Functional analysis of chlamydomonas zygote specific gene ezy1

Abstract

In almost all eukaryotes, mitochondrial (mt) and chloroplast (cp) genes are transmitted to progeny mainly from the maternal parent. The most popular explanation for this phenomenon is simple dilution of paternal mt/cpDNA, because the paternal gametes (sperm) are much smaller than maternal gametes (egg) and contribute a limited amount of mitochondria / plastid to the progeny. Recently, this simple explanation has been challenged in several reports that describe the active digestion of paternal mt/cpDNA in algae, higher plants, slime mold and Medaka fish. However, little is known about how paternal mt/cpDNAs are preferentially degraded whereas maternal DNAs are protected. In order to answer these questions, we employed Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a model system and focused on the function of zygote specific gene, ezy1. In this session, we will present our latest data obtained by RNAi analysis.