DNA binding activity of recombinant SRY from normal males and XY females

Vincent R. Harley, David I. Jackson, Parick J. Hextall, J. Ross Hawkins, Gay D. Berkovitz, Shanthini Sockanathan, Robin Lovell-Badge, Peter N. Goodfellow

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

407 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The protein encoded by the human testis determining gene, SRY, contains a high mobility group (HMG) box related to that present in the T cell-specific, DNA-binding protein TCF-1. Recombinant SRY protein was able to bind to the same core sequence AACAAAG recognized by TCF-1 in a sequence dependent manner. In five XY females point mutations were found in the region encoding the HMG box. In four cases DNA binding activity of mutant SRY protein was negligible; in the fifth case DNA binding was reduced. These results imply that the DNA binding activity of SRY is required for sex determination.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)453-456
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume255
Issue number5043
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1992
Externally publishedYes

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