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Predicting Specificities Under the Non-self Gametophytic Self-Incompatibility Recognition Model.
Jorge Vieira1,2, Sara Rocha1,2, Noé Vázquez3,4
1Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) relies on F-box genes (SLFs) interacting with S-RNases. This study identifies SLF gene lineages across genera and pinpoints 16 amino acid sites crucial for GSI specificity.
Area of Science:
- Plant reproductive biology
- Molecular evolution
- Genomics
Background:
- Gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) is a genetic system preventing self-fertilization in flowering plants.
- The GSI recognition mechanism involves pollen-expressed F-box proteins (SLFs) interacting with pistil-expressed S-RNases.
- While studied in Petunia, the evolutionary dynamics and specificity determinants of SLFs in other GSI-bearing genera like Solanum and Nicotiana remain largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize putative SLF genes across multiple Solanum and Nicotiana genomes.
- To determine the number of SLF gene lineages and estimate the rate of new lineage evolution in these genera.
- To identify specific amino acid residues within SLFs that are under positive selection and likely responsible for S-RNase interaction and specificity.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis of SLF genes from nine Solanum and 10 Nicotiana genomes.
- Comparative genomics to assess SLF gene lineage diversity and evolutionary rates.
- Identification of positively selected amino acid sites in Petunia SLFs using selection analysis.
- In silico analysis of SLF and S-RNase 3D structures to predict interaction sites.
Main Results:
- A similar number of SLF gene lineages were found across Solanum, Nicotiana, and Petunia, suggesting comparable effective population sizes and specificity repertoires.
- The estimated rate of new SLF specificity evolution is approximately one per 10 million years.
- Sixteen amino acid positions in SLFs were identified as being under positive selection and likely involved in S-RNase recognition.
- Fixed differences in amino acid properties (hydrophobicity, charge, polarity, size) were observed at these positions between different self-incompatibility groups.
Conclusions:
- The diversification of SLF genes predates the divergence of Solanum and Nicotiana, indicating ancient evolutionary origins.
- The identified amino acid positions provide a molecular basis for understanding SLF-S-RNase specificity and the evolution of self-incompatibility.
- This methodology offers a powerful approach for inferring SLF/S-RNase specificity recognition mechanisms in GSI systems.

