Drosophila Sex-lethal protein mediates polyadenylation switching in the female germline.
The Drosophila master sex-switch protein Sex-lethal (SXL) regulates the splicing and/or translation of three known targets to mediate somatic sexual differentiation. Genetic studies suggest that additional target(s) of SXL exist, particularly in the female germline. Surprisingly, our detailed molecular characterization of a new potential target of SXL, enhancer of rudimentary (e(r)), reveals that SXL regulates e(r) by a novel mechanism--polyadenylation switching--specifically in the female germline. SXL binds to multiple SXL-binding sites, which include the GU-rich poly(A) enhancer, and competes for the binding of CstF64 in vitro. The SXL-binding sites are able to confer sex-specific poly(A) switching onto an otherwise nonresponsive polyadenylation signal in vivo. The sex-specific poly(A) switching of e(r) provides a means for translational regulation in germ cells. We present a model for the SXL-dependent poly(A) site choice in the female germline.
Gawande
Bharat
B
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. rsingh@colorado.edu
Robida
Mark D
MD
Rahn
Andrew
A
Singh
Ravinder
R
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D039241:Cleavage Stimulation Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D026723:Polyadenylation; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D039241:Cleavage Stimulation Factor; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C067777:Sxl protein, Drosophila; D014157:Transcription Factors; C105076:e(r) protein, Drosophila