A role for the mismatch repair system during incipient speciation in Saccharomyces

D. Greig, M. Travisano, E. J. Louis, Rhona H. Borts

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

83 Scopus citations

Abstract

The cause of reproductive isolation between biological species is a major issue in the field of biology. Most explanations of hybrid sterility require either genetic incompatibilities between nascent species or gross physical imbalances between their chromosomes, such as rearrangements or ploidy changes. An alternative possibility is that genomes become incompatible at a molecular level, dependent on interactions between primary DNA sequences. The mismatch repair system has previously been shown to contribute to sterility in a hybrid between established yeast species by preventing successful meiotic crossing-over leading to aneuploidy. This system could also promote or reinforce the formation of new species in a similar manner, by making diverging genomes incompatible in meiosis. To test this possibility we crossed yeast strains of the same species but from diverse historical or geographic sources. We show that these crosses are partially sterile and present evidence that the mismatch repair system is largely responsible for this sterility.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)429-437
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of evolutionary biology
Volume16
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2003

Keywords

  • Evolution
  • Meiosis
  • Mismatch repair
  • Speciation
  • Yeast

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A role for the mismatch repair system during incipient speciation in Saccharomyces'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this