Open AccessTranscriptional Regulation of the Y-Linked Mammalian Testis-Determining Gene SRY
Author(s) -
Naoki Okashita,
Makoto Tachibana
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
sexual development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1661-5433
pISSN - 1661-5425
DOI - 10.1159/000519217
Subject(s) - testis determining factor , biology , genetics , gene , disorders of sex development , regulation of gene expression , evolutionary biology , y chromosome
Mammalian male sex differentiation is triggered during embryogenesis by the activation of the Y-linked testis-determining gene SRY . Since insufficient or delayed expression of SRY results in XY gonadal sex reversal, accurate regulation of SRY is critical for male development in XY animals. In humans, dysregulation of SRY may cause disorders of sex development. Mouse Sry is the most intensively studied mammalian model of sex determination. Sry expression is controlled in a spatially and temporally stringent manner. Several transcription factors play a key role in sex determination as trans-acting factors for Sry expression. In addition, recent studies have shown that several epigenetic modifications of Sry are involved in sex determination as cis-acting factors for Sry expression. Herein, we review the current understanding of transcription factor- and epigenetic modifier-mediated regulation of SRY / Sry expression.