Molecular characterization of a chromosomal rearrangement involved in the adaptive evolution of yeast strains

Genome Res. 2002 Oct;12(10):1533-9. doi: 10.1101/gr.436602.

Abstract

Wine yeast strains show a high level of chromosome length polymorphism. This polymorphism is mainly generated by illegitimate recombination mediated by Ty transposons or subtelomeric repeated sequences. We have found, however, that the SSU1-R allele, which confers sulfite resistance to yeast cells, is the product of a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes VIII and XVI due to unequal crossing-over mediated by microhomology between very short sequences on the 5' upstream regions of the SSU1 and ECM34 genes. We also show that this translocation is only present in wine yeast strains, suggesting that the use for millennia of sulfite as a preservative in wine production could have favored its selection. This is the first time that a gross chromosomal rearrangement is shown to be involved in the adaptive evolution of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anion Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Base Sequence / genetics*
  • Chromosomes, Fungal / genetics*
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Gene Frequency / genetics
  • Gene Rearrangement / genetics*
  • Genes, Fungal / genetics*
  • Genetic Markers / genetics
  • Genome, Fungal
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Recombination, Genetic / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Species Specificity
  • Translocation, Genetic / genetics

Substances

  • Anion Transport Proteins
  • DNA, Fungal
  • Genetic Markers
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Ssu1 protein, S cerevisiae

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF239757
  • GENBANK/AF239758
  • GENBANK/AJ458340
  • GENBANK/AJ458341
  • GENBANK/AJ458342
  • GENBANK/AJ458343
  • GENBANK/AJ458344
  • GENBANK/AJ458345
  • GENBANK/AJ458346
  • GENBANK/AJ458347
  • GENBANK/AJ458348
  • GENBANK/AJ458349
  • GENBANK/AJ458350
  • GENBANK/AJ458351
  • GENBANK/AJ458352
  • GENBANK/AJ458353
  • GENBANK/AJ458354
  • GENBANK/AJ458355
  • GENBANK/AJ458356
  • GENBANK/AJ458357
  • GENBANK/AJ458358
  • GENBANK/AJ458359
  • GENBANK/AJ458360
  • GENBANK/AJ458361
  • GENBANK/AJ458362
  • GENBANK/AJ458363
  • GENBANK/AJ458364
  • GENBANK/AJ458365
  • GENBANK/AJ458366
  • GENBANK/AJ458367