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Genetic evidence that ZFY is not the testis-determining factor

Nature volume 342, pages 937–939 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

IN mammals, the testis determining gene (TDF), present on the Y chromosome, induces the undifferentiated gonads to form testes1. The position of TDF on the human Y chromosome has been defined by analysing the genomes of XX males and XY females2, generated by abnormal genetic exchange between the X and Y chromosomes in male meiosis3. In this way TDF has been localized close to the pseudoautosomal region shared by the sex chromosomes, in the distal Y-specific region. A recently cloned human gene, ZFY, has many features indicating that it is TDF4–6. For example, ZFY encodes a protein with many features of a transcription factor including a domain with multiple 'zinc-finger' motifs4–6. Less consistent with ZFY being TDF, however, is the presence of a very similar gene, ZFX, on the X chromosome4,7, and the presence of a sequence related to ZFY on autosomes in marsupials8. We now report on analysis of XX males lacking ZFY. In these individuals, the male phenotype could be explained by a mutation in a gene 'downstream' of ZFY in the sex-determining hierarchy; but in that case there should be no exchange of material between the X and Y chromosomes. We find on the contrary that in 4 XX males lacking ZFY, there is exchange of Y-specific sequences next to the pseudoautosomal boundary, redefining the region in which TDF must lie.

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Author notes

  1. N. E. Abbas and M. Fellous: Laboratoire d'lmmunogenetique Humaine, INSERM U.276, Institut Pasteur, 25/28 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Molecular Genetics, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PX, UK

    M. S. Palmer, A. H. Sinclair, P. Berta, N. A. Ellis, P. N. Goodfellow, N. E. Abbas & M. Fellous

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  1. M. S. Palmer
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  2. A. H. Sinclair
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  3. P. Berta
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  4. N. A. Ellis
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  5. P. N. Goodfellow
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  6. N. E. Abbas
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  7. M. Fellous
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Palmer, M., Sinclair, A., Berta, P. et al. Genetic evidence that ZFY is not the testis-determining factor. Nature 342, 937–939 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/342937a0

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