[1] In D. melanogaster the doublesex gene controls somatic sexual differentiation by producing alternatively spliced mRNAs encoding related sex-specific polypeptides.

[3][4] The DM domain binds DNA as a dimer, allowing the recognition of pseudopalindromic sequences .

[2][5][6] The NMR analysis of the DSX DM domain [6] revealed a novel zinc module containing 'intertwined' CCHC and HCCC zinc-binding sites.

The recognition of the DNA requires the carboxy-terminal basic tail which contacts the minor groove of the target sequence.

[8]: species tree  Jpred predicts the human version of the section to be mostly coils; it also suggests a weak similarity to PDB: 6BO4​ by BLAST.