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X-chromosome-counting mechanisms that determine nematode sex

Author

Listed:
  • Monique Nicoll

    (University of California at Berkeley)

  • Chantal C. Akerib

    (University of California at Berkeley)

  • Barbara J. Meyer

    (University of California at Berkeley)

Abstract

Sex is determined in Caenorhabditis elegans by an X-chromosome-counting mechanism that reliably distinguishes the twofold difference in X-chromosome dose between males (1X) and hermaphrodites (2X)1,2. This small quantitative difference is translated into the ‘;on/off’ response of the target gene, xol-1, a switch that specifies the male fate when active and the hermaphrodite fate when inactive3. Specific regions of X contain counted signal elements whose combined dose sets the activity of xol-1 (ref. 4). Here we ascribe the dose effects of one region to a discrete, protein-encoding gene, fox-1. We demonstrate that the dose-sensitive signal elements on chromosome X control xol-1 through two different molecular mechanisms. One involves the transcriptional repression of xol-1 in XX animals. The other uses the putative RNA-binding protein encoded by fox-1 to reduce the level of xol-1 protein. These two mechanisms of repression act together to ensure the fidelity of the X-chromosome counting process.

Suggested Citation

  • Monique Nicoll & Chantal C. Akerib & Barbara J. Meyer, 1997. "X-chromosome-counting mechanisms that determine nematode sex," Nature, Nature, vol. 388(6638), pages 200-204, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:388:y:1997:i:6638:d:10.1038_40669
    DOI: 10.1038/40669
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    Cited by:

    1. Yifeng Wang & Robin B. Gasser & Deborah Charlesworth & Qi Zhou, 2022. "Evolution of sexual systems, sex chromosomes and sex-linked gene transcription in flatworms and roundworms," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.

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