The female-specific Doublesex isoform regulates pleiotropic transcription factors to pattern genital development inDrosophila

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.055731
• Publication Date: 2011-02-22T17:47:08Z
• Authors: Sujash S. Chatterjee; Locke D. Uppendahl; Moinuddin A. Chow...; Pui-Leng Ip; Mark L. Siegal
• Keywords: Doublesex; Sexual Differentiation

Regulatory networks driving morphogenesis of animal genitalia must integrate sexual identity and positional information. Although the genetic hierarchy that controls somatic in fly Drosophila melanogaster is well understood, there are very few cases which mechanism by it tissue-specific gene activity known. In flies, sex-determination terminates doublesex (dsx) gene, produces sex-specific transcription factors via alternative splicing its transcripts. To identify sex-specifically expressed genes downstream dsx drive sexually dimorphic development genitalia, we performed genome-wide transcriptional profiling dissected genital imaginal discs each sex at three time points during early morphogenesis. Using a stringent statistical threshold, identified 23 have sex-differential transcript levels all points, 13 encode factors, significant enrichment. We focus here on encoded lozenge (lz), Drop (Dr) AP-2. show that, female discs, Dsx activates lz represses Dr further regulation mediates previously expression fibroblast growth factor Branchless male discs. The phenotypes observe upon loss or function explain presence absence particular structures mutant flies thereby clarify puzzling observations. Our course data also lays foundation for elucidating regulatory deployed factors.