Genes essential for early events in gonadal development.

Abstract	The acquisition of a sexually dimorphic phenotype is a key event in mammalian development. The underlying principle of this essential process is that genetic sex, determined by the presence or absence of a Y chromosome at fertilization, directs the embryonic gonads to differentiate into either testes or ovaries. Hormones produced by the testes then trigger the developmental program that leads to male phenotypic sexual differentiation. Without testes and their biochemical products, differentiation proceeds along the female pathway. Recent studies have identified several transcription factors that are required for gonadal development and sexual differentiation, i.e. Wilms' tumor related 1 (WT1), steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1), SOX9, and GATA4, presumably because they activate the expression of essential target genes. Studies also have identified another transcriptional regulator, designated DAX-1, that inhibits target gene induction by all of these transcriptional activators. This chapter provides an overview of gonadal development and sexual differentiation, reviews the studies that have led to the isolation and characterization of these genes in the gonads, and then discusses how they interact to regulate critical events in sexual differentiation.
Authors	Keith L Parker, Bernard P Schimmer
Journal	Annals of medicine (Ann Med) Vol. 34 Issue 3 Pg. 171-8 ( 2002) ISSN: 0785-3890 [Print] England
PMID	12173687 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References	DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor DNA-Binding Proteins Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors GATA4 Transcription Factor High Mobility Group Proteins Homeodomain Proteins NR0B1 protein, human NR5A1 protein, human Nuclear Proteins Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear Receptors, Retinoic Acid Repressor Proteins SOX9 Transcription Factor SOX9 protein, human Sex-Determining Region Y Protein Steroidogenic Factor 1 Transcription Factors
Topics	DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor DNA-Binding Proteins (physiology) Female Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors GATA4 Transcription Factor Genes, Wilms Tumor (physiology) High Mobility Group Proteins (physiology) Homeodomain Proteins Humans Male Nuclear Proteins Ovary (embryology) Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear Receptors, Retinoic Acid (physiology) Repressor Proteins SOX9 Transcription Factor Sex Differentiation (genetics) Sex-Determining Region Y Protein Steroidogenic Factor 1 Testis (embryology) Transcription Factors (physiology) Zinc Fingers (physiology)

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