Publication Date:
2019
Description:
〈p〉In insects, rapidly evolving primary sex-determining signals are transduced by a conserved regulatory module controlling sexual differentiation. In the agricultural pest 〈i〉Ceratitis capitata〈/i〉 (Mediterranean fruit fly, Medfly) we identified a Y-linked gene, 〈i〉Maleness-on the-Y〈/i〉 (〈i〉MoY〈/i〉), encoding a small protein that is necessary and sufficient for male development. Silencing or disruption of 〈i〉MoY〈/i〉 in XY embryos causes feminization whereas overexpression of 〈i〉MoY〈/i〉 in XX embryos induces masculinization. Crosses between transformed XY females and XX males give rise to males and females, indicating that a Y chromosome can be transmitted by XY females. 〈i〉MoY〈/i〉 is Y-linked and functionally conserved in other species of the Tephritidae family, highlighting its potential to serve as a tool for developing more effective control strategies against these major agricultural insect pests.〈/p〉
Print ISSN:
0036-8075
Electronic ISSN:
1095-9203
Topics:
Natural Sciences in General