Document Type

Article

Version Deposited

Published Version

Publication Date

6-1-2024

Publication Title

Molecular Biology and Evolution

DOI

10.1093/molbev/msae101

Abstract

Although evolution is driven by changes in how regulatory pathways control development, we know little about the molecular details underlying these transitions. The TRA-2 domain that mediates contact with TRA-1 is conserved in Caenorhabditis. By comparing the interaction of these proteins in two species, we identified a striking change in how sexual development is controlled. Identical mutations in this domain promote oogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans but promote spermatogenesis in Caenorhabditis briggsae. Furthermore, the effects of these mutations involve the male-promoting gene fem-3 in C. elegans but are independent of fem-3 in C. briggsae. Finally, reciprocal mutations in these genes show that C. briggsae TRA-2 binds TRA-1 to prevent expression of spermatogenesis regulators. By contrast, in C. elegans TRA-1 sequesters TRA-2 in the germ line, allowing FEM-3 to initiate spermatogenesis. Thus, we propose that the flow of information within the sex determination pathway has switched directions during evolution. This result has important implications for how evolutionary change can occur.

Comments

This article is a work of the United States government. Such works are not entitled to domestic copyright protection under U.S. law and are therefore in the public domain.

Published Citation

Shen Y, Lin SY, Harbin J, Amin R, Vassalotti A, Romanowski J, Schmidt E, Tierney A, Ellis RE. Rewiring the Sex-Determination Pathway During the Evolution of Self-Fertility. Mol Biol Evol. 2024 Jun 1;41(6):msae101. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msae101. PMID: 38880992; PMCID: PMC11180601.

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