Interchromosomal Trans-Splicing of DMRT1 Gene on Chicken Chromosome Z

Sex determination/differentiation is the only developmental process involving two types of cell divisions (mitosis and meiosis). Analysis of transcription of key gene DMRT1 in the process showed that DMRT1 gene on the chromosome Z was trans-spliced with CENP C1 on the chromosome 4, CD5R on the chromosome 5 and 37LRP/p40 on the chromosome 2, which composed a rare form of transcripts DMRT1-CENP C1, DMRT1-CD5R and DMRT1-37LRP/p40 respectively. Overlapping regions between splicing sites on both chromosomes were observed, which would play an important role in the interchromosomal trans-splicing. The findings that multiple genes on different chromosomes are trans-spliced simultaneously with the DMRT1 during transcription undoubtedly help in understanding diversity of gene regulations at transcriptional level and sex determination and differentiation mechanisms.