The reticulon protein, TtRET1, is required for the initiation of mating in Tetrahymena thermophila

We recently identified Tetrahymena thermophila reticulon (TtRET1) as a novel marker of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that reveals ER morphology during the conjugation phase of mating, but its functional role was previously unknown. Here, we show that TtRET1 is required for the early initiation of mating, prior to conjugation. Furthermore, TtRET1 relocalizes during the mating reaction, suggesting it may regulate ER remodeling events necessary to initiate the mating program.