(this seminar will be followed by a lunch from 13.00 to 14.00) 

"Doublesex-related transcription factors control testicular development and meiotic initiation in mammals"

Genes containing the DM domain DNA binding motif are found throughout metazoans. They have been shown to control sex determination and sexual differentiation in several phyla, including insects, nematodes, and vertebrates, and thus are the most ancient sexual regulators discovered so far. Mammals have seven DM domain genes ("Dmrt genes") which control many aspects of development. This talk will focus mainly on the role of Dmrt1 in gonadal development in the mouse. To study Dmrt1 we have combined conditional gene targeting with genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and gene expression profiling. This has revealed a surprising range of functions in germ cell and Sertoli cell differentiation and a surprisingly large number of target genes. Data will be presented indicating that DMRT1 serves as a "master regulator" to coordinate testis development and function and reproductive signaling.