Open AccessHox gene Abdominal-B uses DoublesexF as a cofactor to promote neuroblast apoptosis inDrosophilacentral nervous system
Author(s) -
Neha Ghosh,
Asif Bakshi,
Risha Khandelwal,
Sriivatsan G. Rajan,
Rohit Joshi
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.15
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1477-9129
pISSN - 0950-1991
DOI - 10.1242/dev.175158
Subject(s) - doublesex , biology , hox gene , enhancer , transcription factor , gene isoform , neuroblast , homeobox , genetics , drosophila melanogaster , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , rna splicing , neurogenesis , rna
Highly conserved DM domain-containing transcription factors (Doublesex/MAB-3/DMRT1) are responsible for generating sexually dimorphic features. In the Drosophila central nervous system, a set of Doublesex (Dsx)-expressing neuroblasts undergo apoptosis in females whereas their male counterparts proliferate and give rise to serotonergic neurons crucial for adult mating behaviour. Our study demonstrates that the female-specific isoform of Dsx collaborates with Hox gene Abdominal-B ( Abd-B ) to bring about this apoptosis. Biochemical results suggest that proteins AbdB and Dsx interact through their highly conserved homeodomain and DM domain, respectively. This interaction is translated into a cooperative binding of the two proteins on the apoptotic enhancer in the case of females but not in the case of males, resulting in female-specific activation of apoptotic genes. The capacity of AbdB to use the sex-specific isoform of Dsx as a cofactor underlines the possibility that these two classes of protein are capable of cooperating in selection and regulation of target genes in a tissue- and sex-specific manner. We propose that this interaction could be a common theme in generating sexual dimorphism in different tissues across different species.