Abstract
To understand the program of sexual reproduction of Closterium, cDNA microarrays containing a total of 2801 cDNAs were prepared. A Cy-5-labeled cDNA population was prepared from cells proceeding sexual reproduction (2, 8, 24, 72 h after the mixing) and cells treated with purified sex pheromones. As a control, labeled cDNA probes prepared individually from mt+ and mt- cells were also used for the analysis. As a result, 35 genes that showed a 5-fold increase in expression over the time-course were identified. Among them, expression levels of 8 genes including leucine-rich repeat protein were elevated only in mt- cells by the addition of PR-IP, whereas that of 14 genes including a receptor-like protein kinase were elevated only in mt+ cells by the addition of PR-IP inducer. Up-regulation of two genes in both cells in response to the respective pheromones was also confirmed, whereas remaining 11 genes were not regulated by pheromones.
