The Genetic Analysis of snf: A Drosophila Sex Determination Gene Required for Activation of Sex-lethal in Both the Germline and the Soma

INVESTIGATIONS

The Genetic Analysis of snf: A Drosophila Sex Determination Gene Required for Activation of Sex-lethal in Both the Germline and the Soma

H. K. Salz
Department of Genetics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Ohio 44106

Our analysis demonstrates that snf is a positive regulator of Sex-lethal in both the germline and the soma. In the germline, unregulated expression of Sex-lethal can bypass the requirement for snf(+) gene function, implying that snf is required for Sex-lethal activity in the germline. This conclusion is supported by the finding that the Sex-lethal transcription pattern is abnormal in a snf mutant background. In the soma, activation of Sex-lethal appears to be sensitive to snf gene dosage only when the probability of Sex-lethal activation has been otherwise reduced. We also show that the activity of one of the constitutive Sex-lethal alleles (Sxl(M1)) is sensitive to snf gene dosage, demonstrating that, in spite of its constitutive behavior in some assays, Sxl(M1) is still subject to some regulation. In spite of snf's role in the somatic activation of Sex-lethal, no lethal alleles of snf were isolated in a screen of ~25,000 chromosomes. The observation that the existing snf mutations present a lethal phenotype only in certain genetic backgrounds suggests that snf is required, but is not essential, for the activation of Sex-lethal in the soma. In contrast, snf does appear to be essential for activation of Sex-lethal in the germline, as evidenced by its female-sterile phenotype.

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				A Hilfiker, H Amrein, A Dubendorfer, R Schneiter, and R Nothiger The gene virilizer is required for female-specific splicing controlled by Sxl, the master gene for sexual development in Drosophila Development, January 12, 1995; 121(12): 4017 - 4026. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Pultz and B. Baker The dual role of hermaphrodite in the Drosophila sex determination regulatory hierarchy Development, January 1, 1995; 121(1): 99 - 111. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J Wang and L R Bell The Sex-lethal amino terminus mediates cooperative interactions in RNA binding and is essential for splicing regulation. Genes & Dev., September 1, 1994; 8(17): 2072 - 2085. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Parkhurst and P. Meneely Sex determination and dosage compensation: lessons from flies and worms Science, May 13, 1994; 264(5161): 924 - 932. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T W Flickinger and H K Salz The Drosophila sex determination gene snf encodes a nuclear protein with sequence and functional similarity to the mammalian U1A snRNP protein. Genes & Dev., April 15, 1994; 8(8): 914 - 925. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Cummings and C Cronmiller The daughterless gene functions together with Notch and Delta in the control of ovarian follicle development in Drosophila Development, January 2, 1994; 120(2): 381 - 394. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D Pauli, B Oliver, and A. Mahowald The role of the ovarian tumor locus in Drosophila melanogaster germ line sex determination Development, January 9, 1993; 119(1): 123 - 134. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D Bopp, J. Horabin, R. Lersch, T. Cline, and P Schedl Expression of the Sex-lethal gene is controlled at multiple levels during Drosophila oogenesis Development, January 7, 1993; 118(3): 797 - 812. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B Granadino, P Santamaria, and L Sanchez Sex determination in the germ line of Drosophila melanogaster: activation of the gene Sex-lethal Development, January 7, 1993; 118(3): 813 - 816. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M Steinmann-Zwicky Sex determination in Drosophila: sis-b, a major numerator element of the X:A ratio in the soma, does not contribute to the X:A ratio in the germ line Development, January 2, 1993; 117(2): 763 - 767. [Abstract] [PDF]