A Novel Splice Variant of the Masculinizing Gene Masc with piRNA-Cleavage-Site Defect Functions in Female External Genital Development in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori.

ABSTRACT: In the silkworm, the sex-determination primary signal Fem controls sex differentiation by specific binding of Fem-derived piRNA to the cleavage site in Masc mRNA, thus inhibiting Masc protein production in the female. In this study, we identified a novel splicing isoform of Masc, named Masc-S, which lacks the intact sequence of the cleavage site, encoding a C-terminal truncated protein. Results of RT-PCR showed that Masc-S was expressed in both sexes. Over-expression of Masc-S and Masc in female-specific cell lines showed that Masc-S could be translated against the Fem-piRNA cut. By RNA-protein pull-down, LC/MS/MS, and EMSA, we identified a protein BmEXU that specifically binds to an exclusive RNA sequence in M

SUBMITTER: Zhao Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6723575 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature