The sex-determining gene tra-2 of Drosophila encodes a putative RNA binding protein.
The gene transformer-2 (tra-2) of Drosophila is necessary not only for female sexual differentiation but also for normal spermatogenesis in males. We have cloned and characterized the tra-2 gene. Its putative protein has a domain that is homologous to RNA binding proteins. This suggests that the tra-2 protein might achieve the female-specific splicing of the transcript of dsx, a sex-determining gene whose mode of expression depends on tra-2. The protein coding region of the tra-2 transcript is identical in males and females. In both sexes, a low level of transcript is present in the soma and a high level in the germ line. This indicates that tra-2 is regulated in a way different from other sex-determining genes.
Amrein
H
H
Zoological Institute, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
Gorman
M
M
Nöthiger
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012733:Sex Differentiation; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins