title: Characterization of an SRY-like gene, DSox14, from Drosophila.
abstract: We have characterized the DSox14 gene, a new member of the family of transcription factors related to the mammalian sex determining factor, SRY. It contains two exons and the intron is large for Drosophila at 2.8 kb. The encoded protein consists of 691 amino acids (72 kDa) and includes an HMG box domain, which is closely related to the mouse Sox4 DNA binding domain. Expression of the DSox14 HMG box domain in vitro shows that it binds the sequence AACAAT with a K(d) of 190 nM, generating a bend angle of 48.6 degrees. At higher protein concentrations, a second HMG box binds at the recognition sequence, increasing the bend angle by 5 degrees. DSox14 is variably expressed throughout development as three alternative transcripts but not at all during the 1st and 2nd larval instars. The several mRNA transcripts are produced primarily from different transcriptional start sites. Analysis of the expression of DSox14 mRNAs during early development shows that they are maternally contributed at a low level and ubiquitously expressed during embryogenesis. The widespread pattern of expression suggests that DSox14 affects a large number of target genes.
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Laboratories, Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Portsmouth, St. Michael's Building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sparkes
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Mumford
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Newbury
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crane-Robinson
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055749:SOXB2 Transcription Factors; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055749:SOXB2 Transcription Factors; C492174:Sox14 protein, Drosophila; C492175:Sox14 protein, mouse; D004247:DNA