A complex interaction of imprinted and maternal-effect genes modifies sex determination in Odd Sex (Ods) mice.
The transgenic insertional mouse mutation Odd Sex (Ods) represents a model for the long-range regulation of Sox9. The mutation causes complete female-to-male sex reversal by inducing a male-specific expression pattern of Sox9 in XX Ods/+ embryonic gonads. We previously described an A/J strain-specific suppressor of Ods termed Odsm1(A). Here we show that phenotypic sex depends on a complex interaction between the suppressor and the transgene. Suppression can be achieved only if the transgene is transmitted paternally. In addition, the suppressor itself exhibits a maternal effect, suggesting that it may act on chromatin in the early embryo.
Poirier
Christophe
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Qin
Yangjun
Y
Adams
Carolyn P
CP
Anaya
Yanett
Y
Singer
Jonathan B
JB
Hill
Annie E
AE
Lander
Eric S
ES
Nadeau
Joseph H
JH
Bishop
Colin E
CE
D000818:Animals; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D007178:Inbreeding; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010375:Pedigree; D019849:Sex Determination Processes