The sex determination locus transformer-2 of Drosophila encodes a polypeptide with similarity to RNA binding proteins.
The D. melanogaster transformer-2 (tra-2) gene regulates somatic sexual differentiation in females and is necessary for spermatogenesis in males. Wild-type tra-2 function is required for the female-specific splicing of the pre-mRNA of the next known gene (doublesex) downstream of tra-2 in the sex determination regulatory hierarchy. The tra-2 gene was cloned, and P element-mediated transformation was used to demonstrate that a 3.9 kb genomic fragment contains all sequences necessary for tra-2 function. A 1.7 kb transcript was shown to be the product of the tra-2 locus based on its reduced level in flies containing a tra-2 mutant allele. The sequence of a cDNA corresponding to this transcript indicates that it encodes a polypeptide with strong similarity to a family of RNA binding proteins that includes proteins found associated with hnRNPs and snRNPs, suggesting that the tra-2 product may directly regulate the processing of the double-sex pre-mRNA in females.
Goralski
T J
TJ
Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, California 94305.
Edström
J E
JE
Baker
B S
BS
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins