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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 Masc compared to Masc-S. Knockdown of Masc-S resulted in abnormal morphology in female external genital and increased expression of the Hox gene Abd-B, which similarly occurred by Bmexu RNAi. These results suggest that the splice variant Masc-S against Fem-piRNA plays an important role in female external genital development, of which function is opposite to that of full-length Masc. Our study provides new insights into the regulatory mechanism of sex determination in the silkworm.

SUBMITTER: Zhao Q 

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

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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

Zhao Qin Q   Li Juan J   Wen Mao-Yu MY   Wang He H   Wang Yao Y   Wang Kai-Xuan KX   Wan Qiu-Xing QX   Zha Xing-Fu XF  

Biomolecules 20190730 8


In the silkworm, the sex-determination primary signal <i>Fem</i> controls sex differentiation by specific binding of <i>Fem</i>-derived piRNA to the cleavage site in <i>Masc</i> mRNA, thus inhibiting <i>Masc</i> protein production in the female. In this study, we identified a novel splicing isoform of <i>Masc</i>, named <i>Masc-S</i>, which lacks the intact sequence of the cleavage site, encoding a C-terminal truncated protein. Results of RT-PCR showed that <i>Masc-S</i> was expressed in both se  ...[more]

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