The involvement of ovarian tumour in the intracellular localization of Sex-lethal protein.
The Drosophila ovarian tumour gene is required at multiple times in the germline for oogenesis. A second gene, Sex-lethal, controls sex determination in the soma and also has a separate germline function affecting similar oogenic stages as ovarian tumour. We demonstrate that ovarian tumour is not required for early Sex-lethal gene expression in the female germline, as had been previously reported. Instead, we provide evidence that ovarian tumour has a specific role in the developmentally regulated accumulation of SEX-LETHAL protein within the cytoplasm and nucleus. Furthermore, the examination of nurse cell polytene chromosomes produced by certain ovarian tumour mutations showed that SEX-LETHAL protein can associate with discrete chromosomal sites in the germline and that this pattern appears to change as the egg chamber matures. This is the first indication that SEX-LETHAL is capable of direct physical interactions with chromosomes (albeit in a mutant background) and is consistent with the developmentally regulated nuclear localization of SEX-LETHAL being important for oogenesis.
Hinson
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S
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
Nagoshi
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RN
D000818:Animals; D002875:Chromosomes; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007424:Intracellular Fluid; D009865:Oocytes; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C067777:Sxl protein, Drosophila; C061992:otu protein, Drosophila