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Genetic and developmental analysis of the sex-determining gene ‘double sex’ (dsx) of Drosophila melanogaster

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2009

Rolf Nöthiger ,
Margrit Leuthold ,
Nils Andersen ,
Pia Gerschwiler ,
Armin Grüter ,
Walther Keller ,
Christian Leist ,
Maja Roost  and
Helen Schmid
Rolf Nöthiger
Affiliation:
Zoological Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich/Switzerland
Margrit Leuthold
Affiliation:
Zoological Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich/Switzerland
Nils Andersen
Affiliation:
Zoological Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich/Switzerland
Pia Gerschwiler
Affiliation:
Zoological Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich/Switzerland
Armin Grüter
Affiliation:
Zoological Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich/Switzerland
Walther Keller
Affiliation:
Zoological Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich/Switzerland
Christian Leist
Affiliation:
Zoological Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich/Switzerland
Maja Roost
Affiliation:
Zoological Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich/Switzerland
Helen Schmid
Affiliation:
Zoological Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich/Switzerland
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Sex determination in Drosophila depends on the ratio of X chromosomes to sets of autosomes (X:A). This chromosomal signal is used to regulate a few control genes whose state of activity selects either the male or the female sexual pathway. We have studied the structure and function of dsx (double sex) which appears to be the last regulatory gene on whose function the sexual pathway eventually depends. We have mutagenized the locus, varied the doses of dominant dsx-mutations and wildtype alleles, and combined different dsx-alleles with recessive mutations in other sex-determining genes, such as ix, tra-2 and tra.

The locus dsx harbours two genetic functions, dsxm to implement the male program, dsxf to implement the female program. We found that dsxm and dsxf can mutate independently although most mutations abolish both functions. We conclude that dsxm and dsxf each have their specific domain, but also share a large region of DNA that is essential for both functions. We present evidence that the dominant mutations correspond to a constitutive expression of the male-determining function dsxm, with the simultaneous abolishment of the female-determining function dsxf. This effect can be counteracted by two doses of expressed dsxf so that a female phenotype results. The products of one dose of expressed dsxm and one dose of expressed dsxf in the same cell appear to neutralize each other which leads to a null phenotype. The mutant combinations suggest that the product of dsxf requires the products of ix+, tra-2+ and tra+ to become functional.

Type
Research Article
Information
Genetics Research , Volume 50 , Issue 2 , October 1987 , pp. 113 - 123
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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