title: Phf7 controls male sex determination in the Drosophila germline.
abstract: Establishment of germline sexual identity is critical for production of male and female germline stem cells, as well as sperm versus eggs. Here we identify PHD Finger Protein 7 (PHF7) as an important factor for male germline sexual identity in Drosophila. PHF7 exhibits male-specific expression in early germ cells, germline stem cells, and spermatogonia. It is important for germline stem cell maintenance and gametogenesis in males, whereas ectopic expression in female germ cells ablates the germline. Strikingly, expression of PHF7 promotes spermatogenesis in XX germ cells when they are present in a male soma. PHF7 homologs are also specifically expressed in the mammalian testis, and human PHF7 rescues Drosophila Phf7 mutants. PHF7 associates with chromatin, and both the human and fly proteins bind histone H3 N-terminal tails with a preference for dimethyl lysine 4 (H3K4me2). We propose that PHF7 acts as a conserved epigenetic "reader" that activates the male germline sexual program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
authors.forename: Shu Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ellen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Doren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006657:Histones; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C573941:PHF7 protein, Drosophila