Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38880992›Full record

ArticleMolecular biology and evolution2024

Rewiring the Sex-Determination Pathway During the Evolution of Self-Fertility.

Yongquan Shen, Shin-Yi Lin, Jonathan Harbin, Richa Amin, Allison Vassalotti, Joseph Romanowski, Emily Schmidt, Alexis Tierney, Ronald E Ellis

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular biology and evolution, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. FLInt inmicroPublication biology · 2026
    Article
  4. TheiScience · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Yongquan ShenDepartment of Molecular Biology, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Science, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA.
Shin-Yi LinDepartment of Molecular Biology, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Science, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA.
Jonathan HarbinDepartment of Molecular Biology, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Science, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA.
Richa AminDepartment of Molecular Biology, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Science, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA.
Allison VassalottiDepartment of Molecular Biology, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Science, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA.
Joseph RomanowskiDepartment of Molecular Biology, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Science, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA.
Emily SchmidtDepartment of Molecular Biology, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Science, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA.
Alexis TierneyDepartment of Molecular Biology, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Science, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA.
Ronald E EllisDepartment of Molecular Biology, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Science, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4027-2022

Funding

Enhancing and expanding the CGC Strain CollectionP40OD010440 · OD · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · PI Ann E. Rougvie · 2012 to 2026
$7.5M
Regulation of the Gli protein TRA-1 by co-factorsR01GM118836 · NIGMS · ROWAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL/OSTEOPATHIC MED · PI ELLIS, RONALD E · 2017 to 2020
$1.2M
Dissecting the origins of a complex reproductive trait: nematode self fertilityR01GM121688 · NIGMS · ROWAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL/OSTEOPATHIC MED · PI ELLIS, RONALD E · 2017 to 2020
$1.2M
NIGMS NIH HHS R01 GM118836NIGMS NIH HHS R01 GM121688NIH HHS P40 OD010440
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Although evolution is driven by changes in how regulatory pathways control development, we know little about the molecular details underlying these transitions. The TRA-2 domain that mediates contact with TRA-1 is conserved in Caenorhabditis. By comparing the interaction of these proteins in two species, we identified a striking change in how sexual development is controlled. Identical mutations in this domain promote oogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans but promote spermatogenesis in Caenorhabditis briggsae. Furthermore, the effects of these mutations involve the male-promoting gene fem-3 in C. elegans but are independent of fem-3 in C. briggsae. Finally, reciprocal mutations in these genes show that C. briggsae TRA-2 binds TRA-1 to prevent expression of spermatogenesis regulators. By contrast, in C. elegans TRA-1 sequesters TRA-2 in the germ line, allowing FEM-3 to initiate spermatogenesis. Thus, we propose that the flow of information within the sex determination pathway has switched directions during evolution. This result has important implications for how evolutionary change can occur.

Indexed as

Caenorhabditis elegansCaenorhabditis elegans ProteinsSex Determination ProcessesSpermatogenesisAnimalsBiological EvolutionCaenorhabditisDNA-Binding ProteinsEvolution, MolecularFemaleMaleMutationOogenesisRNA-Binding ProteinsSelf-FertilizationTranscription FactorsCaenorhabditis elegans ProteinsDNA-Binding Proteinsfem-3 protein, C elegansRNA-Binding Proteinstra-1 protein, C elegansTranscription Factorsevolution of gene regulationnematodessex determination

Identifiers

PMID38880992
PMCPMC11180601

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.