Germline sexual fate is determined by the antagonistic action of <i>dmrt1</i> and <i>foxl3/foxl2</i> in tilapia

ABSTRACT Germline sexual fate has long been believed to be determined by the somatic environment, but this idea is challenged recent studies of foxl3 mutants in medaka. Here, we demonstrate that tilapia germline antagonistic interaction dmrt1 and foxl3, which are transcriptionally repressed male female germ cells, respectively. Loss rescued cell sex reversal foxl3?7/?7 XX fish, loss partially not dmrt1?5/?5 XY fish. Interestingly, cells lost plasticity single mutants, as aromatase inhibitor (AI) estrogen treatment failed rescue respective phenotypes. However, recovery was observed dmrt1/foxl3 double mutants. Importantly, mutation cell-specific foxl2 resulted testicular development or Our findings relies on presence both foxl3. The existence allows environmental factors influence decision vertebrates.