Modular tissue-specific regulation of doublesex underpins sexually dimorphic development in Drosophila.
Development
; 146(14)2019 07 25.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31285355
ABSTRACT
The ability of a single genome to produce distinct and often dramatically different male and female forms is one of the wonders of animal development. In Drosophila melanogaster, most sexually dimorphic traits are controlled by sex-specific isoforms of the doublesex (dsx) transcription factor, and dsx expression is mostly limited to cells that give rise to sexually dimorphic traits. However, it is unknown how this mosaic of sexually dimorphic and monomorphic organs arises. Here, we characterize the cis-regulatory sequences that control dsx expression in the foreleg, which contains multiple types of sex-specific sensory organs. We find that separate modular enhancers are responsible for dsx expression in each sexually dimorphic organ. Expression of dsx in the sex comb is co-regulated by two enhancers with distinct spatial and temporal specificities that are separated by a genitalia-specific enhancer. The sex comb-specific enhancer from D. willistoni, a species that primitively lacks sex combs, is not active in the foreleg. Thus, the mosaic of sexually dimorphic and monomorphic organs depends on modular regulation of dsx transcription by dedicated cell type-specific enhancers.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sex Differentiation
/
Enhancer Elements, Genetic
/
Drosophila Proteins
/
DNA-Binding Proteins
/
Genitalia
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Development
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
EMBRIOLOGIA
Year:
2019
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Country of publication:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM