Molecular mechanisms of gene regulation during Drosophila spermatogenesis.
The differentiation of sperm from morphologically unremarkable cells into highly specialised free-living, motile cells requires the co-ordinated action of a very large number of gene products. The expression of these products must be regulated in a developmental context to ensure normal cellular differentiation. Many genes essential for spermatogenesis are not used elsewhere in the animal, or are expressed elsewhere, but using a different transcription regulation module. Spermatogenesis is thus a good system for elucidating the principles of tissue-specific gene expression, as well as being interesting in its own right. Here, I discuss the regulation of gene expression during spermatogenesis in Drosophila, focussing on the processes underlying the expression of testis-specific genes in the male germline.
White-Cooper
Helen
H
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK. white-cooperh@cf.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins