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Exploratory polarization facilitates mating partner selection in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Manuella R Clark-Cotton1, Nicholas T Henderson1, Michael Pablo2,3
1Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708.
Molecular Biology of the Cell
|March 10, 2021
Summary
Yeast cells find mates by exploring pheromone gradients with mobile polarity sites. Successful mating requires both partners to properly generate, orient, and stabilize these sites for commitment.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Chemical ecology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Yeast utilize pheromone gradients for mating, serving as a model for chemotropism.
- The mechanism by which yeast select a single mating partner in crowded environments remains unclear.
- Cells initially polarize in non-productive directions before relocating polarity sites for partner alignment and commitment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of early mobile polarity sites in yeast mating partner selection.
- To understand the requirements for commitment to a mating partner.
Main Methods:
- Observed yeast cell behavior during mating.
- Analyzed the composition of mobile polarity sites.
- Utilized simulations to model pheromone concentration dynamics.
Main Results:
- Mating commitment failed if either partner had defects in mobile polarity site generation, orientation, or stabilization.
- Mobile polarity sites were found to be enriched with pheromone receptors, G proteins, and pheromone secretion factors.
- Simulations indicated that focal pheromone secretion at polarity sites is crucial for triggering partner commitment.
Conclusions:
- Mobile polarity sites are essential for successful yeast mating, acting as exploratory units searching the pheromone landscape.
- Proper function of mobile polarity sites in both partners is necessary for commitment.
- Focal secretion of pheromones from these sites is critical for achieving the high local concentrations required to initiate mating commitment.
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