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Drosophila polypyrimidine-tract binding protein PTB functions specifically in the male germline
Drosophila polypyrimidine-tract binding protein (PTB) functions specifically in the male germline.
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<p>The mammalian polypyrimidine-tract binding protein (PTB), which is a heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein, is ubiquitously expressed. Unexpectedly, we found that, in Drosophila melanogaster, the abundant PTB transcript is present only in males (third instar larval, pupal and adult stages) and in adult flies is restricted to the germline. Most importantly, a signal from the somatic sex-determination pathway that is dependent on the male-specific isoform of the doublesex protein (DSX(M)) regulates PTB, providing evidence for the necessity of soma-germline communication in the differentiation of the male germline. Analysis of a P-element insertion directly links PTB function with male fertility. Specifically, loss of dmPTB affects spermatid differentiation, resulting in the accumulation of cysts with elongated spermatids without producing fully separated motile sperms. This male-specific expression of PTB is conserved in D.virilis. Thus, PTB appears to be a particularly potent downstream target of the sex-determination pathway in the male germline, since it can regulate multiple mRNAs.</p>
Robida MD, Singh R
The EMBO journal
2003-06-16 00:00
22
12
2924-33
Animals,Caenorhabditis elegans,DNA-Binding Proteins,Drosophila Proteins,Drosophila melanogaster,Female,Fertility,Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental,Germ Cells,In Situ Hybridization,Larva,Male,Mice,Polypyrimidine Tract-Binding Protein,Sex Characteri
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
EMBO J.
NIGMS GM58576
0261-4189
10.1093/emboj/cdg301
0
False
12805208
