miR214regulates sex determination throughgsdfin zebrafish

Abstract

AbstractSex determination is a variable and complex mechanism, yet it can be found all over the plant and animal kingdoms. It creates two morphological different outcomes from one and the same species. Our work demonstrates the involvement of the non-coding RNAdnm3os, and its embedded microRNAmiR214in this process for the teleostDanio rerio. First, we find thatmiR214acts throughgsdfto drive female development. Second, additional alleles ofdnm3osrevealed that this lncRNA can also promote male development through yet unknown mechanisms. Finally, we describe that the sex-determining activities ofdnm3osdisplay a maternal effect, suggesting that imbalances in this gene-regulatory system can be compensated in a stable manner. Although we cannot fully explain the complexity of the mechanisms we have started to reveal, our work once again highlights the complexity and flexibility of sex determination and identifies miRNA and other non-coding RNA mediated activities in this crucial process.