A protein kinase encoded by the t complex responder gene causes non-mendelian inheritance - PubMed (original) (raw)

. 1999 Nov 11;402(6758):141-6.

doi: 10.1038/45970.

Affiliations

A protein kinase encoded by the t complex responder gene causes non-mendelian inheritance

B G Herrmann et al. Nature. 1999.

Abstract

Males heterozygous for the t-haplotype form of mouse chromosome 17 preferentially transmit the t-chromosome to their progeny. Several distorter/sterility loci carried on the t-haplotype together impair flagellar function in all spermatozoa whereas the responder, Tcr, rescues t-sperm but not wild-type sperm. Thus, t-sperm have an advantage over wild-type sperm in fertilizing egg cells. We have isolated Tcr by positional cloning and show that it is a member of a novel protein kinase gene family, designated Smok, which is expressed late during spermiogenesis. Smok kinases are components of a signal cascade which may control sperm motility. Tcr has a reduced kinase activity, which may allow it to counterbalance a signalling impairment caused by the distorter/sterility loci. Tcr transgene constructs cause non-mendelian transmission of chromosomes on which they are carried, which leads to sex-ratio distortion when Tcr cosegregates with the Y chromosome.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

Similar articles

Cited by

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources