Double nexus-Doublesex is the connecting element in sex determination

Briefings in Functional Genomics
Eveline C Verhulst, Louis van de Zande

Abstract

In recent years, our knowledge of the conserved master-switch gene doublesex (dsx) and its function in regulating the development of dimorphic traits in insects has deepened considerably. Here, a comprehensive overview is given on the properties of the male- and female-specific dsx transcripts yielding DSX(F) and DSX(M) proteins in Drosophila melanogaster, and the many downstream targets that they regulate. As insects have cell-autonomous sex determination, it was assumed that dsx would be expressed in every somatic cell, but recent research showed that dsx is expressed only when a cell is required to show its sexual identity through function or morphology. This spatiotemporal regulation of dsx expression has not only been established in D. melanogaster but in all insect species studied. Gradually, it has been appreciated that dsx could no longer be viewed as the master-switch gene orchestrating sexual development and behaviour in each cell, but instead should be viewed as the interpreter for the sexual identity of the cell, expressing this identity only on request, making dsx the central nexus of insect sex determination.

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Citations

Oct 11, 2016·Current Opinion in Insect Science·Anupama Prakash, Antónia Monteiro
Nov 27, 2018·Genome Biology and Evolution·Ling-Yi JiaDa-Wei Huang
Nov 25, 2018·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Zhaojiang GuoYoujun Zhang
Nov 23, 2017·Molecular Biology and Evolution·Shivam BhardwajAntónia Monteiro
Dec 9, 2020·Scientific Reports·Shinya KomataHaruhiko Fujiwara
Oct 10, 2020·Annual Review of Entomology·Bruce A HayMing Guo
Jan 9, 2021·Current Biology : CB·Elzbieta KrzywinskaJaroslaw Krzywinski
Dec 20, 2020·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Waring Trible, Daniel J C Kronauer
Apr 20, 2020·Hormones and Behavior·D A FriedmanT A Linksvayer
Jul 30, 2021·Molecular Biology and Evolution·Fernando Rodriguez-CaroBrian A Counterman
Oct 7, 2021·Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology·Stephen F Goodwin, Oliver Hobert

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
transgenic

Software Mentioned

dsx

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