A Database of Drosophila Genes & Genomes

FB2013_03, released May 7th, 2013
 

Reference Report

Reference
Citation Torres, M., Sanchez, L. (1992). The segmentation gene runt is needed to activate Sex-lethal, a gene that controls sex determination and dosage compensation in Drosophila.  Genet. Res. (Camb.) 59(3): 189--198. (Export to RIS)
FlyBase ID FBrf0056153
Publication Type Research paper
PubMed ID 1511868
PubMed Abstract In Drosophila, sex is determined by the relative number of X chromosomes to autosomal sets (X:A ratio). The amount of products from several X-linked genes, called sisterless elements, is used to indicate to Sex-lethal the relative number of X chromosomes present in the cell. In response to the X:A signal, Sex-lethal is activated in females but remains inactive in males, being responsible for the control of both sex determination and dosage compensation. Here we find that the X-linked segmentation gene runt plays a role in this process. Reduced function of runt results in female-specific lethality and sexual transformation of XX animals that are heterozygous for Sxl or sis loss-of-function mutations. These interactions are suppressed by SxlM1, a mutation that constitutively expresses female Sex-lethal functions, and occur at the time when the X:A signal determines Sex-lethal activity. Moreover, the presence of a loss-of-function runt mutation masculinizes triploid intersexes. On the other hand, runt duplications cause a reduction in male viability by ectopic activation of Sex-lethal. We conclude that runt is needed for the initial step of Sex-lethal activation, but does not have a major role as an X-counting element.
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Language of Publication English
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Publication Type Journal
Abbreviation Genet. Res. (Camb.)
Title Genetics research
Publication Year 1960-
ISBN/ISSN 0016-6723 1469-5073
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