Post-transcriptional regulation of sex determination in Caenorhabditis elegans: widespread expression of the sex-determining gene fem-1 in both sexes.

摘要: The fem-1 gene of C. elegans is one three genes required for all aspects male development in the nematode. Current models sex determination propose that products fem act a novel signal-transduction pathway and their activity regulated primarily at post-translational level somatic tissues. We analyzed expression to determine whether it revealed any additional levels regulation. Both XX hermaphrodites XO males express approximately constant throughout development. Somatic tissues adopt female fates, but they nonetheless mRNA FEM-1 protein, suggesting regulation post-transcriptional probably post-translational. A compact promoter directs functional transgenes, as assayed by masculinizing mutants. Activity also requires two or more introns, splicing may enhance expression. minimal noncoding sequences transgenes suffice direct fem-1::lacZ reporter both sexes. Many including those rescue mutants, paradoxically feminize germline. suggest do so interfering with germline endogenous gene.