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Drosophila Sex‐lethal protein mediates polyadenylation switching in the female germline
Author(s) -
Gawande Bharat,
Robida Mark D,
Rahn Andrew,
Singh Ravinder
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601022
Subject(s) - biology , germline , polyadenylation , genetics , drosophila melanogaster , microbiology and biotechnology , rna , gene
The Drosophila master sex‐switch protein Sex‐lethal (SXL) regulates the splicing and/or translation of three known targets to mediate somatic sexual differentiation. Genetic studies suggest that additional target(s) of SXL exist, particularly in the female germline. Surprisingly, our detailed molecular characterization of a new potential target of SXL, enhancer of rudimentary ( e ( r )), reveals that SXL regulates e(r) by a novel mechanism—polyadenylation switching—specifically in the female germline. SXL binds to multiple SXL‐binding sites, which include the GU‐rich poly(A) enhancer, and competes for the binding of CstF64 in vitro . The SXL‐binding sites are able to confer sex‐specific poly(A) switching onto an otherwise nonresponsive polyadenylation signal in vivo . The sex‐specific poly(A) switching of e(r) provides a means for translational regulation in germ cells. We present a model for the SXL‐dependent poly(A) site choice in the female germline.