A gene/pseudogene tandem duplication encodes a cysteine-rich protein expressed during zygote development in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Mol Gen Genet. 1992 Mar;232(1):81-8. doi: 10.1007/BF00299140.

Abstract

The Class V zygote-specific gene from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has been cloned and sequenced. This gene encodes a polypeptide of 86 amino acids, which contains a signal peptide and 6 cysteine residues arranged in an inverted symmetrical repeat. The Class V gene product is postulated to be a component of the zygote cell wall. Southern analysis revealed two tandemly oriented and closely linked copies of the Class V gene, designated A and B. The A gene appears to be a pseudogene, based on analysis of Class V cDNAs, primer extension with gene-specific primers, and Northern analysis which failed to detect an A gene transcript. Genetic analysis using a related Chlamydomonas species that lacks the A gene, but which produces normal zygotic progeny, further indicates that the A gene is not required for zygote development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multigene Family / genetics*
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics*
  • Pseudogenes / genetics*
  • Restriction Mapping

Substances

  • Protozoan Proteins
  • class V zygote-specific protein, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii