Sex determination pathways are extensively diverse across species, with the master sex-determinants being the most variable element. Despite this, there is a family of DM-domain transcription factors (Dmrts), which hold a highly conserved function in sexual development. This work is the first to describe a heterogametic sex-linked Dmrt in an invertebrate species, the Eastern spiny lobster, Sagmariasus verreauxi. We have termed the Ylinked, truncated paralogue of the autosomal iDmrt1, Sv-iDMY. Considering the master sex-determining function of both DMY in medaka and DM-W in frog, we hypothesised a similar function of Sv-iDMY. By conducting temporal expression analyses during embryogenesis we have identified a putative male sexdetermining period during which iDMY > iDmrt1. Employing a GAL4-transactivation assay we then demonstrate the dominant negative suppression of iDMY over its autosomal iDmrt1 paralogue, suggesting the mechanism with which iDMY determines sex. Comparative analyses of Sv-iDMY, DM-W and medaka DMY, highlight the C′-mediated features of oligomerisation and transactivation as central to the mechanism that each exerts. Indeed, these features may underpin the plasticity facilitating the convergent emergence of these three sporadic sex-linked master-Dmrts.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	master sex-determinant, Dmrt, DMY, transactivation domain, Crustacea
Research Division:	Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
Research Group:	Fisheries Sciences
Research Field:	Aquaculture
Objective Division:	Animal Production and Animal Primary Products
Objective Group:	Fisheries - Aquaculture
Objective Field:	Fisheries - Aquaculture not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Fitzgibbon, QP (Dr Quinn Fitzgibbon)
UTAS Author:	Smith, G (Associate Professor Gregory Smith)
ID Code:	121452
Year Published:	2017
Funding Support:	Australian Research Council (DP160103320)
Web of Science® Times Cited:	3
Deposited By:	Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration
Deposited On:	2017-09-29
Last Modified:	2018-03-20
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