title: How flies make one equal two: dosage compensation in Drosophila.
abstract: Dosage compensation is the process by which the expression of X-linked genes is equalized in males and females. In Drosophila, dosage compensation occurs by coordinately upregulating the transcription rates of all the genes on the single X chromosome in males. This hypertranscription requires the functioning of four autosomal male-specific lethal (msl) genes and is under the control of the Sxl gene. Recent genetic and molecular studies have suggested that the msl proteins may associate with one another in a sex-specific heteromeric complex on the male X chromosome, where they may function to alter its chromatin structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, CA 94305.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gorman
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004265:DNA Helicases; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004303:Dosage Compensation, Genetic; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005260:Female; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014960:X Chromosome
chemical_list: D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C067777:Sxl protein, Drosophila; D014157:Transcription Factors; C070837:mle protein, Drosophila; C082132:msl-1 protein, Drosophila; D004265:DNA Helicases