Transcriptional control of male-specific pathway in temperature-dependent sex determination

作者：Yin-Zi Ye, Jiameng Li, Weiming Li, Xiaonan Fu, Jiajun Zhang, Shilong Yang, Wei‐Guo Du · 发表于：中国科学通报：英文版 · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.scib.2025.07.025 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities、CRISPR and Genetic Engineering、Animal Genetics and Reproduction

How temperature affects the direction of sexual differentiation pathways in temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) remains a mystery despite decades of scientific investigation. In the accompanying study, we demonstrated the thermal switch mechanism within thermosensitive steroidogenic cells (TSSCs) that triggers the male development pathway in turtles ( Trachemys scripta elegans ). However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms linking TSSCs’ cold sensitivity with pre-Sertoli cell specification remain elusive. Herein, we elucidate the regulatory schema governing the male determination pathway, including Ca 2+ -induced aldosterone synthesis in TSSCs and subsequent aldosterone-driven transcriptional modulation in pre-supporting cells. Aldosterone-bound NR3C1, a master regulator of the male determination pathway, activates DMRT1 gene expression, culminating in pre-Sertoli specification. Therefore, this study discovers a novel male-specific pathway by which temperature initiates male sex determination in TSD species.