Recently, a novel sex‐determination system was identified in the silkworm (Bombyx mori) in which a piwi‐interacting RNA (piRNA) encoded on the female‐specific W chromosome silences a Z‐linked gene (Masculinizer) that would otherwise initiate male sex‐determination and dosage compensation. Masculinizer provides various opportunities for developing improved genetic pest management tools. A pest lepidopteran in which a genetic pest management system has been developed, but which would benefit greatly from such improved designs, is the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. However, Masculinizer has not yet been identified in this species. Here, focusing on the previously described ‘masculinizing’ domain of B. mori Masculinizer, we identify P. xylostella Masculinizer (PxyMasc). We show that PxyMasc is Z‐linked, regulates sex‐specific alternative splicing of doublesex and is necessary for male survival. Similar results in B. mori suggest this survival effect is possibly through failure to initiate male dosage compensation. The highly conserved function and location of this gene between these two distantly related lepidopterans suggests a deep role for Masculinizer in the sex‐determination systems of the Lepidoptera.

中文翻译：

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小菜蛾中雄性化同源物的鉴定和表征。

最近，在家蚕（ Bombyx mori ）中发现了一种新的性别决定系统，其中女性特异性W染色体上编码的piwi相互作用RNA（piRNA）沉默了Z连锁基因（Masculinizer），否则该基因将启动雄性性别‐确定和剂量补偿。Masculinizer为开发改进的遗传害虫管理工具提供了各种机会。小菜蛾（Plutella xylostella）是鳞翅目害虫，其中已经开发了害虫遗传管理系统，并且将从这种改进的设计中受益匪浅。然而，尚未在该物种中发现男性化者。在这里，重点关注先前描述的B. mori Masculinizer 的“男性化”结构域，我们识别出P. xylostella Masculinizer ( PxyMasc )。我们证明PxyMasc是 Z 连锁的，调节双性的性别特异性选择性剪接，并且对于雄性生存是必需的。家蚕中的类似结果表明，这种生存效应可能是由于未能启动雄性剂量补偿所致。该基因在这两种远亲鳞翅目动物之间高度保守的功能和位置表明男性化者在鳞翅目性别决定系统中发挥着重要作用。