New Y chromosomes and early stages of sex chromosome differentiation: sex determination in Megaselia

Journal of genetics

Walther Traut1¹ 

[1] Institut für Biologie, Zentrum für medizinische Struktur- und Zellbiologie, Universität Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany$$

关键词: sex chromosome turnover;    Sex-lethal;    doublesex;    Maleness;    sex determination;    Diptera;    Megaselia.;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Indian Academy of Sciences

【 摘 要 】

The phorid fly Megaselia scalaris is a laboratory model for the turnover and early differentiation of sex chromosomes. Isolates from the field have an XY sex-determining mechanism with chromosome pair 2 acting as X and Y chromosomes. The sex chromosomes are homomorphic but display early signs of sex chromosome differentiation: a low level of molecular differences between X and Y. The male-determining function $(M)$, maps to the distal part of the Y chromosome’s short arm. In laboratory cultures, new Y chromosomes with no signs of a molecular differentiation arise at a low rate, probably by transposition of 𝑀 to these chromosomes. Downstream of the primary signal, the homologue of the Drosophila doublesex (dsx) is part of the sex-determining pathway while Sex-lethal (Sxl), though structurally conserved, is not.

【 授权许可】

Unknown