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Evidence for evolutionary conservation of sex-determining genes

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher S. Raymond

    (Institute of Human Genetics and Department of Biochemistry)

  • Caroline E. Shamu

    (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
    Harvard Medical School)

  • Michael M. Shen

    (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
    UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School)

  • Kelly J. Seifert

    (University of Minnesota Medical School)

  • Betsy Hirsch

    (University of Minnesota Medical School)

  • Jonathan Hodgkin

    (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology)

  • David Zarkower

    (Institute of Human Genetics and Department of Biochemistry)

Abstract

Most metazoans occur as two sexes. Surprisingly, molecular analyses have hitherto indicated that sex-determining mechanisms differ completely between phyla. Here we present evidence to the contrary. We have isolated the male sexual regulatory gene mab-3 (ref. 1) from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and found that it is related to the Drosophila melanogaster sexual regulatory gene doublesex (dsx)2. Both genes encode proteins with a DNA-binding motif3 that we have named the ‘DM domain’. Both genes control sex-specific neuroblast differentiation and yolk protein gene transcription; dsx controls other sexually dimorphic features as well. The form of DSX that is found in males can direct male-specific neuroblast differentiation in C. elegans. This structural and functional similarity between phyla suggests a common evolutionary origin of at least some aspects of sexual regulation. We have identified a human gene, DMT1, that encodes a protein with a DM domain and find that DMT1 is expressed only in testis. DMT1 maps to the distal short arm of chromosome 9, a location implicated in human XY sex reversal4. Proteins with DM domains may therefore also regulate sexual development in mammals.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher S. Raymond & Caroline E. Shamu & Michael M. Shen & Kelly J. Seifert & Betsy Hirsch & Jonathan Hodgkin & David Zarkower, 1998. "Evidence for evolutionary conservation of sex-determining genes," Nature, Nature, vol. 391(6668), pages 691-695, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:391:y:1998:i:6668:d:10.1038_35618
    DOI: 10.1038/35618
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    Cited by:

    1. Oksana Netschitailo & Yidong Wang & Anna Wagner & Vivien Sommer & Eveline C. Verhulst & Martin Beye, 2023. "The function and evolution of a genetic switch controlling sexually dimorphic eye differentiation in honeybees," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.

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