scholarly journals Gtsf1 is essential for proper female sex determination and transposon silencing in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e1009194
Author(s):  
Kai Chen ◽  
Ye Yu ◽  
Dehong Yang ◽  
Xu Yang ◽  
Linmeng Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Determination ◽  
Bombyx Mori ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Sex Reversal ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Silk Moth ◽  
Transposon Silencing ◽  
Pirna Pathway ◽  
Silkworm Bombyx Mori ◽  
Male Pattern

Sex determination pathways are astoundingly diverse in insects. For instance, the silk moth Bombyx mori uniquely use various components of the piRNA pathway to produce the Fem signal for specification of the female fate. In this study, we identified BmGTSF1 as a novel piRNA factor which participates in B. mori sex determination. We found that BmGtsf1 has a distinct expression pattern compared to Drosophila and mouse. CRISPR/Cas9 induced mutation in BmGtsf1 resulted in partial sex reversal in genotypically female animals by shifting expression of the downstream targets BmMasc and Bmdsx to the male pattern. As levels of Fem piRNAs were substantially reduced in female mutants, we concluded that BmGtsf1 plays a critical role in the biogenesis of the feminizing signal. We also demonstrated that BmGTSF1 physically interacted with BmSIWI, a protein previously reported to be involved in female sex determination, indicating BmGTSF1 function as the cofactor of BmSIWI. BmGtsf1 mutation resulted in piRNA pathway dysregulation, including piRNA biogenesis defects and transposon derepression, suggesting BmGtsf1 is also a piRNA factor in the silkworm. Furthermore, we found that BmGtsf1 mutation leads to gametogenesis defects in both male and female. Our data suggested that BmGtsf1 is a new component involved in the sex determination pathway in B. mori.

scholarly journals Correction: Gtsf1 is essential for proper female sex determination and transposon silencing in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. e1009572
Author(s):  
Kai Chen ◽  
Ye Yu ◽  
Dehong Yang ◽  
Xu Yang ◽  
Linmeng Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Determination ◽  
Bombyx Mori ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Transposon Silencing ◽  
Silkworm Bombyx Mori

scholarly journals Transgenic Expression of the piRNA-Resistant Masculinizer Gene Induces Female-Specific Lethality and Partial Female-to-Male Sex Reversal in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. e1006203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroki Sakai ◽  
Megumi Sumitani ◽  
Yasuhiko Chikami ◽  
Kensuke Yahata ◽  
Keiro Uchino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bombyx Mori ◽  
Sex Reversal ◽  
Transgenic Expression ◽  
Male Sex ◽  
Female Specific ◽  
Silkworm Bombyx Mori

scholarly journals Estrogen Receptor 1 (ESR1; ERα), not ESR2 (ERβ), Modulates Estrogen-Induced Sex Reversal in the American Alligator, a Species With Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination

Endocrinology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 156 (5) ◽  
pp. 1887-1899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satomi Kohno ◽  
Melissa C. Bernhard ◽  
Yoshinao Katsu ◽  
Jianguo Zhu ◽  
Teresa A. Bryan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Sex Determination ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Sex Reversal ◽  
Sensitive Period ◽  
Mullerian Duct ◽  
American Alligator ◽  
Temperature Dependent ◽  
Müllerian Duct

All crocodilians and many turtles exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination where the temperature of the incubated egg, during a thermo-sensitive period (TSP), determines the sex of the offspring. Estrogens play a critical role in sex determination in crocodilians and turtles, as it likely does in most nonmammalian vertebrates. Indeed, administration of estrogens during the TSP induces male to female sex reversal at a male-producing temperature (MPT). However, it is not clear how estrogens override the influence of temperature during sex determination in these species. Most vertebrates have 2 forms of nuclear estrogen receptor (ESR): ESR1 (ERα) and ESR2 (ERβ). However, there is no direct evidence concerning which ESR is involved in sex determination, because a specific agonist or antagonist for each ESR has not been tested in nonmammalian species. We identified specific pharmaceutical agonists for each ESR using an in vitro transactivation assay employing American alligator ESR1 and ESR2; these were 4,4′,4′’-(4-propyl-[1H]-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)trisphenol (PPT) and 7-bromo-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol (WAY 200070), respectively. Alligator eggs were exposed to PPT or WAY 200070 at a MPT just before the TSP, and their sex was examined at the last stage of embryonic development. Estradiol-17β and PPT, but not WAY 200070, induced sex reversal at a MPT. PPT-exposed embryos exposed to the highest dose (5.0 μg/g egg weight) exhibited enlargement and advanced differentiation of the Müllerian duct. These results indicate that ESR1 is likely the principal ESR involved in sex reversal as well as embryonic Müllerian duct survival and growth in American alligators.

scholarly journals Regulation of olfactory-based sex behaviors in the silkworm by genes in the sex-determination cascade

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Xu ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Dehong Yang ◽  
Shuqing Chen ◽  
Kai Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Sex Determination ◽  
Bombyx Mori ◽  
Mating Behavior ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Sexual Differentiation ◽  
Pheromone Component ◽  
Male Sexual Behavior ◽  
Silk Moth ◽  
Sex Behaviors

AbstractInsect courtship and mating depend on integration of olfactory, visual, and tactile cues. Compared to other insects, Bombyx mori, the domesticated silkworm, has relatively simple sexual behaviors as it cannot fly. Here by using CRISPR/Cas and electrophysiological techniques we found that courtship and mating behaviors are regulated in male silk moths by mutating genes in the sex determination cascade belonging to two conserved pathways. Loss of Bmdsx gene expression significantly reduced the peripheral perception of the major pheromone component bombykol by reducing expression of the product of the BmOR1 gene which completely blocked courtship in adult males. Interestingly, we found that mating behavior was regulated independently by another sexual differentiation gene, Bmfru. Loss of Bmfru completely blocked mating, but males displayed normal courtship behavior. Lack of Bmfru expression significantly reduced the perception of the minor pheromone component bombykal due to the down regulation of BmOR3 expression; further, functional analysis revealed that loss of the product of BmOR3 played a key role in terminating male mating behavior. Our results suggest that Bmdsx and Bmfru are at the base of the two primary pathways that regulate olfactory-based sexual behavior.Author SummaryThe fundamental insect sexual behaviors, courtship and mating, result from successful integration of olfactory, vision, tactile and other complex innate behaviors. In the widely used insect model, Drosophila melanogaster, the sex determination cascade genes fruitless and doublesex are involved in the regulation of courtship and mating behaviors; however, little is known about the function of these sexual differentiation genes in regulating sex behaviors of Lepidoptera. Here we combine genetics and electrophysiology to investigate regulation pathway of sexual behaviors in the model lepidopteran insect, the domesticated silk moth, Bombyx mori. Our results support the presence of two genetic pathways in B. mori, named Bmdsx-BmOR1-bombykol and Bmfru-BmOR3-bombykal, which control distinct aspects of male sexual behavior that are modulated by olfaction. This is the first comprehensive report about the role of sex differentiation genes in the male sexual behavior in the silk moth.

scholarly journals MAP3K4 Kinase Activity Dependent Control of Mouse Gonadal Sex Determination†

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noha A M Shendy ◽  
Amber L Broadhurst ◽  
Kristin Shoemaker ◽  
Robert Read ◽  
Amy N Abell
Keyword(s):  
Sex Determination ◽  
Kinase Activity ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
Kinase Domain ◽  
Sex Reversal ◽  
Functional Protein ◽  
Protein Protein Interaction ◽  
Ovarian Size ◽  
Additional Protein

Abstract Sex determination requires the commitment of bipotential gonads to either a testis or ovarian fate. Gene deletion of the kinase Map3k4 results in gonadal sex reversal in XY mice, and transgenic re-expression of Map3k4 rescues the sex reversal phenotype. Map3k4 encodes a large, multi-functional protein possessing a kinase domain and several, additional protein-protein interaction domains. Although MAP3K4 plays a critical role in male gonadal sex determination, it is unknown if the kinase activity of MAP3K4 is required. Here, we use mice expressing full-length, kinase-inactive MAP3K4 from the endogenous Map3k4 locus to examine the requirement of MAP3K4 kinase activity in sex determination. Although homozygous kinase-inactivation of MAP3K4 (Map3k4KI/KI) is lethal, a small fraction survive to adulthood. We show Map3k4KI/KI adults exhibit a 4:1 female-biased sex ratio. Many adult Map3k4KI/KI phenotypic females have a Y chromosome. XY Map3k4KI/KI adults with sex reversal display female mating behavior, but do not give rise to offspring. Reproductive organs are overtly female, but there is a broad spectrum of ovarian phenotypes, including ovarian absence, primitive ovaries, reduced ovarian size, and ovaries having follicles in all stages of development. Further, XY Map3k4KI/KI adults are smaller than either male or female Map3k4WT/WT mice. Examination of the critical stage of gonadal sex determination at E11.5 shows that loss of MAP3K4 kinase activity results in the loss of Sry expression in XY Map3k4KI/KI embryos, indicating embryonic male gonadal sex reversal. Together, these findings demonstrate the essential role for kinase activity of MAP3K4 in male gonadal sex determination.

scholarly journals Identification of the key stages for sex determination in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

2013 ◽  
Vol 224 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroki Sakai ◽  
Fugaku Aoki ◽  
Masataka G. Suzuki
Keyword(s):  
Sex Determination ◽  
Bombyx Mori ◽  
Silkworm Bombyx Mori

scholarly journals The role of Cyp19a1 in female pathway of a freshwater turtle (Mauremys reevesii) with temperature-dependent sex determination

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengfei Wu ◽  
Xifeng Wang ◽  
Fei Gao ◽  
Weiguo Du
Keyword(s):  
Sex Determination ◽  
Sex Differentiation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Temperature Shift ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Freshwater Turtle ◽  
Temperature Dependent ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Determination Process ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic Expression

The molecular mechanism of temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) in reptiles has been drawn great interest from biologists for several decades. However, which genetic factors are essential for TSD remain elusive, especially for the female sex determination process. Cyp19a1, encodes an enzyme of aromatase catalyzing the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, has been confirmed to modulate steroid hormones involved in the sexual differentiation of many species, but whether it has a critical role in determining the gonadal sexual fate in TSD is still to be elucidated. Here, we identified that Cyp19a1 expression exhibited a temperature-dependent, sexually dimorphic expression pattern, preceding gonadal sex differentiation in a TSD turtle Mauremys reevesii. Cyp19a1 expression in gonads increased dramatically when embryos developed at high female-producing temperatures (FPT), but were extremely low throughout embryogenesis at low male-producing temperatures (MPT). Cyp19a1 expression increased rapidly in response to the temperature shift from MPT to FPT in developing gonads. The sexual phenotype of turtles was successfully reversed by aromatase inhibitor treatment at FPT, and by estrogen treatment at MPT, accompanied with the rapid upregulation of Cyp19a1. These results demonstrate that Cyp19a1 is essential for the female sex determination process in M. reevesii, indicating its vital role in the female pathway of TSD.

scholarly journals Two transcriptionally distinct pathways drive female development in a reptile with both genetic and temperature dependent sex determination

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. e1009465
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Whiteley ◽  
Clare E. Holleley ◽  
Susan Wagner ◽  
James Blackburn ◽  
Ira W. Deveson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Determination ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Sex Reversal ◽  
Female Development ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Regulatory Pathways ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Thermally Driven ◽  
Pogona Vitticeps ◽  
Male To Female

How temperature determines sex remains unknown. A recent hypothesis proposes that conserved cellular mechanisms (calcium and redox; ‘CaRe’ status) sense temperature and identify genes and regulatory pathways likely to be involved in driving sexual development. We take advantage of the unique sex determining system of the model organism, Pogona vitticeps, to assess predictions of this hypothesis. P. vitticeps has ZZ male: ZW female sex chromosomes whose influence can be overridden in genetic males by high temperatures, causing male-to-female sex reversal. We compare a developmental transcriptome series of ZWf females and temperature sex reversed ZZf females. We demonstrate that early developmental cascades differ dramatically between genetically driven and thermally driven females, later converging to produce a common outcome (ovaries). We show that genes proposed as regulators of thermosensitive sex determination play a role in temperature sex reversal. Our study greatly advances the search for the mechanisms by which temperature determines sex.

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