems in plants

Pheromone signaling during sexual reproduction in algae

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