title: Identification and functional analysis of a Masculinizer orthologue in Trilocha varians (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae).
abstract: We recently showed that the Masculinizer gene (Masc) plays a primary role in sex determination in the lepidopteran model insect Bombyx mori. However, it remains unknown whether this Masc protein-dependent sex determination system is conserved amongst lepidopteran insects or within the family Bombycidae. Here we cloned and characterized a Masc homologue (TvMasc) in Trilocha varians (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), a species closely related to B. mori. To elucidate the role of TvMasc in the sex determination cascade of T. varians, TvMasc expression was knocked down in early embryos by the injection of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that targeted TvMasc mRNAs. Both female- and male-type splice variants of Tvdsx, a doublesex (dsx) homologue in T. varians were observed in control siRNA-injected embryos. By contrast, only female-type splice variants were observed in TvMasc siRNA-injected embryos. These results indicate that the TvMasc protein directly or indirectly regulates the splicing patterns of Tvdsx. Furthermore, we found that male-type splice variants of B. mori dsx (Bmdsx) were produced in TvMasc-overexpressing BmN4 cells. The mRNA level of B. mori Imp, a gene whose product induces male-specific Bmdsx splicing also increased. These results suggest that Masc genes play similar roles in the sex-determination cascade in Bombycidae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katsuma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D019849:Sex Determination Processes
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
keywords: doublesex; sex determination