Sexually dimorphic expression of Usp9x is related to sex chromosome complement in adult mouse brain.
We found the expression of Usp9x, an X-linked gene which encodes a ubiquitin protease implicated in synaptic development, to be significantly higher in the adult female mouse brains than in male brains. The sex difference in expression of Usp9x was localized to specific brain regions such as neocortex. Furthermore, in gonadally intact and gonadectomized mice, XX mice expressed Usp9x mRNA and protein more highly than XY mice irrespective of their gonadal type. No sex difference was found in the neonatal brain or peripheral tissues such as the adult kidney. This finding implies that the difference in sex chromosome complement between XY males and XX females could potentially contribute to sexual differentiation of brain structure and function. The relation of genomic dose and Usp9x expression could help explain the neural and behavioural phenotype of women with XO Turner syndrome.
Department of Physiological Science and Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of the Brain Research Institute, University of California, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA.
J
J
Xu
S
S
Taya
K
K
Kaibuchi
A P
AP
Arnold
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D019579:Neocortex / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012729:Sex Chromosome Aberrations; D012730:Sex Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics*; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics
D010450:Endopeptidases; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; C404328:Usp9x protein, mouse