PCR amplification of SRY-related gene sequences reveals evolutionary conservation of the SRY-box motif.
SRY (sex-determining region of the Y chromosome) has recently been identified as a key regulatory gene in mammalian sex determination. The open reading frame of this gene contains an 80-amino-acid motif, the SRY-box, which shares a high degree of homology with a DNA-binding domain found in the high-mobility-group (HMG) proteins HMG1 and HMG2. The SRY box motif is highly conserved in several sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins that are known to act as transcription factors. Here we describe the use of degenerate PCR primers to identify SRY-related sequences containing the SRY-box motif from the genomic DNA of a variety of species. The results of this study suggest that in a diverse array of species SRY-related genes may serve as transcription factors that regulate a variety of developmental pathways, including sex determination.
Coriat
A M
AM
Department of Cell and Structural Biology, University of Manchester, UK.
Müller
U
U
Harry
J L
JL
Uwanogho
D
D
Sharpe
P T
PT
D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002645:Chickens; D004247:DNA; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004330:Drosophila; D006801:Humans; D008116:Lizards; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C497745:SRY protein, human; D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA