The sex determination master switch, Sex-lethal, responds to Hedgehog signaling in the Drosophila germline.
Sex-lethal is the Drosophila melanogaster sex determination master switch. It is also required in female germ cells to control mitosis and meiotic recombination. As early germ cells mature, distinct changes in both Sex-lethal protein levels and localization occur. By manipulating the levels of Hedgehog and making germline clones of components in the hedgehog signaling pathway, we demonstrate that Hedgehog affects the nuclear translocation of Sex-lethal and the levels of the protein in early germ cells. This effect is mediated primarily through degradation. Consistent with the Hedgehog pathway regulating Sex-lethal, we find Sex-lethal in a complex with Fused and Costal-2, both downstream components of the pathway. This is the first demonstration that downstream components of the Hedgehog signaling pathway regulate a target other than Cubitus interruptus.
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Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1918 University Boulevard, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA.
Horabin
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JI
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005854:Germ Cells; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016547:Kinesins / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor; C097059:Su(fu) protein, Drosophila; C067777:Sxl protein, Drosophila; D014404:Tubulin; C107452:cos protein, Drosophila; C070844:ptc protein, Drosophila; C100664:smo protein, Drosophila; C077245:hh protein, Drosophila; C085770:fu protein, Drosophila; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D016547:Kinesins