A new family of adenylyl cyclase genes in the male germline of Drosophila melanogaster.
We describe the cloning and characterization of a new gene family of adenylyl cyclase related genes in Drosophila. The five adenylyl cyclase-like genes that define this family are clearly distinct from previously known adenylyl cyclases. One member forms a unique locus on chromosome 3 whereas the other four members form a tightly clustered, tandemly repeated array on chromosome 2. The genes on chromosome 2 are transcribed in the male germline in a doublesex dependent manner and are expressed in postmitotic, meiotic, and early differentiating sperm. These genes therefore provide the first evidence for a role for the cAMP signaling pathway in Drosophila spermatogenesis. Expression from this locus is under the control of the always early, cannonball, meiosis arrest, and spermatocyte arrest genes that are required for the G2/M transition of meiosis I during spermatogenesis, implying a mechanism for the coordination of differentiation and proliferation. Evidence is also provided for positive selection at the locus on chromosome 2 which suggests this gene family is actively evolving and may play a novel role in spermatogenesis.
Cann
M J
MJ
Department of Pharmacology, Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Chung
E
E
Levin
L R
LR
D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C070369:DSX protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases