title: Ectopic expression of the female transformer gene product leads to female differentiation of chromosomally male Drosophila.
abstract: The transformer (tra) gene of Drosophila is necessary for all aspects of female somatic sexual differentiation. tra uses a single set of precursor RNAs to produce female- and non-sex-specific RNAs by alternative splicing. Ectopic expression of the female-specific RNA causes chromosomal males to develop as females, indicative of a linear pathway of regulated genes controlling sex. Genetic and molecular tests with this ectopically expressed gene are consistent with the following order of gene action: X chromosome to autosome ratio----Sex lethal----transformer----transformer-2----doublesex----intersex--- - terminal differentiation. Expression of the female-specific tra RNA in tra mutants is sufficient to lead to female differentiation. Expression of the non-sex-specific tra RNA in tra mutants is not sufficient to lead to female differentiation. The tra female-specific activity is not required for female-specific splicing of the tra precursor RNAs.
authors: Molecular Biology and Virology Laboratory, Salk Institute, San Diego, California 92138.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: McKeown
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Belote
authors: R T
authors: RT
authors: Boggs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012733:Sex Differentiation; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D012322:RNA Precursors; D012313:RNA