Killer meiotic drivers in fungi

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Genetics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Mendel's Law of Segregation describes equal allele inheritance.
• Killer meiotic drivers (KMDs) are selfish genetic elements that distort inheritance patterns.
• KMDs enhance their own transmission by eliminating meiotic products lacking the driver allele.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on characterized fungal KMDs.
• To emphasize the molecular basis and host interactions of fungal KMDs.
• To discuss approaches for discovering new KMDs.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of characterized fungal KMDs.
• Synthesis of information on molecular mechanisms and host interplay.
• Discussion of KMD discovery strategies.

Main Results:

• Fungal KMDs operate at distinct life-cycle stages: spore killing or post-germination targeting.
• Molecular mechanisms and host interactions of KMDs from *Neurospora*, *Podospora*, *Fusarium*, and *Schizosaccharomyces* are detailed.
• Evidence suggests KMDs are more prevalent in fungi than previously thought.

Conclusions:

• Fungal KMDs are significant evolutionary forces shaping genome architecture and reproduction.
• Understanding KMDs is crucial for comprehending genome evolution and reproductive strategies.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the prevalence and impact of KMDs in nature.