The role of sdc-1 in the sex determination and dosage compensation decisions in Caenorhabditis elegans.

摘要: Our previous work demonstrated that mutations in the X-linked gene sdc-1 disrupt both sex determination and dosage compensation Caenorhabditis elegans XX animals, suggesting acts at a step is shared by pathways prior to their divergence. In this report, we extend our understanding of early events C. role played these processes. First, analysis 14 new alleles suggests phenotypes resulting from lack function are (1) an incompletely penetrant sexual transformation animals toward male fate, (2) increased levels transcripts correlated with XX-specific morphological defects but not significant lethality. Further, all exhibit strong maternal rescue for assayed. Second, temperature-shift experiments suggest during first half embryogenesis determining somatic phenotype, long before differentiation actually takes place, consistent proposal regulatory hierarchy controlling choice fate. Other may be involved establishing maintaining mode compensation. Third, genetic mosaic produced unusual result: genotypic mosaics failed display phenotypes. This result several possible interpretations: expressed immediately, one- or two-celled embryo; non-cell-autonomously, such expression either AB P1 lineage can supply sdc-1(+) cells other lineage; (3) X/A ratio assessed (4) signal directs fate non-cell-autonomous fashion. Finally, examination classes mutant strains different organism choose fates independently.