Date Published:

2018 Mar 19

Abstract:

-methyladenosine (mA), the most abundant chemical modification in eukaryotic mRNA, has been implicated insex determination by modifying() pre-mRNA and facilitating its alternative splicing. Here, we identify a sex determination gene,, and rename itaccording to its loss-of-function female-to-male transformation phenotype.encodes a conserved ubiquitous nuclear protein of unknown function. We show that Xio colocalizes and interacts with all previously known mA writer complex subunits (METTL3, METTL14, Fl(2)d/WTAP, Vir/KIAA1429, and Nito/Rbm15) and that loss ofis associated with phenotypes that resemble other mA factors, such as sexual transformations,splicing defect, held-out wings, flightless flies, and reduction of mA levels. Thus, Xio encodes a member of the mA methyltransferase complex involved in mRNA modification. Since its ortholog ZC3H13 (or KIAA0853) also associates with several mA writer factors, the function of Xio in the mA pathway is likely evolutionarily conserved.