title: Molecular mechanisms involved in mammalian primary sex determination.
abstract: Sex determination refers to the developmental decision that directs the bipotential genital ridge to develop as a testis or an ovary. Genetic studies on mice and humans have led to crucial advances in understanding the molecular fundamentals of sex determination and the mutually antagonistic signaling pathway. In this review, we summarize the current molecular mechanisms of sex determination by focusing on the known critical sex determining genes and their related signaling pathways in mammalian vertebrates from mice to humans. We also discuss the underlying delicate balance between testis and ovary sex determination pathways, concentrating on the antagonisms between major sex determining genes.
authors.affiliation: The Sperm LaboratoryCollege of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu Hang Tang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: She
authors.affiliation: The Sperm LaboratoryCollege of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu Hang Tang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China wxyang@spermlab.org.
authors.forename: Wan-Xi
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D024282:Genes, sry; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010053:Ovary / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D000072260:RNA Splicing Factors; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D060528:Wnt4 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D000072260:RNA Splicing Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025721:WT1 Proteins; D060528:Wnt4 Protein; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins; C491514:Sf1 protein, mouse
keywords: Sertoli cell; genital ridge; sex determination; sexual differentiation