This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yanicostas, C Articles by Lepesant, J A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yanicostas, C Articles by Lepesant, J A

Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation contributes to the sex-regulated expression of two sequence-related genes at the janus locus of Drosophila melanogaster.

Institut Jacques Monod, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France.

ABSTRACT

We investigated the structure and developmental pattern of expression of two genes clustered at the janus locus, located at 99D.3R. Data obtained from genomic and cDNA sequencing and from a combination of S1 mapping and primer extension experiments indicated a very unusual organization of this locus, which appeared to be composed of two partially overlapping genes, designated janA and janB. These two genes were found to be transcribed in the same direction. janA encoded one minor and two major transcripts. The 5' end of the janB mRNA mapped within the 3' untranslated region of the janA transcribed sequence. The overlapping region was 118 bases long. Similarities observed between these two genes with respect to both peptidic sequence and intron position strongly suggested that this locus originated from the duplication of an ancestral transcription unit. However, each of the resulting genes has acquired its own specificity of expression linked to sex determination. The janB transcript was detected only in males, and its expression at the adult stage was restricted to germ line cells. The janA gene displayed a much more complex expression; one of the major mRNAs was found in both sexes and at all stages, whereas the two other janA transcripts were expressed only in males.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Meiklejohn, C. D., Kim, Y., Hartl, D. L., Parsch, J. (2004). Identification of a Locus Under Complex Positive Selection in Drosophila simulans by Haplotype Mapping and Composite-Likelihood Estimation. Genetics 168: 265-279 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Parsch, J., Meiklejohn, C. D., Hartl, D. L. (2001). Patterns of DNA Sequence Variation Suggest the Recent Action of Positive Selection in the janus-ocnus Region of Drosophila simulans. Genetics 159: 647-657 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Andrews, J., Bouffard, G. G., Cheadle, C., Lü, J., Becker, K. G., Oliver, B. (2000). Gene Discovery Using Computational and Microarray Analysis of Transcription in the Drosophila melanogaster Testis. Genome Res. 10: 2030-2043 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kliman, R. M., Andolfatto, P., Coyne, J. A., Depaulis, F., Kreitman, M., Berry, A. J., McCarter, J., Wakeley, J., Hey, J. (2000). The Population Genetics of the Origin and Divergence of the Drosophila simulans Complex Species. Genetics 156: 1913-1931 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• White-Cooper, H, Schafer, M., Alphey, L., Fuller, M. (1998). Transcriptional and post-transcriptional control mechanisms coordinate the onset of spermatid differentiation with meiosis I in Drosophila. Development 125: 125-134 [Abstract]  
• Schweisguth, F, Lepesant, J A, Vincent, A (1990). The serendipity alpha gene encodes a membrane-associated protein required for the cellularization of the Drosophila embryo.. Genes Dev. 4: 922-931 [Abstract]