Meiosis is a fundamental process for all sexual reproducing organisms. Problems in this process can lead to chromosome mis-segregation, which can result in sterility, lethality, and diseases such as Down's syndrome. Many proteins and elements of meiosis are evolutionarily conserved, there is species level variation in the precise meiotic mechanisms, but there is remarkably little data on how these different mechanisms or the associated proteins have evolved. I propose to address the question of how a novel meiotic process and associated proteins evolve by studying cytological and functional molecular genetic differences between closely related diploid and autotetraploid Arabidopsis arenosa. Polyploidy is an ideal system to study this question, because there is strong selective pressure on the meiosis machinery to ensure proper pairing, crossing- over, and segregation in an environment with double the number of homologous chromosomes. To catalogue the differences between these environments, I propose to conduct a detailed cytological investigation of diploid, natural autotetraploid, and synthetic tetraploid lines. I will also investigate the function of meiosis related proteins with strong signatures of selection in the tetraploid lineage through transgenic analysis. In a complimentary experiment, I will conduct an artificial selection experiment on gamete viability in the synthetic autotetraploid and genetically map loci that ensure proper meiosis in the tetraploid.

Public Health Relevance

Improper chromosome segregation during meiosis can cause infertility, i.e. spontaneous miscarriages, and diseases such as Down's syndrome. The aim of this project is to understand how meiosis machinery evolves to maintain proper function in novel, stressful genomic environments. This study will increase our understanding of the fundamental function of proteins underlying this critical biological process.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32GM105293-01
Application #
8457163
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F08-Q (20))
Program Officer
Reddy, Michael K
Project Start
2013-02-01
Project End
2016-01-31
Budget Start
2013-02-01
Budget End
2014-01-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$52,190
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
082359691
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02138
Wright, Kevin M; Arnold, Brian; Xue, Katherine et al. (2015) Selection on meiosis genes in diploid and tetraploid Arabidopsis arenosa. Mol Biol Evol 32:944-55
Higgins, James D; Wright, Kevin M; Bomblies, Kirsten et al. (2014) Cytological techniques to analyze meiosis in Arabidopsis arenosa for investigating adaptation to polyploidy. Front Plant Sci 4:546
Yant, Levi; Hollister, Jesse D; Wright, Kevin M et al. (2013) Meiotic adaptation to genome duplication in Arabidopsis arenosa. Curr Biol 23:2151-6