Drosophila melanogaster sex transformed larval gonads

Drosophila sex determination and gonadal development is regulated at both the pre-mRNA splicing level, by the RNA-binding protein encoded by transformer (tra), and at the transcriptional level by the DNA-binding protein encoded by doublesex (dsx) (https://doi.org/10.1016/S0074-7696(02)19010-3). Wild type chromosomal males (XY) do not expressed tra resulting in expression the male isoform of dsx (dsxM) and develop testes. XX females null for tra (tra-) or expressing dsxM have ovaries transformed into testes. Wild type chromosomal females (XX) express functional tra resulting in expression of the female form of dsx (dsxF). XY males expressing tra from a transgene (traF) express dsxF and have testes transformed into ovaries. We were interested in capturing deep profiles of these gonads including alternative start sites and splice forms.