Okada E, Yoshimoto S, Ikeda N, Kanda H, Tamura K, Shiba T, Takamatsu N, Ito M
Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
Sex Dev. 2009;3(1):38-42. doi: 10.1159/000200080. Epub 2009 Apr 1.
The molecular mechanisms of vertebrate ZZ/ZW-type sex-determining systems remain unclear. We recently indicated that a W-linked gene, DM-W is a likely ovary-determining gene in Xenopus laevis. We first examined whether Cyp19 for estrogen-synthesizing enzyme P450 aromatase and Foxl2 showed female-specific expression in developing gonads. Both genes showed much higher expression in ZW than in ZZ gonads during and after sex determination. Importantly, transgenic ZZ gonads expressing exogenous DM-W at the sex-determining stage showed a ZW-type pattern of Cyp19 and Foxl2 expression. These results suggest that DM-W up-regulates Cyp19 and Foxl2 expression to guide primary ovary development in X. laevis.
脊椎动物ZZ/ZW型性别决定系统的分子机制仍不清楚。我们最近指出，一个W连锁基因DM-W可能是非洲爪蟾的卵巢决定基因。我们首先检测了雌激素合成酶P450芳香化酶的Cyp19和Foxl2在发育中的性腺中是否表现出雌性特异性表达。在性别决定期间及之后，这两个基因在ZW性腺中的表达均远高于ZZ性腺。重要的是，在性别决定阶段表达外源DM-W的转基因ZZ性腺呈现出ZW型的Cyp19和Foxl2表达模式。这些结果表明，DM-W上调Cyp19和Foxl2的表达，以引导非洲爪蟾初级卵巢的发育。
