The SRY protein is a monomeric 203 residues long polypeptide. It is a transcriptionnal factor, more precisely a transcriptionnal activator of the Müllerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS gene).
It is encoded by the testis-determining sex gene and is itself involved in the sex determination in mammels by being responsible for the male sexual developement.
History
After centuries of unfounded theories mainly based on environmental factors, the first molecular theory concerning the sex determination appears in 1891. At this time, the german biologist Hermann Henking was studying sperm formation in wasps. He noticed that some wasp sperm cells own 12 chromosomes whereas some only own 11. As this chromosome look different from the others during the meiosis process, he suspected it to play a role in sex determination, without any proof. He chose to name it the "X chromosome", considering
It has been shown that a mutation of SRY increase male to female sex reversal for 15% REF NECESSAIRE
SRY gene
The SRY gene encodes the SRY protein. It is located on the Y chromosom.
Structure
The SRY-HMG domain
SRY-HMG stands for Sex determining Region Y - High Mobility Domain
It is a approximately 80 residues domain. It mediates minor groove DNA binding proteins.
Twisted L shape : Concave surface. 3 helices & N and C end strands.
Binds the DNA by its minor groove.
2 kinds of HMG domain:
General structure of SRY
3 domains:
- N-term domain
- Central domain
- C-term domain
Structure of the DNA target site
Function
Sex determining
It acts like a sex determinator thanks to it transcriptionnal activity. It inhibits the developpement of female sex structure in th embryonnic individual.
Implication - Future for SRY ?
Disease
Relevance
Structural highlights
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