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Dmrt1 induces the male pathway in a turtle species with temperature-dependent sex determination.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ge, C; Ye, J; Zhang, H; Zhang, Y; Sun, W; Sang, Y; Capel, B; Qian, G
Published in: Development
June 15, 2017

The molecular mechanism underlying temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) has been a long-standing mystery; in particular, the thermosensitive genetic triggers for gonadal sex differentiation are largely unknown. Here, we have characterized a conserved DM domain gene, Dmrt1, in the red-eared slider turtle Trachemys scripta (T. scripta), which exhibits TSD. We found that Dmrt1 has a temperature-dependent, sexually dimorphic expression pattern, preceding gonadal sex differentiation, and is capable of responding rapidly to temperature shifts and aromatase inhibitor treatment. Most importantly, loss- and gain-of-function analyses provide solid evidence that Dmrt1 is both necessary and sufficient to initiate male development in T. scripta Furthermore, the DNA methylation dynamics of the Dmrt1 promoter are tightly correlated with temperature and could mediate the impact of temperature on sex determination. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that Dmrt1 is a candidate master male sex-determining gene in this TSD species, consistent with the idea that DM domain genes are conserved during the evolution of sex determination mechanisms.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Development

DOI

EISSN

1477-9129

Publication Date

June 15, 2017

Volume

144

Issue

12

Start / End Page

2222 / 2233

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Turtles
  • Transcription Factors
  • Testis
  • Temperature
  • Sex Determination Processes
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Phylogeny
  • Male
  • Lentivirus
 

Citation

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Ge, C., Ye, J., Zhang, H., Zhang, Y., Sun, W., Sang, Y., … Qian, G. (2017). Dmrt1 induces the male pathway in a turtle species with temperature-dependent sex determination. Development, 144(12), 2222–2233. https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.152033
Ge, Chutian, Jian Ye, Haiyan Zhang, Yi Zhang, Wei Sun, Yapeng Sang, Blanche Capel, and Guoying Qian. “Dmrt1 induces the male pathway in a turtle species with temperature-dependent sex determination.Development 144, no. 12 (June 15, 2017): 2222–33. https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.152033.
Ge C, Ye J, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Sun W, Sang Y, et al. Dmrt1 induces the male pathway in a turtle species with temperature-dependent sex determination. Development. 2017 Jun 15;144(12):2222–33.
Ge, Chutian, et al. “Dmrt1 induces the male pathway in a turtle species with temperature-dependent sex determination.Development, vol. 144, no. 12, June 2017, pp. 2222–33. Pubmed, doi:10.1242/dev.152033.
Ge C, Ye J, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Sun W, Sang Y, Capel B, Qian G. Dmrt1 induces the male pathway in a turtle species with temperature-dependent sex determination. Development. 2017 Jun 15;144(12):2222–2233.
Journal cover image

Published In

Development

DOI

EISSN

1477-9129

Publication Date

June 15, 2017

Volume

144

Issue

12

Start / End Page

2222 / 2233

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Turtles
  • Transcription Factors
  • Testis
  • Temperature
  • Sex Determination Processes
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Phylogeny
  • Male
  • Lentivirus