title: Molecular characterization of the her-1 gene suggests a direct role in cell signaling during Caenorhabditis elegans sex determination.
abstract: We have characterized two transcripts from the male-determining her-1 locus in Caenorhabditis elegans. The larger transcript, which appears more important for male development, is predicted to encode a novel 175-amino-acid, cysteine-rich polypeptide with an apparent amino-terminal signal sequence and potential cleavage and glycosylation sites. Expression of a full-length cDNA construct for the larger transcript driven by a body-wall-myosin promoter causes extensive masculinization of all sexually dimorphic tissues in XX (normally hermaphrodite) animals. This activity is dependent on the presence of the her-1 signal sequence or a substitute synthetic signal sequence in the encoded polypeptide. These results suggest that a secreted product of the her-1 gene dictates male development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309-0347.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trent
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fire
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hageman
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; C079744:her-1 protein, C elegans