The Z-chromosome is involved in the regulation of H-W (H-Y) antigen gene expression in Xenopus.
H-W (H-Y) antigen was investigated in diploid, triploid, and tetraploid Xenopus hybrids. These hybrids differ from each other with respect to their sex chromosome constitution-they all have a single W chromosome but one to three Z chromosomes. The H-W antigen concentration is reduced with increasing numbers of Z chromosomes. In the diploid and triploid hybrids the single W chromosome is able to guarantee ovary development, but among the tetraploids both male and female animals occur. However, both sexes have identical H-W antigen titers in the somatic tissues. It can be concluded that in these tetraploid hybrids with a ZZZW sex chromosome complement, the amount of H-W antigen is too low to sustain ovary development in all cases. Our results clearly indicate that in Xenopus a Z-coded gene is involved in the regulation of H-W antigen gene expression. In man and mouse there is evidence that such a regulatory gene is located on the X chromosome. Because of the concordance of man, mouse, and Xenopus we hypothesize that not only was the H-Y (H-W) antigen gene conserved during evolution but also the genes engaged in its regulation.
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000276:immunology; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004171:Diploidy; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005796:Genes; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011003:Ploidies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D014981:Xenopus; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
C037616:H-W antigen, Xenopus; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D029867:Xenopus Proteins