Chemotactic behavior of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is altered during gametogenesis.
Chemotactic behavior of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is altered during the sexual life cycle. Unlike vegetative cells and noncompetent pregametes, mature gametes did not show chemotaxis to ammonium. Loss of chemotaxis to ammonium in mating-competent cells is controlled by gamete-specific genes that are common for both mating-type gametes. Change of chemotaxis mode requires the sequential action of the two environmental signals: removal of ammonium from the medium and light. The mutants lrg1, lrg3, and lrg4 affected in the light-dependent step of sexual differentiation exhibited the loss of chemotaxis to ammonium in the absence of light. These data indicate that there are common components in the signaling pathways that control change of chemotactic behavior and forming of mating competence in gametes.
Laboratory of Microbiology, Biological Research Institute of St. Petersburg University, Oranienbaumskoe schosse 2, Stary Peterhof, St. Petersburg, 198504 Russia. ermilova@EE6439.spb.edu
Elena V
EV
Ermilova
Zhanna M
ZM
Zalutskaya
Tatyana V
TV
Lapina
Maksim M
MM
Nikitin
D000818:Animals; D002633:Chemotaxis; D016825:Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005718:Gametogenesis; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000502:physiology; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D008027:Light; D009154:Mutation; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism
D007477:Ions; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds