Early aspects of Caenorhabditis elegans sex determination and dosage compensation are regulated by a zinc-finger protein

Nature ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 351 (6321) ◽  
pp. 65-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Nonet ◽  
Barbara J. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Sex Determination ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
Dosage Compensation ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Finger Protein ◽  
Early Aspects

scholarly journals Zinc Finger Protein Zn72D Promotes Productive Splicing of the maleless Transcript

2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (24) ◽  
pp. 8760-8769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen A. Worringer ◽  
Barbara Panning
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
X Chromosome ◽  
Dosage Compensation ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
General Factor ◽  
Finger Protein ◽  
Msl Complex

ABSTRACT In organisms with sex chromosomes, dosage compensation equalizes gene expression between the sexes. In Drosophila melanogaster males, the male-specific lethal (MSL) complex of proteins and two noncoding roX RNAs coat the X chromosome, resulting in a twofold transcriptional upregulation to equalize gene expression with that of females. How MSL complex enrichment on the X chromosome is regulated is not well understood. We performed an RNA interference screen to identify new factors required for dosage compensation. Using a Drosophila Schneider S2 cell line in which green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged MSL2 localizes to the X chromosome, we assayed ∼7,200 knockdowns for their effects on GFP-MSL2 distribution. One factor identified is the zinc finger protein Zn72D. In its absence, the MSL complex no longer coats the X chromosome. We demonstrate that Zn72D is required for productive splicing of the transcript for the MSL protein Maleless, explaining the dosage compensation defect. However, Zn72D is required for the viability of both sexes, indicating its functions are not sex specific. Consistent with this, Zn72D colocalizes with elongating RNA polymerase II, implicating it as a more general factor involved in RNA metabolism.

scholarly journals The zinc finger protein CLAMP promotes long-range chromatin interactions that mediate dosage compensation of the Drosophila male X-chromosome

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
William Jordan ◽  
Erica Larschan
Keyword(s):  
Long Range ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
X Chromosome ◽  
Dosage Compensation ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Dimensional Space ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Active Chromatin ◽  
Finger Protein

Abstract Background Drosophila dosage compensation is an important model system for defining how active chromatin domains are formed. The male-specific lethal dosage compensation complex (MSLc) increases transcript levels of genes along the length of the single male X-chromosome to equalize with that expressed from the two female X-chromosomes. The strongest binding sites for MSLc cluster together in three-dimensional space largely independent of MSLc because clustering occurs in both sexes. CLAMP, a non-sex specific, ubiquitous zinc finger protein, binds synergistically with MSLc to enrich the occupancy of both factors on the male X-chromosome. Results Here, we demonstrate that CLAMP promotes the observed three-dimensional clustering of MSLc binding sites. Moreover, the X-enriched CLAMP protein more strongly promotes longer-range three-dimensional interactions on the X-chromosome than autosomes. Genome-wide, CLAMP promotes three-dimensional interactions between active chromatin regions together with other insulator proteins. Conclusion Overall, we define how long-range interactions which are modulated by a locally enriched ubiquitous transcription factor promote hyper-activation of the X-chromosome to mediate dosage compensation.

scholarly journals DPL-1 DP, LIN-35 Rb and EFL-1 E2F Act With the MCD-1 Zinc-Finger Protein to Promote Programmed Cell Death in Caenorhabditis elegans

Genetics ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 175 (4) ◽  
pp. 1719-1733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter W. Reddien ◽  
Erik C. Andersen ◽  
Michael C. Huang ◽  
H. Robert Horvitz
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Finger Protein

A genetic method for sex determination in Ovis spp. by interruption of the zinc finger protein, Y-linked (ZFY) gene on the Y chromosome

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Sheng Zhang ◽  
Ying Chun Du ◽  
Li Rong Sun ◽  
Xu Hai Wang ◽  
Shuai Bing Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Determination ◽  
Gene Targeting ◽  
Y Chromosome ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis ◽  
Genetic Method ◽  
Finger Protein ◽  
Hu Sheep

The mammalian Y chromosome plays a critical role in spermatogenesis. However, the exact functions of each gene on the Y chromosome have not been completely elucidated, due, in part, to difficulties in gene targeting analysis of the Y chromosome. The zinc finger protein, Y-linked (ZFY) gene was first proposed to be a sex determination factor, although its function in spermatogenesis has recently been elucidated. Nevertheless, ZFY gene targeting analysis has not been performed to date. In the present study, RNA interference (RNAi) was used to generate ZFY-interrupted Hu sheep by injecting short hairpin RNA (shRNA) into round spermatids. The resulting spermatozoa exhibited abnormal sperm morphology, including spermatozoa without tails and others with head and tail abnormalities. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that ZFY mRNA expression was decreased significantly in Hu sheep with interrupted ZFY compared with wild-type Hu sheep. The sex ratio of lambs also exhibited a bias towards females. Together, the experimental strategy and findings of the present study reveal that ZFY also functions in spermatogenesis in Hu sheep and facilitate the use of RNAi in the control of sex in Hu sheep.

scholarly journals EOR-2 Is an Obligate Binding Partner of the BTB–Zinc Finger Protein EOR-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans

Genetics ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 184 (4) ◽  
pp. 899-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Howell ◽  
Swathi Arur ◽  
Tim Schedl ◽  
Meera V. Sundaram
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Binding Partner ◽  
Finger Protein

scholarly journals The zinc finger protein CLAMP promotes long-range chromatin interactions that mediate dosage compensation of the Drosophila male X-chromosome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Jordan ◽  
Erica Larschan
Keyword(s):  
Long Range ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
X Chromosome ◽  
Dosage Compensation ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Dimensional Space ◽  
Active Chromatin ◽  
Single Male ◽  
Finger Protein ◽  
Genome Wide

SummaryDrosophila dosage compensation is an important model system for defining how active chromatin domains are formed. The Male-specific lethal dosage compensation complex (MSLc) increases transcript levels of genes along the length of the single male X-chromosome to equalize with that on the two female X-chromosomes. The strongest binding sites for MSLc cluster together in three-dimensional space independent of MSLc because clustering occurs in both sexes. CLAMP, a non-sex specific, ubiquitous zinc finger protein, binds synergistically with MSLc to enrich the occupancy of both factors on the male X-chromosome. Here, we demonstrate that CLAMP promotes the observed clustering of MSLc bindings sites. Genome-wide, CLAMP promotes interactions between active chromatin regions. Moreover, the X-enriched CLAMP protein more strongly promotes longer-range interactions on the X-chromosome than autosomes. Genome-wide, CLAMP promotes interactions between active chromatin regions together with other insulator proteins. Overall, we define how long-range interactions which are modulated by a locally enriched ubiquitous transcription factor promote hyper-activation of the X-chromosome to mediate dosage compensation.

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