In mammalian foetal testes, SOX9 regulates expression of its target genes by binding to genomic regions with conserved signatures.

ABSTRACT: In mammalian embryonic gonads, SOX9 is required for the determination of Sertoli cells that orchestrate testis morphogenesis. To identify genetic networks directly regulated by SOX9, we combined analysis of SOX9-bound chromatin regions from murine and bovine foetal testes with sequencing of RNA samples from mouse testes lacking Sox9. We found that SOX9 controls a conserved genetic programme that involves most of the sex-determining genes. In foetal testes, SOX9 modulates both transcription and directly or indirectly sex-specific differential splicing of its target genes through binding to genomic regions with sequence motifs that are conserved among mammals and that we called 'Sertoli Cell Signature' (SCS). The SCS is characterized by a precise organization of binding motifs for the Sertol

SUBMITTER: Rahmoun M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5499551 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature