Separation of the genetic loci for the H-Y antigen and for testis determination on human Y chromosome

The mammalian Y chromosome encodes a testis-determining factor (termed TDF in the human), a master regulator of sex differentiation. Embryos with a Y chromosome develop testes and become males whereas embryos lacking a Y chromosome develop ovaries and become females. Expression of H-Y, a minor histocompatibility antigen, may also be controlled by a gene on the Y chromosome, and it has been proposed that this antigen is the testis-determining factor. We have tested the postulated identity of H-Y and TDF in the human. H-Y typing with T cells was carried out on a series of sex-reversed humans (XX males and XY females), each shown by DNA hybridization to carry part but not all of the Y chromosome. This deletion analysis maps the gene for H-Y to the long arm or centromeric region of the human Y chromosome, far from the TDF locus, which maps to the distal short arm.     

Male sexual differentiation in mice lacking H-Y antigen

The sexual phenotype of an adult mammal depends on whether the fetal gonad has differentiated as a testis or as an ovary. Because individuals of XY or XXY sex chromosome constitution develop as males, while XX and XO individuals develop as females, the presence of a Y chromosome seems normally to be required for testis differentiation and its absence to be necessary for differentiation of an ovary. The nature of the hypothetical Y-dependent substance responsible for masculinization of the indifferent gonad has been a matter for debate. A male-specific transplantation antigen, H-Y, has been known for many years and more recently a serologically detected antigen, also male-specific, has been reported. Those who believe that the two are antigenically distinct refer to the latter as SDM (serologically detected male) antigen, but many refer to both as H-Y antigen. The hypothesis that H-Y is itself the Y-dependent testis inducer, although supported by little or no direct evidence, is economical and hence attractive. H-Y antigen is frequently stated to be the substance responsible for primary sex determination (for example, see ref. 11). We report here that H-Y is absent from certain mice that develop testes and are of indisputably male phenotype, hence this transplantation antigen is unlikely to be responsible for testis determination.     

Zfy gene expression patterns are not compatible with a primary role in mouse sex determination

The Y chromosome determines maleness in mammals. A Y chromosome-linked gene diverts the indifferent embryonic gonad from the default ovarian pathway in favour of testis differentiation, initiating male development. Study of this basic developmental switch requires the isolation of the testis-determining gene, termed TDF in humans and Tdy in mice. ZFY, a candidate gene for TDF, potentially encodes a zinc-finger protein, and has two Y-linked homologues, Zfy-1 and Zfy-2, in mice. Although ZFY, Zfy-1 and Zfy-2 seem to map to the sex-determining regions of the human and mouse Y chromosomes, there is no direct evidence that these genes are involved in testis determination. We report here that Zfy-1 but not Zfy-2 is expressed in differentiating embryonic mouse testes. Neither gene, however, is expressed in We/We mutant embryonic testes which lack germ cells. These observations exclude both Zfy-1 and Zfy-2 as candidates for the mouse testis-determining gene.     

Sequences homologous to ZFY, a candidate human sex-determining gene, are autosomal in marsupials

Sexual differentiation in placental mammals results from the action of a testis-determining gene encoded by the Y chromosome. This gene causes the indifferent gonad to develop as a testis, thereby initiating a hormonal cascade which produces a male phenotype. Recently, a candidate for the testis-determining gene (ZFY, Y-borne zinc-finger protein) has been cloned. The ZFY probe detects a male-specific (Y-linked) sequence in DNA from a range of eutherian mammals, as well as an X-linked sequence (ZFX) which maps to the human X chromosome. In marsupials it is also the Y chromosome that seems to determine the fate of the gonad, but not all sexual dimorphisms. Using the ZFY probe we find, surprisingly, that the ZFY homologous sequences are not on either the X or the Y chromosome in marsupials, but map to the autosomes. This implies ZFY is not the primary sex-determining gene in marsupials. Either the genetic pathways of sex determination in marsupials and eutherians differ, or they are identical and ZFY is not the primary signal in human sex determination.     

Expression of a candidate sex-determining gene during mouse testis differentiation

The development of a eutherian mammal as a male is a consequence of testis formation in the embryo, which is thought to be initiated by a gene on the Y chromosome. In the absence of this gene, ovaries are formed and female characteristics develop. Sex determination therefore hinges on the action of this testis-determining gene, known as Tdy in mice and TDF in humans. In the past, several genes proposed as candidates for Tdy/TDF have subsequently been dismissed on the grounds of inappropriate location or expression. We have recently described a candidate for Tdy, which maps to the minimum sex-determining region of the mouse Y chromosome. To examine further the involvement of this gene, Sry, in testis development, we have studied its expression in detail. Fetal expression of Sry is limited to the period in which testes begin to form. This expression is confined to gonadal tissue and does not require the presence of germ cells. Our observations strongly support a primary role for Sry in mouse sex determination.     

Homology of a candidate spermatogenic gene from the mouse Y chromosome to the ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1.

The Sxr (sex-reversed) region, a fragment of the Y chromosome short arm, can cause chromosomally female XXSxr or XSxrO mice to develop as sterile males. The original Sxr region, termed Sxra, encodes: Tdy, the primary sex-determining gene; Hya, the controlling or structural locus for the minor transplantation antigen H-Y; gene(s) controlling the expression of the serologically detected male antigen (SDMA); Spy, a gene(s) required for the survival and proliferation of A spermatogonia during spermatogenesis; Zfy-1/Zfy-2, zinc-finger-containing genes of unknown function; and Sry, which is probably identical to Tdy. A deletion variant of Sxra, termed Sxrb, which lacks Hya, SDMA expression, Spy and some Zfy-2 sequences, makes positional cloning of these genes possible. We report here the isolation of a new testis-specific gene, Sby, mapping to the DNA deleted from the Sxrb region (the delta Sxrb interval). Sby has extensive homology to the X-linked human ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1. The critical role of this enzyme in nuclear DNA replication together with the testis-specific expression of Sby suggests Sby as a candidate for the spermatogenic gene Spy.     

Discovery of a male-biased mutant family and identification of a male-specific SCAR marker in gynogenetic gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio

Gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) is a uniquely gynogenetic species with a minor ratio of males in natural habitats, but its male origin and sex determination mechanisms have been unknown. In this study, a male-biased mutant family was discovered from the gynogenetic gibel carp, and a male-specific SCAR marker was identified from the mutant family. Normal spermatogenesis was observed in the male testes by immunofluorescence histochemistry. Nearly identical AFLP profiles were observed between males and females, but a male-specific 86 bp AFLP fragment was screened by sex-pool bulked segregant analysis and individual screening. Based on the male-specific AFLP fragment, a total of 579 bp sequences were cloned by genome walking. Subsequently, a male-specific SCAR marker was designed, and the male-specific DNA fragment was confirmed to be steadily transmitted to the next generation and consistently detected only in males.     

泥鳅和大鳞副泥鳅性腺细胞H－Y抗原的检测

以雄性小鼠脾细胞为抗原，免疫Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ小鼠，获得了高滴度的抗Ｈ－Ｙ抗原抗体．在此基础上，利用细胞毒性实验，对泥鳅和大鳞副泥鳅的性腺细胞进行了Ｈ－Ｙ抗原的检测．结果表明，泥鳅中雌雄性腺细胞均含有Ｈ－Ｙ抗原；大鳞副泥鳅中，Ｈ－Ｙ抗原仅存在于雌性性腺细胞中，提示其为ＺＺ／ＺＷ型性别决定．     

泥鳅和大鳞副泥鳅性腺细胞H－Y抗原的检测

以雄性小鼠脾细胞为抗原，免疫Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ小鼠，获得了高滴度的抗Ｈ－Ｙ抗原抗体．在此基础上，利用细胞毒性实验，对泥鳅和大鳞副泥鳅的性腺细胞进行了Ｈ－Ｙ抗原的检测．结果表明，泥鳅中雌雄性腺细胞均含有Ｈ－Ｙ抗原；大鳞副泥鳅中，Ｈ－Ｙ抗原仅存在于雌性性腺细胞中，提示其为ＺＺ／ＺＷ型性别决定．     

Male development of chromosomally female mice transgenic for Sry

The initiation of male development in mammals requires one or more genes on the Y chromosome. A recently isolated gene, termed SRY in humans and Sry in mouse, has many of the genetic and biological properties expected of a Y-located testis-determining gene. It is now shown that Sry on a 14-kilobase genomic DNA fragment is sufficient to induce testis differentiation and subsequent male development when introduced into chromosomally female mouse embryos.     

A human XY female with a frame shift mutation in the candidate testis-determining gene SRY

The primary decision about male or female sexual development of the human embryo depends on the presence of the Y chromosome, more specifically on a gene on the Y chromosome encoding a testis-determining factor, TDF. The human sex-determining region has been delimited to a 35-kilobase interval near the Y pseudoautosomal boundary. In this region there is a candidate gene for TDF, termed SRY, which is conserved and specific to the Y chromosome in all mammals tested. The corresponding gene from the mouse Y chromosome is deleted in a line of XY female mutant mice, and is expressed at the expected stage during male gonadal development. We have now identified a mutation in SRY in one out of 12 sex-inversed XY females with gonadal dysgenesis who do not lack large segments of the short arm of the Y chromosome. The four-nucleotide deletion occurs in a sequence of SRY encoding a conserved DNA-binding motif and results in a frame shift presumably leading to a non-functional protein. The mutation occurred de novo, because the father of the sporadic XY female that bears it has the normal sequence at the corresponding position. These results provide strong evidence for SRY being TDF.     

在单细胞水平建立原位PCR基因鉴别技术平台——以精子基因型鉴别为例

目的精子发生是一个包括有丝分裂和减数分裂的精细调控过程,这一过程是从精原干细胞开始在雄性睾丸的曲细精管中完成的,由哺乳动物雌雄性比例接近1∶1这一现象可以推知:受精时带X基因的精子和带Y基因的精子比率应该是1∶1,但事实上精子发生的过程中,分化出来的X、Y精子的比例是否也为1∶1并不清楚,因为精子发生过程中并不是所有细胞都能最终形成精子,然而要研究雌雄出生比率就需要先研究精子本身是否严格地按照1∶1形成,因此本实验通过建立快速可靠原位PCR技术平台为进一步研究精子发生的调控过程提供支持。步骤用HSL基因优化荧光原位PCR实验方案,包括蛋白酶K作用时间和浓度,原位PCR前先对精子进行解聚,再用SRY基因对精子进行原位PCR鉴定。结果在荧光显微镜下可清楚地看到精子头部的荧光信号,头部有绿色荧光信号的精子为带有SRY基因的Y染色体精子(Y精子),实验检测到昆明小鼠精子共493个,有信号的共273个,X∶Y=55.37%,经卡方检验,X精子与Y精子的实验结果趋近于1∶1。结论可利用荧光原位PCR技术在单细胞水平快速鉴定精子"性别",理论上可用于任何细胞的任何基因的鉴定。     

Germ cell transplantation in infertility mouse

This work investigated the spermatogenesis in an infertility BALB/c-nu mouse model by reinfusing germline stem cells into seminiferous tubules. Donor germ cells were isolated from male FVB/NJ-GFP trensgenic mice. Seminiferous tubule microinjection was applied to achieve intratubular germ cell transfer. The germ cells were injected into exposed testes of the infertility mice. We used green fluorescence and DNA analysis of donor cells from GFP transgenic mice as genetic marker. The natural mating and Southern blot methods were applied to analyze the effect of sperm cell transplantation and the sperm function after seminiferous tubule microinjection. The spermatogenesis was morphologically observed from the seminiferous tubules in 41/60 （68.33%） of the injected recipient mice using allogeneic donor cells. In the colonized testes, matured spermatozoa were seen in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. In this research, BALB/c-nu infertility mouse model, the recipient animal, was used to avoid immunological rejection of donor cells, and germ cell transplantation was applied to overcome infertility caused by busulfan treatment. These results demonstrate that this technique of germ cell transplantation is of great use. Germ cell transplantation could be potentially valuable to oncological patients.     

抗小鼠雄性特异性抗原（H—Y抗原）单克隆抗体的研究

将经Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ雄鼠脾细胞免疫的同系雌鼠脾细胞与Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ小鼠骨髓瘤ＳＰ２／０细胞进行融合,以雌、雄鼠脾细胞作细胞性ＥＬＩＳＡ、间接免疫荧光和精细胞间接免疫荧光技术进行筛选,共建立了５株稳定分泌抗Ｈ－Ｙ抗原的单克隆抗体杂交瘤细胞株。该杂交瘤细胞可在Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ与Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ杂交子一代雌性小鼠腹腔生长并形成腹水性抗体。鉴定结果证明这些抗体具有较好的特异性。     

The pseudoautosomal boundary in man is defined by an Alu repeat sequence inserted on the Y chromosome

The Y chromosome, which in man determines the male sex, is composed of two functionally distinct regions. The pseudoautosomal region is shared between the X and Y chromosome and is probably required for the correct segregation of the sex chromosomes during male meiosis. The second region includes the sex-determining gene(s), the presence of which is necessary for the development of testes. The two regions have contrasting genetic properties: the pseudoautosomal region recombines between the X and Y chromosome; the Y-specific region must avoid recombination otherwise the chromosomal basis of sex-determination breaks down. The pseudoautosomal region is bounded at the distal end by the telomere and at the proximal end by X- and Y-specific DNA. We have found that the proximal boundary was formed by the insertion of an Alu sequence on the Y chromosome early in the primate lineage. Proximal to the Alu insertion there is a small region where similarity between the X and Y chromosomes is reduced and which is no longer subject to recombination.     

Localization of the human GM-CSF receptor gene to the X-Y pseudoautosomal region

Mammalian sex chromosomes share a small terminal region of homologous DNA sequences, which pair and recombine during male meiosis. Alleles in this region can be exchanged between X and Y chromosomes and are therefore inherited as if autosomal. Genes from this so-called pseudoautosomal region (PAR) are present in two doses in both males and females, and escape inactivation of the X chromosome in females. Indirect evidence suggests that there must be several pseudoautosomal genes, and several candidates have been proposed. Until now, the only gene that has been unequivocally located in the PAR is MIC2, which encodes a cell-surface antigen of unknown function. We now report the localization of a gene of known function to this region--the gene for the receptor of the haemopoietic regulator, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor. The chromosomal localization of this gene may be important in understanding the generation of M2 acute myeloid leukaemia.     

Tolerance in T-cell-receptor transgenic mice involves deletion of nonmature CD4+8+ thymocytes

The mechanism of self-tolerance is studied in T-cell-receptor transgenic mice expressing a receptor in many of their T cells for the male (H-Y) antigen in the context of class I H-2Db MHC antigens. Autospecific T cells are deleted in male mice. The deletion affects only transgene-expressing cells with a relatively high surface-density of CD8 molecules, including nonmature CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes, and is not caused by anti-idiotype cells.