Study on functions of Dmrt-1 gene on Z sex chromosome in birds

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Dmrt-1 is named after the DM domain for doublesex (dsx) of Drosophila and mab-3 of Caenorhabidtis elegans. Both encode proteins with a novel DNA binding motif called the DM domain. Chicken Dmrt-1 gene on the Z chromosome was first reported in reference to synteny aspect between chicken and human by Nanda et al. (1999). In humans, Dmrt-1 is located within a minimal region of chromosome 9p24.3 deleted in patients with male-to-female sex reversal. It is expressed in the genital ridge and Mullerian duct prior to sexual differentiation at higher levels in ZZ than in ZW embryos of the chicken. Furthermore, this is expressed as early as 3-4 days of incubation far in advance to Amh expression that occurs on day 5 of incubation in male. Interestingly, it is also expressed in the Mullerian ducts which Amh acts in male-specific way. In addition to this sex-and time-specific expression, localization of this gene on the Z chromosome make it an especially good candidate to be involved in avian sex determination.