Positive autoregulation of sex-lethal by alternative splicing maintains the female determined state in Drosophila.

摘要: Abstract Sex-lethal is a binary switch gene that controls all aspects of Drosophila sexual dimorphism. It must be active in females and inactive males. The on/off regulation reflects alternative RNA splicing which full-length proteins are produced only females. Here we investigate the role Sxl maintaining pathway commitments. By ectopic expression female cDNA transgenic male flies, show protein induces rapid from male- to female-specific splicing. ectopically expressed will trans -activate an endogenous wild-type gene. This establishes feedback loop induce their own synthesis by directing transcripts. We conclude determined state maintained through positive autoregulation, while default.