Conserved Domains in the Transformer Protein Act Complementary to Regulate Sex-Specific Splicing of Its Own Pre-mRNA.

Conserved Domains in the Transformer Protein Act Complementary to Regulate Sex-Specific Splicing of Its Own Pre-mRNA. Sex Dev. 2018 May 26;: Authors: Tanaka A, Aoki F, Suzuki MG Abstract The transformer (tra) gene, which is a female-determining master gene in the housefly Musca domestica, acts as a memory device for sex determination via its auto-regulatory function, i.e., through the contribution of the TRA protein to female-specific splicing of its own pre-mRNA. The TRA protein contains 4 small domains that are specifically conserved among TRA proteins (domains 1-4). Domain 2, also named TRA-CAM domain, is the most conserved, but its function remains unknown. To examine whether these domains are involved in the auto-regulatory function, we performed in vitro splicing assays using a tra minigene containing a partial genomic sequence of the M. domestica tra (Mdtra) gene. Co-transfection of the Mdtra minigene and an MdTRA protein expression vector into cultured insect cells strongly induced female-specific splicing of the minigene. A series of deletion mutation analyses demonstrated that these domains act complementarily to induce female-specific splicing. Domain 1 and the TRA-CAM domain were necessary for the female-specific splicing when the MdTRA protein lacked both domains 3 and 4. In this situation, mutation of the well-conserved 3 amino acids (GEG) in the TRA-CAM domain significantly reduced the female-specific splicing activity...
Source: Sexual Development : genetics, molecular biology, evolution, endocrinology, embryology, and pathology of sex determination and differentiation - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tags: Sex Dev Source Type: research