To Study A Frequent Parasexual Recombination ...

To Study A Frequent Parasexual Recombination Between P. Parasitica and Host Absidia Glauca

Author Name : Tina Bisen, Prof. R. K. Garg

ABSTRACT

This parasexual system is described here to sexual development in zygomycetes, and open questions are pointed out that should be addressed by the community. This process leads to frequent parasexual recombination events by transfer of genes from the parasite to the host. In this respect, the Parasitella biology offers one of very few experimental systems, where horizontal gene transfer in eukaryotes can be studied in the laboratory at molecular and biochemical levels. The primarily parasitic character of this interaction can be shown by measuring the fitness of the host in infection experiments. This has recently been shown for the host organism A. glauca. Selective pressure in nature is almost certainly much lower in nature than on the normally applied minimal media in the laboratory. Thus, the obvious question concerning evolutionary impact on the numerous organisms in the host range of these fusion parasites can presently not be answered conclusively. The zygomycete Parasitella parasitica is a facultative fusion parasite of many but not all mucoralean fungi. Especially primary recognition of the partners is mediated by the same type of diffusible and partly volatile compounds, the carotene-related derivatives of trisporic acid.

Keywords: Parasexual, Zygomycetes, Facultative Fusion, Biology, Eukaryotes.