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Protein-protein interactions among components of theDrosophila primary sex determination signal

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Abstract

Sex determination inDrosophila melanogaster is initiated in the early embryo by a signal provided by three types of genes: (1)X-linked numerator elements [e.g.,sisterless-a (sis-a) andsisterless-b (sis-b)], (2) autosomally linked denominator elements [e.g.,deadpan (dpn)], and (3) maternal factors [e.g.,daughterless (da)]. This signal acts to stimulate transcription from an embryo-specific promoter of the master regulatory geneSex-lethal (Sxl) in embryos that have twoX chromosomes (females), while it fails to activateSxl in those with only oneX (males). It has been previously proposed that competitive dimerizations among the components of this signal might provide the molecular basis for this sex specificity. Here, we use the yeast two-hybrid system to demonstrate specific protein-protein interactions among the above-mentioned factors, and to delimit their interacting domains. These results support and extend the model of the molecular basis of theX/A ratio signal.

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Author notes

  1. Yujing Liu

    Present address: National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Building 10, Room 9D-15, NIH, 20892, Bethesda, MD, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Syracuse University, 130 College Place, 13244, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Yujing Liu & John M. Belote

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  1. Yujing Liu
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  2. John M. Belote
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Communicated by B. H. Judd

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Liu, Y., Belote, J.M. Protein-protein interactions among components of theDrosophila primary sex determination signal. Molec. Gen. Genet. 248, 182–189 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02190799

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02190799

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