Sex Determination. A male-determining factor in the mosquito Aedes aegypti
Autor(es): Hall Andrew Brantley,Basu Sanjay,Jiang Xiaofang,Qi Yumin,Timoshevskiy Vladimir A,Biedler James K,Sharakhova Maria V,Elahi Rubayet,Anderson Michelle A E,Chen Xiao-Guang,Sharakhov Igor V,Adelman Zach N,Tu Zhijian
Resumo: Sex determination in the mosquito Aedes aegypti is governed by a dominant male-determining factor (M factor) located within a Y chromosome-like region called the M locus. Here, we show that an M-locus gene, Nix, functions as an M factor in A. aegypti. Nix exhibits persistent M linkage and early embryonic expression, two characteristics required of an M factor. Nix knockout with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 resulted in largely feminized genetic males and the production of female isoforms of two key regulators of sexual differentiation: doublesex and fruitless. Ectopic expression of Nix resulted in genetic females with nearly complete male genitalia. Thus, Nix is both required and sufficient to initiate male development. This study provides a foundation for mosquito control strategies that convert female mosquitoes into harmless males.
Imprenta: Science (New York, N.Y.), v. 348, n. 6240, p. 1268-1270, 2015
Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1126/science.aaa2850
Descritores: Aedes aegypti - Biochemistry ; Aedes aegypti - Genome ; Aedes aegypti - Molecular Structure ; Aedes aegypti - Pathogenesis ; Aedes aegypti - Proteins ; Aedes aegypti - Molecular methods ; Aedes aegypti - Sexual ; Aedes aegypti - Public health
Data de publicação: 2015
