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The segmentation gene runt is needed to activate Sex-lethal, a gene that controls sex determination and dosage compensation in Drosophila

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2009

Miguel Torres  and
Lucas Sanchez
Miguel Torres
Affiliation:
Centro de Invesligaciones Biologicas, Velazquez 144, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Lucas Sanchez
Affiliation:
Centro de Invesligaciones Biologicas, Velazquez 144, 28006 Madrid, Spain

Summary

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In Drosophila, sex is determined by the relative number of X chromosomes to autosomal sets (X: A ratio). The amount of products from several X-linked genes, called sisterless elements, is used to indicate to Sex-lethal the relative number of X chromosomes present in the cell. In response to the X: A signal, Sex-lethal is activated in females but remains inactive in males, being responsible for the control of both sex determination and dosage compensation. Here we find that the X-linked segmentation gene runt plays a role in this process. Reduced function of runt results in femalespecific lethality and sexual transformation of XX animals that are heterozygous for Sxl or sis loss-of-function mutations. These interactions are suppressed by SxlMI, a mutation that constitutively expresses female Sex-lethal functions, and occur at the time when the X: A signal determines Sex-lethal activity. Moreover, the presence of a loss-of-function runt mutation masculinizes triploid intersexes. On the other hand, runt duplications cause a reduction in male viability by ectopic activation of Sex-lethal. We conclude that runt is needed for the initial step of Sex-lethal activation, but does not have a major role as an X-counting element.

Type
Research Article
Information
Genetics Research , Volume 59 , Issue 3 , June 1992 , pp. 189 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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