The Drosophila sex determination gene snf is utilized for the establishment of the female-specific splicing pattern of Sex-lethal.
The Drosophila snf gene is a positive regulator of the sex determination gene Sex-lethal in both the germline and the soma. Its role in the soma is only evident when the probability of Sex-lethal activation has been reduced. For instance, in an otherwise wild-type background, females homozygous for a weak snf mutation produce both male and female progeny; however, when mated to males hemizygous for a null allele of Sex-lethal, they produce only male progeny. We demonstrate that the lack of female progeny is due to aberrant Sex-lethal regulation in late embryogenesis. In these mutant embryos, there is little accumulation of the late female-specific spliced RNAs and proteins. In contrast, in early embryogenesis, Sex-lethal regulation is not affected. The accumulation of both the early Sex-lethal transcripts and proteins is normal. These results suggest that the wild-type product of snf plays an important role in establishing the female-specific RNA splicing pattern of Sex-lethal. Whether snf influences the female-specific splice site choice directly or indirectly remains to be determined.
Albrecht
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EB
Department of Genetics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4955.
Salz
H K
HK
D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D012326:RNA Splicing; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C067777:Sxl protein, Drosophila