Sex determination: time for meiosis? The gonad decides.
Germ cell sex determination is directed by the gonad and is characterized by a difference in the timing of entry into meiosis. Recent data show that retinoic acid signalling is responsible for the induction of germ cell meiosis in the developing ovary. In the fetal testis, this process is inhibited by a retinoic acid metabolizing enzyme.
Swain
Amanda
A
Section of Gene Function and Regulation, Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, UK. amanda.swain@icr.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000072516:Retinoic Acid 4-Hydroxylase; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein; C497746:Sry protein, mouse; D014212:Tretinoin; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D000072516:Retinoic Acid 4-Hydroxylase