miR214 regulates sex determination through gsdf in zebrafish

Abstract

Sex 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 RNA dnm3os, and its embedded microRNA miR214 in this process for the teleost Danio rerio. First, we find that miR214 acts through gsdf to drive female development. Second, additional alleles of dnm3os revealed that this lncRNA can also promote male development through yet unknown mechanisms. Finally, we describe that the sex-determining activities of dnm3os display 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.