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A female-specific RWP-RK transcription factor controls gamete differentiation and underlies anisogamy in the macroalga Bryopsis.
Current Biology · · Journal Article
Ochiai, Goshima
Abstract ↗AI summary
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BrRWP1, a female-limited RWP-RK transcription factor in the green macroalga Bryopsis, is required to maintain female gamete size and organelle DNA retention.
- Why it matters: Gamete dimorphism and maternal organelle inheritance evolve repeatedly, but the genes and cellular steps that generate unequal male and female gametes remain unclear, especially in systems lacking genomic resources.
- What they did: The team assembled a de novo genome from a male Bryopsis strain, compared it with female genomes to find sex-determining regions and sex-limited genes, then used RNAi screening to test candidates.
- The result: BrRWP1 knockdown reduced female gamete size and shifted chloroplast/nuclear size, swimming behavior, and organelle DNA retention toward male-like traits, while imaging showed it is needed for female-specific organelle division patterns before cellularization.
The findingWhy it mattersWhat they didThe result
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