Northern analyses using single-stranded probes do not support a role for GATA/GACA repeats in sex determination in mice and men

Abstract

The possible role of GATA/GACA repeated sequences in mammalian sex determination was investigated using Northern analyses of mouse and human RNA. Brain, liver, and gonadal RNA from three developmental stages of mice of both sexes and also human fetal RNA from various tissues were hybridized to both sense and antisense Bkm riboprobes as well as to the synthetic oligonucleotide (GATA) 5 . At low levels of stringency, putative transcripts of various sizes were observed in all tissue samples with all probes. At high stringency, only a putative transcript of approximately 12 kb was observed, but this was later shown to consist of contaminating DNA. No sex-specific differences were observed in any tissue or developmental stage. Thus, we find no evidence that the GATA/GACA repeated sequences are specifically expressed in quantities detectable by Northern analyses in a manner important to mammalian sex determination.