High impact information on sdc-1

• In XX animals (normally hermaphrodites), sdc-1 mutations cause partial masculinization and elevated levels of X-linked gene expression, an apparent shift of both pathways toward their XO modes of expression [1].
• Here we report that sdc-1 encodes a protein of 1,203 amino acids containing seven zinc fingers [2].
• This protein motif in combination with other genetic and molecular information suggests that sdc-1 is likely to function as an embryonic transcription factor regulating downstream genes involved specifically in the sex determination and dosage compensation pathways, or regulating other genes involved in the coordinate control of both processes [2].
• The levels of these transcripts are also elevated in XX animals carrying a loss-of-function mutation in either sdc-1 or sdc-2, consistent with the proposed roles of these genes as negative regulators of her-1 [3].

References