Document Detail


Evolution of the mammalian Y chromosome and sex-determining genes.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9662834     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In mammals, male sex determination, as well as spermatogenesis, is controlled by genes on the Y chromosome. Evolutionary comparisons may be used to detect and test candidate genes for these functions, under the hypothesis that the rapid evolution of the mammalian Y chromosome causes it to contain few genes other than those with a critical function in male reproduction. Comparisons of the gene content of sex chromosomes from the three major groups of extant mammals (placentals, marsupials, and monotremes) show that part of the X chromosome, and a corresponding region of the Y, is shared by all mammals and must be very ancient, but part was added relatively recently. Evolution of the mammalian Y took place in several cycles of addition and attrition, as autosomal regions were added to the pseudoautosomal region of one sex chromosome, recombined onto the other, and degraded on the Y. This explains why most genes and pseudogenes on the Y chromosome have relatives on the X. The gene SRY itself is apparently no exception, being closely related to the highly conserved X-linked gene SOX3. Comparisons of SRY/SOX base sequence and gene location in the three groups of mammals suggest that SRY evolved from SOX3 relatively recently by mutation and loss of all sequences outside the HMG box. It is suggested here that, rather than acting as a transcriptional activator, the SRY gene acts to inhibit its paralogue SOX3, which in turn inhibits an ancient autosomal sex-determining gene SOX9.
Authors:
J A Graves
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of experimental zoology     Volume:  281     ISSN:  0022-104X     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Exp. Zool.     Publication Date:  1998 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1998-07-31     Completed Date:  1998-07-31     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0375365     Medline TA:  J Exp Zool     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  472-81     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
School of Genetics and Human Variation, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. GENJMG@genome.latrobe.edu.au
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
Evolution*
Female
High Mobility Group Proteins / genetics
Humans
Male
Mammals / embryology,  genetics*
Nuclear Proteins*
SOX9 Transcription Factor
Sex Determination (Genetics)*
Sex Differentiation / genetics
Sex-Determining Region Y Protein
Transcription Factors / genetics
X Chromosome / genetics
Y Chromosome / genetics*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/DNA-Binding Proteins; 0/High Mobility Group Proteins; 0/Nuclear Proteins; 0/SOX9 Transcription Factor; 0/SOX9 protein, human; 0/SRY protein, human; 0/Sex-Determining Region Y Protein; 0/Transcription Factors

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