Single nucleotide insertion within a remote enhancer causes XX mice to be born as males
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ABSTRACT: Sex determination is mediated by two antagonistic genetic pathways. Sox9 activation or repression governs testis or ovary development, respectively. The remote enhancer Enh13 is critical for testicular Sox9 regulation, with its deletion or mutation causing XY female sex reversal. Here, we demonstrate that specific Enh13 mutations (1 bp insertion or 3 bp deletion) induce complete XX male sex reversal, with embryos exhibiting ovotestes and adults presenting with small testes. Transcriptomic analysis reveals elevated testicular gene expression, including Sox9, and repressed ovarian genes. These mutations disrupt cooperative binding of bipotential transcription factors to Enh13, preventing Sox9 repression in the ovary. Our findings establish Enh13 as a dual regulatory element essential for both testicular and ovarian development, positioning it at a critical intersection of sexual differentiation pathways.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE298334 | GEO | 2026/02/21
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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