Disentangling signaling gradients generated by equivalent sources |
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Authors: | Noa Rappaport Naama Barkai |
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Institution: | (1) Departments of Molecular Genetics and Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel; |
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Abstract: | Yeast cells approach a mating partner by polarizing along a gradient of mating pheromones that are secreted by cells of the
opposite mating type. The Bar1 protease is secreted by a-cells and, paradoxically, degrades the α-factor pheromones which are produced by cells of the opposite mating type and trigger mating in a-cells. This degradation
may assist in the recovery from pheromone signaling but has also been shown to play a positive role in mating. Previous studies
suggested that widely diffusing protease can bias the pheromone gradient towards the closest secreting cell. Here, we show
that restricting the Bar1 protease to the secreting cell itself, preventing its wide diffusion, facilitates discrimination
between equivalent mating partners. This may be mostly relevant during spore germination, where most mating events occur in
nature. |
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Keywords: | Gradient Yeast Mating |
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