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Noor Z, Guo S, Zhao Z, Qin Y, Shi G, Ma H, Zhang Y, Li J, Yu Z. Identification and involvement of DAX1 gene in spermatogenesis of boring giant clam Tridacna crocea. Gene 2024; 911:148338. [PMID: 38438056 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
DAX1 (dosage-sensitive sex reversal, adrenal hypoplasia congenital critical region on X chromosome gene 1), a key sex determinant in various species, plays a vital role in gonad differentiation and development and controls spermatogenesis. However, the identity and function of DAX1 are still unclear in bivalves. In the present study, we identified a DAX1 (designed as Tc-DAX1) gene from the boring giant clam Tridacna crocea, a tropical marine bivalve. The full length of Tc-DAX1 was 1877 bp, encoding 462 amino acids, with a Molecular weight of 51.81 kDa and a theoretical Isoelectric point of 5.87 (pI). Multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic analysis indicated a putative ligand binding domain (LBD) conserved regions clustered with molluscans DAX1 homologs. The tissue distributions in different reproductive stages revealed a dimorphic pattern, with the highest expression trend in the male reproductive stage, indicating its role in spermatogenesis. The DAX1 expression data from embryonic stages shows its highest expression profile (P < 0.05) in the zygote stage, followed by decreasing trends in the larvae stages (P > 0.05). The localization of DAX1 transcripts has also been confirmed by whole mount in situ hybridization, showing high positive signals in the fertilized egg, 2, and 4-cell stage, and gastrula. Moreover, RNAi knockdown of the Tc-DAX1 transcripts shows a significantly lower expression profile in the ds-DAX1 group compared to the ds-EGFP group. Subsequent histological analysis of gonads revealed that spermatogenesis was affected in a ds-DAX1 group compared to the ds-EGFP group. All these results indicate that Tc-DAX1 is involved in the spermatogenesis and early embryonic development of T. crocea, providing valuable information for the breeding and aquaculture of giant clams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohaib Noor
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Hainan Sanya Marine Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Shuming Guo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Hainan Sanya Marine Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Hainan Sanya Marine Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Yanpin Qin
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Hainan Sanya Marine Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Gongpengyang Shi
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Hainan Sanya Marine Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Haitao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Hainan Sanya Marine Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Yuehuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Hainan Sanya Marine Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Hainan Sanya Marine Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Sanya 572024, China.
| | - Ziniu Yu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Hainan Sanya Marine Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Sanya 572024, China.
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Liu S, Lian Y, Song Y, Chen Q, Huang J. De Novo Assembly, Characterization and Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of the Gonads of Jade Perch ( Scortum barcoo). Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2254. [PMID: 37508032 PMCID: PMC10376888 DOI: 10.3390/ani13142254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the high meat yield and rich nutritional content, jade perch (Scortum barcoo) has become an important commercial aquaculture species in China. Jade perch has a slow growth rate, taking 3-4 years to reach sexual maturity, and has almost no difference in body size between males and females. However, the study of its gonad development and reproduction regulation is still blank, which limited the yield increase. Herein, the gonad transcriptomes of juvenile males and females of S. barcoo were identified for the first time. A total of 107,060 unigenes were successfully annotated. By comparing male and female gonad transcriptomes, a total of 23,849 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, of which 9517 were downregulated, and 14,332 were upregulated in the testis. In addition, a large number of DEGs involved in sex differentiation, gonadal development and differentiation and gametogenesis were identified, and the differential expression patterns of some genes were further verified using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The results of this study will provide a valuable resource for further studies on sex determination and gonadal development of S. barcoo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yingying Lian
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yikun Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Qinghua Chen
- South China Institute of Environmental Science, MEE, Guangzhou 510610, China
| | - Jianrong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
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Takahashi T, Ogiwara K. cAMP signaling in ovarian physiology in teleosts: A review. Cell Signal 2023; 101:110499. [PMID: 36273754 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2022.110499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian function in teleosts, like in other vertebrates, is regulated by two distinct gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Gonadotropin effects are mediated by membrane-bound G protein-coupled receptors localized on the surface of follicle cells. Gonadotropin receptor activation results in increased intracellular cAMP, the most important second cellular signaling molecule. FSH stimulation induces the production of 17β-estradiol in the cells of growing follicles to promote vitellogenesis in oocytes. In contrast, in response to LH, fully grown post-vitellogenic follicles gain the ability to synthesize maturation-inducing steroids, which induce meiotic resumption and ovulation. All these events were induced downstream of cAMP. In this review, we summarize studies addressing the role of the cAMP pathway in gonadotropin-induced processes in teleost ovarian follicles. Furthermore, we discuss future problems concerning cAMP signaling in relation to teleost ovarian function and the differences and similarities in the gonadotropin-induced cAMP signaling pathways between mammals and teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Takahashi
- Laboratory of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
| | - Katsueki Ogiwara
- Laboratory of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan.
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Nagarajan G, Aruna A, Alkhamis YA, Mathew RT, Chang CF. Expression and Transcript Localization of star, sf-1, and dax-1 in the Early Brain of the Orange-Spotted Grouper Epinephelus coioides. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052614. [PMID: 35269757 PMCID: PMC8910455 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the developmental expression and localization of sf-1 and dax-1 transcripts in the brain of the juvenile orange-spotted grouper in response to steroidogenic enzyme gene at various developmental ages in relation to gonadal sex differentiation. The sf-1 transcripts were significantly higher from 110-dah (day after hatching) and gradually increased up to 150-dah. The dax-1 mRNA, on the other hand, showed a decreased expression during this period, in contrast to sf-1 expression. At the same time, the early brain had increased levels of steroidogenic gene (star). sf-1 and star hybridization signals were found to be increased in the ventromedial hypothalamus at 110-dah; however, dax-1 mRNA signals decreased in the early brain toward 150-dah. Furthermore, the exogenous estradiol upregulated star and sf-1 transcripts in the early brain of the grouper. These findings suggest that sf-1 and dax-1 may have an antagonistic expression pattern in the early brain during gonadal sex differentiation. Increased expression of steroidogenic gene together with sf-1 during gonadal differentiation strongly suggests that sf-1 may play an important role in the juvenile grouper brain steroidogenesis and brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganesan Nagarajan
- Basic Sciences Department, PYD, King Faisal University, Hofuf-420, Al-Asha 31982, Saudi Arabia
- Center of Excellence for the Ocean, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan;
- Correspondence: (G.N.); (C.-F.C.); Tel.: +966-0135896810 (G.N.); +886-2-2462-2192 (ext. 5209) (C.-F.C.)
| | - Adimoolam Aruna
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan;
| | - Yousef Ahmed Alkhamis
- Animal and Fish Production Department, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Hofuf-420, Al-Asha 31982, Saudi Arabia;
- Fish Resources Research Center, King Faisal University, Hofuf-420, Al-Asha 31982, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Roshmon Thomas Mathew
- Fish Resources Research Center, King Faisal University, Hofuf-420, Al-Asha 31982, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ching-Fong Chang
- Center of Excellence for the Ocean, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan;
- Correspondence: (G.N.); (C.-F.C.); Tel.: +966-0135896810 (G.N.); +886-2-2462-2192 (ext. 5209) (C.-F.C.)
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Sharma P, Purohit S, Kothiyal S, Negi S, Bhattacharya I. Sex Specific Transcriptional Regulation of Gonadal Steroidogenesis in Teleost Fishes. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:820241. [PMID: 35250877 PMCID: PMC8894591 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.820241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Guo Y, Cheng L, Li X, Tang S, Zhang X, Gong Y. Transcriptional regulation of CYP19A1 expression in chickens: ESR1, ESR2 and NR5A2 form a functional network. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2022; 315:113939. [PMID: 34710471 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Aromatase, encoded by CYP19A1, is responsible for the conversion of androgen to estrogen, which plays a vital role in the development and function of the ovary and functions in many other physiological processes in both sexes. Instead of being expressed in ovarian granulosa cells, as in mammals, CYP19A1 is expressed in chickens in the theca cells of ovarian follicles, and the mechanism of CYP19A1 expression regulation remains unknown. Here, using immunofluorescence and western blotting assay, we first confirmed that CYP19A1 and FOXL2 (Forkheadbox L2) were coexpressed in pre-granulosa cells of female chicken embryonic gonads, while FOXL2 did not affect aromatase expression at embryonic stages. Second, our research showed that CYP19A1, ESR1 (estrogen receptor alpha), ESR2 (estrogen receptor beta) and NR5A2 (liver receptor homologue-1) were coexpressed in the theca cell layers of chicken small yellow follicles. There was cross-talk between CYP19A1 and candidate transcription factors (ESR1, ESR2 and NR5A2), which was identified by generating a reliable theca cell culture model. Using luciferase assays in theca cells and chicken embryonic fibroblast (DF-1) cells, the results suggested that ESR1 and NR5A2 had potential effects on CYP19A1 promoter activity in chickens. Overexpression of ESR1, ESR2 and NR5A2 in chicken embryonic fibroblast (DF-1) cells upregulated the protein expression of CYP19A1, mutually restricted each other and formed a potential regulatory network to coordinate the expression of CYP19A1. To conclude, our results indicated that FOXL2 cannot regulate the expression of CYP19A1 at chicken embryonic stages and after sexual maturity, ESR1, ESR2 and NR5A2 form a functional network to affect the expression of CYP19A1. These results laid a foundation for further research on the transcriptional regulation of chicken aromatase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, PR China; College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, PR China.
| | - Lu Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, PR China; College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, PR China.
| | - Xuelian Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, PR China; College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, PR China.
| | - Shuixin Tang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, PR China; College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, PR China.
| | - Xiaxia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, PR China; College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, PR China.
| | - Yanzhang Gong
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, PR China; College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, PR China.
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Ramos L, Mares L. Hamster DAX1: Molecular insights, specific expression, and its role in the Harderian gland. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2021; 263:111096. [PMID: 34653610 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.111096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
DAX1 plays an essential role in the differentiation and physiology of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal-Gonadal (HPAG) axis during embryogenesis. However, in adult tissues, in addition to the HPAG axis, evidence has not been found for its differential expression and function. We isolated the DAX1 cDNA to analyze its tissue localization and gene expression profiles in male and female hamsters' Harderian glands (HGs), Mesocricetus auratus. The isolated cDNA clone contains 1848 base pairs (bp), and a 1428-bp open reading frame (ORF) encodes a 476 amino acid protein. Sequence alignments and the phylogenetic tree display a relevant percentage of similarity with human (66%), rat (81%), and mouse (84%) sequences. In adult tissues, the mRNA distribution demonstrated that DAX1 is present in testis, ovaries, and male and female HGs. The highest expression profiles were identified in the adrenal glands, where females exhibit higher mRNA levels than males. The sexually dimorphic expression of DAX1 in adrenals suggests that its presence could be associated with regulating, functioning, and maintaining this endocrine tissue. These findings indicate that the DAX1 gene is limitedly expressed in adult tissues. In the HGs, we demonstrate the absence of sexually dimorphic gene expression. Our results suggest that DAX1 might have an additional physiological function outside of the HPAG axis, specifically in the HG, which may be required for the regulation of intracrine steroidogenesis, secretion, and maintenance of exocrine tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Ramos
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México City, Mexico.
| | - L Mares
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México City, Mexico
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Shi H, Ru X, Mustapha UF, Jiang D, Huang Y, Pan S, Zhu C, Li G. Characterization, expression, and regulatory effects of nr0b1a and nr0b1b in spotted scat (Scatophagus argus). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 256:110644. [PMID: 34224854 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2021.110644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear receptor subfamily 0 group B member 1 (Nr0b1) belongs to the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily. It plays critical roles in sex determination, sex differentiation, and gonadal development in mammals. In this study, the duplicated genes nr0b1a and nr0b1b were identified in spotted scat (Scatophagus argus). Phylogenetic and synteny analyses revealed that, unlike nr0b1a, nr0b1b was retained in several species of teleosts after an nr0b1 gene duplication event but was secondarily lost in other fish species, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. In a sequence analysis, only 1.5 LXXLL-related repeat motifs were identified in spotted scat Nr0b1a, Nr0b1b, and non-mammalian Nr0b1a/Nr0b1, different from the 3.5 repeat motifs in mammalian Nr0b1. By qPCR, nr0b1a and nr0b1b were highly expressed in testes from stages IV to V and in ovaries from stages II to IV, respectively. Male-to-female sex reversal was induced in XY spotted scat by the administration of exogenous E2. A qPCR analysis showed that nr0b1b mRNA expression was higher in sex-reversed XY fish than in control XY fish, with no difference in nr0b1a. A luciferase assay showed that spotted scat Nr0b1a and Nr0b1b did not individually activate cyp19a1a gene transcription. As in mammals, spotted scat Nr0b1a suppressed Nr5a1-mediated cyp19a1a expression, despite containing only 1.5 LXXLL-related repeat motifs in its N-terminal region, while Nr0b1b stimulated Nr5a1-mediated cyp19a1a transcription. These results demonstrated that nr0b1a and nr0b1b in spotted scat have distinct expression patterns and regulatory effects and further indicate that nr0b1b might be involved in ovarian development by regulating Nr5a1-mediated cyp19a1a expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjuan Shi
- Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Aquaculture Environment of Zhanjiang, Guangdong South China Sea Key Laboratory of Aquaculture for Aquatic Economic Animals, Fisheries College, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Xiaoying Ru
- Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Aquaculture Environment of Zhanjiang, Guangdong South China Sea Key Laboratory of Aquaculture for Aquatic Economic Animals, Fisheries College, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Umar Farouk Mustapha
- Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Aquaculture Environment of Zhanjiang, Guangdong South China Sea Key Laboratory of Aquaculture for Aquatic Economic Animals, Fisheries College, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Dongneng Jiang
- Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Aquaculture Environment of Zhanjiang, Guangdong South China Sea Key Laboratory of Aquaculture for Aquatic Economic Animals, Fisheries College, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Yang Huang
- Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Aquaculture Environment of Zhanjiang, Guangdong South China Sea Key Laboratory of Aquaculture for Aquatic Economic Animals, Fisheries College, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Shuhui Pan
- Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Aquaculture Environment of Zhanjiang, Guangdong South China Sea Key Laboratory of Aquaculture for Aquatic Economic Animals, Fisheries College, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Chunhua Zhu
- Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Aquaculture Environment of Zhanjiang, Guangdong South China Sea Key Laboratory of Aquaculture for Aquatic Economic Animals, Fisheries College, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Guangli Li
- Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Aquaculture Environment of Zhanjiang, Guangdong South China Sea Key Laboratory of Aquaculture for Aquatic Economic Animals, Fisheries College, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
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Wang Y, Liu X, Zhao J, Ouyang S, Li W, Zhu J, Zhu Y, Zhu X. Molecular cloning of ESR1, BMPR1B, and FOXL2 and differential expressions depend on maternal age and size during breeding season in cultured Asian yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 232:108-120. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Zou Y, Peng L, Weng S, Liang D, Fan Z, Wu Z, Tan X, Jiao S, You F. Characterization and expression of androgen receptors in olive flounder. Gene 2019; 683:184-194. [PMID: 30315925 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Androgens are critical hormones that regulate sex differentiation, sexual maturation, and spermatogenesis in vertebrates, which is mainly mediated by androgen receptors (ARs). Reports on transcript variants of ar (AR encoding gene) in human are almost always associated with cancers and androgen insensitivity syndrome. However, the knowledge of ar variants in teleosts is scarce. In this study, arβ and two transcript variants of arα (arα1 and arα2) in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) were cloned and analyzed. Their expression patterns were investigated in 16 adult female and male tissues by RT-PCR, respectively. arα1 was expressed in the majority of tissues excluding male liver, medulla oblongata and female cerebellum, with higher levels in male gonad, kidney, head kidney, intestine, stomach, spleen, heart and gill than in female. arα2 had similar expression patterns as arα1, with lower levels in general. arβ was also widely expressed in various tissues excluding male spleen, female spleen and gill, with higher levels in male gonad, kidney, head kidney, intestine and lower levels in hypothalamus than in female. Compared with arβ, much lower expression levels of arα1 and arα2 were detected in different brain areas. The real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) results showed that the total arα expression level was relatively higher during olive flounder gonadal differentiation and before the onset of testis differentiation, whereas arβ was expressed significantly higher during male gonadal differentiation period than female gonadal differentiation period. The in vitro transient transfection assays showed that ARα1, ARα2 and ARβ could all suppress the activity of cyp19a (p450arom aromatase gene) promoter, and the inhibitory effect of ARα1 was dose dependent. Our results imply that arα1, arα2 and arβ are sex-related genes and they might play important roles in gonadal differentiation in flounder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxia Zou
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, P. R. China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, P. R. China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China
| | - Limin Peng
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, P. R. China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Shenda Weng
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, P. R. China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Dongdong Liang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, P. R. China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, P. R. China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhaofei Fan
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, P. R. China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, P. R. China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhihao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, P. R. China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, P. R. China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China
| | - Xungang Tan
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, P. R. China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, P. R. China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China
| | - Shuang Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, P. R. China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, P. R. China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China
| | - Feng You
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, P. R. China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, P. R. China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China.
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11
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Huang M, Wang Q, Chen J, Chen H, Xiao L, Zhao M, Zhang H, Li S, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Lin H. The co-administration of estradiol/17α-methyltestosterone leads to male fate in the protogynous orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides. Biol Reprod 2018; 100:745-756. [DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 08/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Minwei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Healthy Breeding of Important Economic Fish, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Marine Fishery Resource Protection and Utilization of Hainan Province, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 570228, China
| | - Qing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Healthy Breeding of Important Economic Fish, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaxing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Healthy Breeding of Important Economic Fish, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Marine Fishery Resource Protection and Utilization of Hainan Province, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 570228, China
| | - Huimin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Healthy Breeding of Important Economic Fish, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Marine Fishery Resource Protection and Utilization of Hainan Province, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 570228, China
| | - Ling Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Healthy Breeding of Important Economic Fish, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Marine Fishery Resource Protection and Utilization of Hainan Province, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 570228, China
| | - Mi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Healthy Breeding of Important Economic Fish, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Marine Fishery Resource Protection and Utilization of Hainan Province, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 570228, China
| | - Haifa Zhang
- Marine Fisheries Development Center of Guangdong Province, Huizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuisheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Healthy Breeding of Important Economic Fish, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Marine Fishery Resource Protection and Utilization of Hainan Province, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 570228, China
| | - Yun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Healthy Breeding of Important Economic Fish, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Marine Fishery Resource Protection and Utilization of Hainan Province, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 570228, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Healthy Breeding of Important Economic Fish, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Marine Fishery Resource Protection and Utilization of Hainan Province, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 570228, China
- Marine Fisheries Development Center of Guangdong Province, Huizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Haoran Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Healthy Breeding of Important Economic Fish, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Marine Fishery Resource Protection and Utilization of Hainan Province, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 570228, China
- College of Ocean, Hainan University, Haikou, People's Republic of China
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12
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Yan H, Shen X, Cui X, Wu Y, Wang L, Zhang L, Liu Q, Jiang Y. Identification of genes involved in gonadal sex differentiation and the dimorphic expression pattern in Takifugu rubripes gonad at the early stage of sex differentiation. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2018; 44:1275-1290. [PMID: 29777416 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-018-0519-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying the expression of mRNAs in the gonads at the critical stage of molecular sex differentiation stage might help to clarify the regulatory network during early sex differentiation and provide new information on the role of sex-related genes in gonadal function. In this study, transcriptomic analysis of sex-related genes expression profiles in fugu gonads at 60 and 90 days after hatching (dah) was conducted firstly, and a total of 112,504,991 clean reads, encompassing 28.35 Gb of sequences were retrieved. Twenty-three thousand eight hundred ten genes were found to be expressed in juvenile fugu gonads, and we mainly focused on the differentially expressed genes that have the potential to be involved in the gonadal sex differentiation. For 60-dah juveniles, we identified 1014 genes that were upregulated in the ovary and 1570 that were upregulated in the testis. For 90-dah juveniles, we identified 1287 genes that were upregulated in the ovary and 1500 that were upregulated in the testis. The dimorphic expression patterns of 15 genes in gonads at 30 and 40 dah were further investigate using qPCR. Cyp11b and star were expressed at higher levels in XY than in XX, while cyp11a1 and cyp19a1a were expressed at higher levels in XX than in XY at 30 dah. At 40 dah, the levels of gsdf, dmrt1, dmrt3, cyp11c1, star, and hsd3b expression were higher in XY, while the levels of foxl2, cyp19a1a, wnt9b, and foxD4 expression were higher in XX. Sox9, cyp11a1, cyp17a1, cyp17a2, and nr5a2 were expressed at similar levels in XX and XY at 40 dah. This is the first report of gonadal transcriptome of fugu at early sex differentiation stage, and our results provide an archive for further study on molecular mechanism underlying sex differentiation in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Yan
- College of Fisheries and life Science, Dalian Ocean University, No. 52 Heishijiao Street, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Xufang Shen
- College of Fisheries and life Science, Dalian Ocean University, No. 52 Heishijiao Street, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Xin Cui
- College of Fisheries and life Science, Dalian Ocean University, No. 52 Heishijiao Street, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Yumeng Wu
- College of Fisheries and life Science, Dalian Ocean University, No. 52 Heishijiao Street, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Lianshun Wang
- College of Fisheries and life Science, Dalian Ocean University, No. 52 Heishijiao Street, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- College of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, No. 52 Heishijiao Street, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Qi Liu
- College of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, No. 52 Heishijiao Street, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116023, China.
| | - Yusheng Jiang
- College of Fisheries and life Science, Dalian Ocean University, No. 52 Heishijiao Street, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116023, China
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13
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Xia X, Huo W, Wan R, Wang P, Chang Z. Cloning, characterization and function analysis of DAX1 in Chinese loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus). Genetica 2018; 146:487-496. [PMID: 30206752 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-018-0039-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms of sex determination and differentiation have not been elucidated in most fish species. In this study, the full-length cDNAs of DAX1 was cloned and characterized in aquaculture fish Chinese loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus), designated as Pd-DAX1. The cDNA sequence of Pd-DAX1 was 1261 bp, including 795 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 264 amino acids. Pd-DAX1 shares highly identical sequence with DAX1 homologues from different species. The expression profiles of Pd-DAX1 in different developmental stages and diverse adult tissues were analyzed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and in situ hybridization (ISH). Pd-DAX1 was continuously expressed during embryogenesis, with the extensive distribution in the development of the central nervous system. Tissue distribution analysis revealed that Pd-DAX1 expressed widely in adult tissues, with the highest expression level found in testis, moderate level in ovary, showing a sex-dimorphic expression pattern. Pd-DAX1 mainly located in spermatogonia cells, spermatocytes, primary oocytes and previtellogenic oocyte cells, implying that Pd-DAX1 may involve in gametogenesis. These preliminary findings suggest that Pd-DAX1 gene is highly conserved during vertebrate evolution and involved in a wide range of developmental processes including embryogenesis, central nervous system development and gonad development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Xia
- Molecular and Genetic Laboratory, College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, 46# East of Construction Road, Xinxiang, 453007, Henan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weiran Huo
- Molecular and Genetic Laboratory, College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, 46# East of Construction Road, Xinxiang, 453007, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruyan Wan
- Molecular and Genetic Laboratory, College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, 46# East of Construction Road, Xinxiang, 453007, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Peijin Wang
- Molecular and Genetic Laboratory, College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, 46# East of Construction Road, Xinxiang, 453007, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongjie Chang
- Molecular and Genetic Laboratory, College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, 46# East of Construction Road, Xinxiang, 453007, Henan, People's Republic of China
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14
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Wang W, Zhu H, Dong Y, Tian Z, Dong T, Hu H, Niu C. Dimorphic expression of sex-related genes in different gonadal development stages of sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus, a primitive fish species. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2017; 43:1557-1569. [PMID: 28963671 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-017-0392-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Molecular mechanism of sex determination and differentiation of sturgeon, a primitive fish species, is extraordinarily important due to the valuable caviar; however, it is still poorly known. The present work aimed to identify the major genes involved in regulating gonadal development of sterlet, a small species of sturgeon, from 13 candidate genes which have been shown to relate to gonadal differentiation and development in other teleost fish. The sex and gonadal development of sterlets were determined by histological observation and levels of sex steroids testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT), and 17β-estradiol (E2) in serum. Sexually dimorphic gene expressions were investigated. The results revealed that gonadal development were asynchronous in 2-year-old male and female sterlets with the testes in early or mid-spermatogenesis and the ovaries in chromatin nucleolus stage or perinucleolus stage, respectively. The levels of T and E2 were not significantly different between sexes or different gonadal development stages while 11-KT had the higher level in mid-spermatogenesis testis stage. In all the investigated gonadal development stages, gene dmrt1 and hsd11b2 were expressed higher in male whereas foxl2 and cyp19a1 were expressed higher in female. Thus, these genes provided the promising markers for sex identification of sterlet. It was unexpected that dkk1 and dax1 had significantly higher expression in ovarian perinucleolus stage than in ovarian chromatin nucleolus stage and in the testis, suggesting that these two genes had more correlation with ovarian development than with the testis, contrary to the previous reports in other vertebrates. Testicular development-related genes (gsdf and amh) and estrogen receptor genes (era and erb) differentially expressed at different testis or ovary development stages, but their expressions were not absolutely significantly different in male and female, depending on the gonadal development stage. Expression of androgen receptor gene ar or rspo, which was supposed to be related to ovarian development, presented no difference between gonadal development stages investigated in this study whenever in male or female.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xin Jie Kou Wai Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, China
- National Freshwater Fisheries Engineering Technology Research Center, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology (No. BZ0301), Beijing Fisheries Research Institute, No.18 Ma Jia Pu Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Hua Zhu
- National Freshwater Fisheries Engineering Technology Research Center, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology (No. BZ0301), Beijing Fisheries Research Institute, No.18 Ma Jia Pu Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Ying Dong
- National Freshwater Fisheries Engineering Technology Research Center, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology (No. BZ0301), Beijing Fisheries Research Institute, No.18 Ma Jia Pu Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - ZhaoHui Tian
- National Freshwater Fisheries Engineering Technology Research Center, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology (No. BZ0301), Beijing Fisheries Research Institute, No.18 Ma Jia Pu Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Tian Dong
- National Freshwater Fisheries Engineering Technology Research Center, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology (No. BZ0301), Beijing Fisheries Research Institute, No.18 Ma Jia Pu Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - HongXia Hu
- National Freshwater Fisheries Engineering Technology Research Center, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology (No. BZ0301), Beijing Fisheries Research Institute, No.18 Ma Jia Pu Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100068, China.
| | - CuiJuan Niu
- Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xin Jie Kou Wai Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, China.
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15
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Fan Z, Zou Y, Jiao S, Tan X, Wu Z, Liang D, Zhang P, You F. Significant association of cyp19a promoter methylation with environmental factors and gonadal differentiation in olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2017; 208:70-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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16
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Yang YJ, Wang Y, Li Z, Zhou L, Gui JF. Sequential, Divergent, and Cooperative Requirements of Foxl2a and Foxl2b in Ovary Development and Maintenance of Zebrafish. Genetics 2017; 205:1551-1572. [PMID: 28193729 PMCID: PMC5378113 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.116.199133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Foxl2 is essential for mammalian ovary maintenance. Although sexually dimorphic expression of foxl2 was observed in many teleosts, its role and regulative mechanism in fish remained largely unclear. In this study, we first identified two transcript variants of foxl2a and its homologous gene foxl2b in zebrafish, and revealed their specific expression in follicular layer cells in a sequential and divergent fashion during ovary differentiation, maturation, and maintenance. Then, homozygous foxl2a mutants (foxl2a-/-) and foxl2b mutants (foxl2b-/-) were constructed and detailed comparisons, such as sex ratio, gonadal histological structure, transcriptome profiling, and dynamic expression of gonadal development-related genes, were carried out. Initial ovarian differentiation and oocyte development occur normally both in foxl2a-/- and foxl2b-/- mutants, but foxl2a and foxl2b disruptions result in premature ovarian failure and partial sex reversal, respectively, in adult females. In foxl2a-/- female mutants, sox9a-amh/cyp19a1a signaling was upregulated at 150 days postfertilization (dpf) and subsequently oocyte apoptosis was triggered after 180 dpf. In contrast, dmrt1 expression was greater at 105 dpf and increased several 100-fold in foxl2b-/- mutated ovaries at 270 dpf, along with other testis-related genes. Finally, homozygous foxl2a-/-/foxl2b-/- double mutants were constructed in which complete sex reversal occurs early and testis-differentiation genes robustly increase at 60 dpf. Given mutual compensation between foxl2a and foxl2b in foxl2b-/- and foxl2a-/- mutants, we proposed a model in which foxl2a and foxl2b cooperate to regulate zebrafish ovary development and maintenance, with foxl2b potentially having a dominant role in preventing the ovary from differentiating as testis, as compared to foxl2a.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zhi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Li Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jian-Fang Gui
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
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17
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Wada M, Fujitani K, Tamura K, Mawaribuchi S, Kamata Y, Takamatsu N, Ito M. Masculinization-Related Genes and Cell-Mass Structures During Early Gonadal Differentiation in the African Clawed Frog Xenopus laevis. Zoolog Sci 2017; 34:105-111. [DOI: 10.2108/zs160185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mikako Wada
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku, Sagamihara 252-0373, Japan
| | - Kazuko Fujitani
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku, Sagamihara 252-0373, Japan
| | - Kei Tamura
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku, Sagamihara 252-0373, Japan
| | - Shuuji Mawaribuchi
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku, Sagamihara 252-0373, Japan
| | - Yosuke Kamata
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku, Sagamihara 252-0373, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Takamatsu
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku, Sagamihara 252-0373, Japan
| | - Michihiko Ito
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku, Sagamihara 252-0373, Japan
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18
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Co-expression analysis and identification of fecundity-related long non-coding RNAs in sheep ovaries. Sci Rep 2016; 6:39398. [PMID: 27982099 PMCID: PMC5159859 DOI: 10.1038/srep39398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Small Tail Han sheep, including the FecBBFecBB (Han BB) and FecB+ FecB+ (Han++) genotypes, and Dorset sheep exhibit different fecundities. To identify novel long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with sheep fecundity to better understand their molecular mechanisms, a genome-wide analysis of mRNAs and lncRNAs from Han BB, Han++ and Dorset sheep was performed. After the identification of differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs, 16 significant modules were explored by using weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) followed by functional enrichment analysis of the genes and lncRNAs in significant modules. Among these selected modules, the yellow and brown modules were significantly related to sheep fecundity. lncRNAs (e.g., NR0B1, XLOC_041882, and MYH15) in the yellow module were mainly involved in the TGF-β signalling pathway, and NYAP1 and BCORL1 were significantly associated with the oxytocin signalling pathway, which regulates several genes in the coexpression network of the brown module. Overall, we identified several gene modules associated with sheep fecundity, as well as networks consisting of hub genes and lncRNAs that may contribute to sheep prolificacy by regulating the target mRNAs related to the TGF-β and oxytocin signalling pathways. This study provides an alternative strategy for the identification of potential candidate regulatory lncRNAs.
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Zheng Y, Chen J, Bing X, Yang Y, Liang H, Wang Z. Gender-specific differences in gene expression profiles in gynogenetic Pengze crucian carp. ANIM BIOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/15707563-00002496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Gynogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction that is used to obtain all-female fish stocks. In this study, we were interested in studying gender-specific differences in gene expression profiles in gynogenetic teleosts, using a carp species. The four-month old gynogenetic Pengze crucian carp F1 (Carassius auratus var. pengzensis, Pcc) showed a high ratio of males under laboratory culture condition. The present study aimed to investigate the differences between males and females. The gonadosomatic index of the females was significantly higher than that of the males. Moreover, the hepatosomatic index of the females was significantly lower than that of the males. Vitellogenin B mRNA was abnormally highly expressed in male hepatopancreas and testes compared to females. Similarly, zona pellucida 2 expressed at a significantly high level in the testes. For the sex related genes, dosage-sensitive sex reversal, adrenal hypoplasia congenital critical region on the X-chromosome gene 1, doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 1a, nuclear receptor subfamily 5, group A, member 1b and SRY-box containing gene 9a had significantly higher expression levels in the males than in the females, whereas there was no difference in expression of anti-Müllerian hormone, cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1A and forkhead box L2 transcripts between the two genders. The females showed higher levels of estrogen but no significant difference in testosterone compared to the males. The data suggest remarkable differences between the two genders of the Pengze crucian carp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Zheng
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Key Open Laboratory of Ecological Environment and Resources of Inland Fisheries, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences; Key Laboratory of Genetic Breeding and Aquaculture Biology of Freshwater Fishes, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Fishery Resources and Environment in the Lower Reaches of the Changjiang River, Ministry of Agriculture; Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Jiazhang Chen
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Key Open Laboratory of Ecological Environment and Resources of Inland Fisheries, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences; Key Laboratory of Genetic Breeding and Aquaculture Biology of Freshwater Fishes, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Fishery Resources and Environment in the Lower Reaches of the Changjiang River, Ministry of Agriculture; Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, China
| | - Xuwen Bing
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Key Open Laboratory of Ecological Environment and Resources of Inland Fisheries, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences; Key Laboratory of Genetic Breeding and Aquaculture Biology of Freshwater Fishes, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Fishery Resources and Environment in the Lower Reaches of the Changjiang River, Ministry of Agriculture; Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, China
| | - Yanping Yang
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Key Open Laboratory of Ecological Environment and Resources of Inland Fisheries, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences; Key Laboratory of Genetic Breeding and Aquaculture Biology of Freshwater Fishes, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Fishery Resources and Environment in the Lower Reaches of the Changjiang River, Ministry of Agriculture; Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Hongwei Liang
- Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430223, China
| | - Zaizhao Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
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Liu H, Lamm MS, Rutherford K, Black MA, Godwin JR, Gemmell NJ. Large-scale transcriptome sequencing reveals novel expression patterns for key sex-related genes in a sex-changing fish. Biol Sex Differ 2015; 6:26. [PMID: 26613014 PMCID: PMC4660848 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-015-0044-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Teleost fishes exhibit remarkably diverse and plastic sexual developmental patterns. One of the most astonishing is the rapid socially controlled female-to-male (protogynous) sex change observed in bluehead wrasses (Thalassoma bifasciatum). Such functional sex change is widespread in marine fishes, including species of commercial importance, yet its underlying molecular basis remains poorly explored. Methods RNA sequencing was performed to characterize the transcriptomic profiles and identify genes exhibiting sex-biased expression in the brain (forebrain and midbrain) and gonads of bluehead wrasses. Functional annotation and enrichment analysis were carried out for the sex-biased genes in the gonad to detect global differences in gene products and genetic pathways between males and females. Results Here we report the first transcriptomic analysis for a protogynous fish. Expression comparison between males and females reveals a large set of genes with sex-biased expression in the gonad, but relatively few such sex-biased genes in the brain. Functional annotation and enrichment analysis suggested that ovaries are mainly enriched for metabolic processes and testes for signal transduction, particularly receptors of neurotransmitters and steroid hormones. When compared to other species, many genes previously implicated in male sex determination and differentiation pathways showed conservation in their gonadal expression patterns in bluehead wrasses. However, some critical female-pathway genes (e.g., rspo1 and wnt4b) exhibited unanticipated expression patterns. In the brain, gene expression patterns suggest that local neurosteroid production and signaling likely contribute to the sex differences observed. Conclusions Expression patterns of key sex-related genes suggest that sex-changing fish predominantly use an evolutionarily conserved genetic toolkit, but that subtle variability in the standard sex-determination regulatory network likely contributes to sexual plasticity in these fish. This study not only provides the first molecular data on a system ideally suited to explore the molecular basis of sexual plasticity and tissue re-engineering, but also sheds some light on the evolution of diverse sex determination and differentiation systems. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13293-015-0044-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Melissa S Lamm
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA ; W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | - Kim Rutherford
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Michael A Black
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - John R Godwin
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA ; W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Hu Q, Guo W, Gao Y, Tang R, Li D. Molecular cloning and characterization of amh and dax1 genes and their expression during sex inversion in rice-field eel Monopterus albus. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16667. [PMID: 26578091 PMCID: PMC4649613 DOI: 10.1038/srep16667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The full-length cDNAs of amh and dax1 in the hermaphrodite, rice-field eel (Monopterus albus), were cloned and characterized in this study. Multiple sequence alignment revealed Dax1 was well conserved among vertebrates, whereas Amh had a low degree of similarity between different vertebrates. Their expression profiles in gonads during the course of sex inversion and tissues were investigated. The tissue distribution indicated amh was expressed mostly in gonads and was scarcely detectable in other tissues, whereas the expression of dax1 was widespread among the different tissues, especially liver and gonads. amh was scarcely detectable in ovaries whereas it was abundantly expressed in both ovotestis and testis. By contrast, dax1 was highly expressed in ovaries, especially in ♀IV (ovaries in IV stage), but it was decreased significantly in ♀/♂I (ovotestis in I stage). Its expression was increased again in ♀/♂III (ovotestis in III stage), and then decreased to a low level in testis. These significant different expression patterns of amh and dax1 suggest the increase of amh expression and the decline of dax1 expression are important for the activation of testis development, and the high level of amh and a low level of dax1 expression are necessary for maintenance of testis function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Hu
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.,Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430070, China.,Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wei Guo
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.,Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430070, China.,Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yu Gao
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.,Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430070, China.,Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Rong Tang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.,Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430070, China.,Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Dapeng Li
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.,Life Science College, Hunan University of Arts and Science, Changde 415000, China.,Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430070, China.,Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430070, China
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Wang L, You F, Weng S, Wen A, Wu Z, Zou Y, Xin M, Zhang P. Molecular cloning and sexually dimorphic expression patterns of nr0b1 and nr5a2 in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Dev Genes Evol 2015; 225:95-104. [DOI: 10.1007/s00427-015-0495-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Abstract
Teleost fishes are the most species-rich clade of vertebrates and feature an overwhelming diversity of sex-determining mechanisms, classically grouped into environmental and genetic systems. Here, we review the recent findings in the field of sex determination in fish. In the past few years, several new master regulators of sex determination and other factors involved in sexual development have been discovered in teleosts. These data point toward a greater genetic plasticity in generating the male and female sex than previously appreciated and implicate novel gene pathways in the initial regulation of the sexual fate. Overall, it seems that sex determination in fish does not resort to a single genetic cascade but is rather regulated along a continuum of environmental and heritable factors.
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Zhang Y, Zhang S, Lu H, Zhang L, Zhang W. Genes encoding aromatases in teleosts: evolution and expression regulation. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2014; 205:151-8. [PMID: 24859258 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2013] [Revised: 04/29/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cytochrome P450 aromatases, encoded by cyp19a1 genes, catalyzes the conversion of androgens to estrogens and plays important roles in the reproduction of vertebrates. Vertebrate cyp19a1 genes showed high synteny in chromosomal locations and conservation in sequences during evolution. However, amphioxus cyp19a1 does not show synteny to vertebrate cyp19a1. Teleost fish possess two copies of the cyp19a1 gene, which were postulated to result from a fish-specific genome duplication. The duplicated copies of fish cyp19a1 genes evolved into the brain and ovarian forms of cytochrome P450 aromatase genes, cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b, respectively, with different regulatory mechanisms of expression, through subfunctionalization under long-term selective pressure. In addition to the estradiol (E2) auto-regulatory loop, there may be other mechanisms responsible for the high expression of aromatase in the teleost brain. The study of the two cyp19a1 copies in teleost fish will shed light on the general evolution, function, and regulation of vertebrate cyp19a1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Shen Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Huijie Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Lihong Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China.
| | - Weimin Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China.
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25
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Manousaki T, Tsakogiannis A, Lagnel J, Sarropoulou E, Xiang JZ, Papandroulakis N, Mylonas CC, Tsigenopoulos CS. The sex-specific transcriptome of the hermaphrodite sparid sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo). BMC Genomics 2014; 15:655. [PMID: 25099474 PMCID: PMC4133083 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Teleosts are characterized by a remarkable breadth of sexual mechanisms including various forms of hermaphroditism. Sparidae is a fish family exhibiting gonochorism or hermaphroditism even in closely related species. The sparid Diplodus puntazzo (sharpsnout seabream), exhibits rudimentary hermaphroditism characterized by intersexual immature gonads but single-sex mature ones. Apart from the intriguing reproductive biology, it is economically important with a continuously growing aquaculture in the Mediterranean Sea, but limited available genetic resources. Our aim was to characterize the expressed transcriptome of gonads and brains through RNA-Sequencing and explore the properties of genes that exhibit sex-biased expression profiles. Results Through RNA-Sequencing we obtained an assembled transcriptome of 82,331 loci. The expression analysis uncovered remarkable differences between male and female gonads, while male and female brains were almost identical. Focused search for known targets of sex determination and differentiation in vertebrates built the sex-specific expression profile of sharpsnout seabream. Finally, a thorough genetic marker discovery pipeline led to the retrieval of 85,189 SNPs and 29,076 microsatellites enriching the available genetic markers for this species. Conclusions We obtained a nearly complete source of transcriptomic sequence as well as marker information for sharpsnout seabream, laying the ground for understanding the complex process of sex differentiation of this economically valuable species. The genes involved include known candidates from other vertebrate species, suggesting a conservation of the toolkit between gonochorists and hermaphrodites. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-655) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Costas S Tsigenopoulos
- Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (I,M,B,B,C,), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (H,C,M,R,), Heraklion, Greece.
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von Schalburg KR, Gowen BE, Messmer AM, Davidson WS, Koop BF. Sex-specific expression and localization of aromatase and its regulators during embryonic and larval development of Atlantic salmon. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 168:33-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2013.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2013] [Revised: 11/03/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Mu WJ, Wen HS, Li JF, He F. Cloning and expression analysis of Foxl2 during the reproductive cycle in Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2013; 39:1419-1430. [PMID: 23546994 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-013-9796-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2012] [Accepted: 03/23/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Foxl2 is a member of the winged helix/forkhead family of transcription factors and is known to regulate ovarian aromatase, which plays a crucial role in ovarian differentiation. To address the role of Foxl2 in gonads and brain during gonadal development, we isolated the full-length cDNA of Foxl2 and analyzed its spatiotemporal expression patterns in the viviparous teleost Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli. Tissue distribution pattern revealed that the Foxl2 was detected in the liver, fat, gill, brain, and ovary, but could hardly be found in the testis. Reverse transcriptase PCR suggested that Foxl2 in Korean rockfish may involve in ovary development in the study of expression level during gonads development. It also revealed that the stage of highest expression level for Foxl2 was almost much earlier than cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b during the gonadal development stage in gonads and brain except for cyp19a1a in brain. Furthermore, the expression pattern of Foxl2 as well as aromatases may imply the role of Foxl2 in the up-regulation of aromatases not only in the female fish but also in male.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei J Mu
- Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, 266003, China
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DAX1 regulatory networks unveil conserved and potentially new functions. Gene 2013; 530:66-74. [PMID: 23954228 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.07.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
DAX1 is an orphan nuclear receptor with actions in mammalian sex determination, regulation of steroidogenesis, embryonic development and neural differentiation. Conserved patterns of DAX1 gene expression from mammals to fish have been taken to suggest conserved function. In the present study, the European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, DAX1 promoter was isolated and its conserved features compared to other fish and mammalian DAX1 promoters in order to derive common regulators and functional gene networks. Fish and mammalian DAX1 promoters share common sets of transcription factor frameworks which were also present in the promoter region of another 127 genes. Pathway analysis clustered these into candidate gene networks associated with the fish and mammalian DAX1. The networks identified are concordant with described functions for DAX1 in embryogenesis, regulation of transcription, endocrine development and steroid production. Novel candidate gene network partners were also identified, which implicate DAX1 in ion homeostasis and transport, lipid transport and skeletal development. Experimental evidence is provided supporting roles for DAX1 in steroid signalling and osmoregulation in fish. These results highlight the usefulness of the in silico comparative approach to analyse gene regulation for hypothesis generation. Conserved promoter architecture can be used also to predict potentially new gene functions. The approach reported can be applied to genes from model and non-model species.
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29
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Li M, Wang L, Wang H, Liang H, Zheng Y, Qin F, Liu S, Zhang Y, Wang Z. Molecular cloning and characterization of amh, dax1 and cyp19a1a genes and their response to 17α-methyltestosterone in Pengze crucian carp. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2013; 157:372-81. [PMID: 23528270 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2013.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2013] [Revised: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 03/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The proteins encoded by amh, dax1 and cyp19a1a play important roles in gonad differentiation. Their functions have been far less studied in teleosts. In this study, the full-length cDNAs of amh, dax1 and cyp19a1a were cloned and characterized in a triploid gynogenic fish, the Pengze crucian carp. Their expression profilings in juvenile development, adult tissues and juveniles exposed to 100 ng/L 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) were investigated. Results showed that their putative proteins shared high identities to their counterparts in cyprinid fish species, respectively. The tissue distribution results indicated that amh and cyp19a1a were predominantly expressed in the ovary and dax1 was dominantly expressed in the liver. Gene profiling in the developmental stages showed that all the three target genes had a consistent highest expression at 48 days post hatching (dph). The period of 48 dph appeared to be a key time during the process of the gonad development of Pengze crucian carp. 100 ng/L MT significantly increased the mRNA expression of amh at 2- and 4-week exposures and enhanced dax1 and cyp19a1a at 6-week exposure. The present study indicated that MT could influence the gonad development in Pengze crucian carp by disturbing sex-differentiation associated gene expression. Furthermore, the present study will be of great significance to broaden the understanding of molecular mechanisms of the physiological processes of reproduction in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
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von Schalburg KR, Gowen BE, Rondeau EB, Johnson NW, Minkley DR, Leong JS, Davidson WS, Koop BF. Sex-specific expression, synthesis and localization of aromatase regulators in one-year-old Atlantic salmon ovaries and testes. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2013; 164:236-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2013.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2012] [Revised: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Nakamoto M, Fukasawa M, Tanaka S, Shimamori K, Suzuki A, Matsuda M, Kobayashi T, Nagahama Y, Shibata N. Expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (hsd3b), star and ad4bp/sf-1 during gonadal development in medaka (Oryzias latipes). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2012; 176:222-30. [PMID: 22330050 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2011] [Revised: 12/17/2011] [Accepted: 01/27/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In most vertebrates, sex steroids play a critical role in gonadal development, maturation of germ cells, and development of secondary sexual characteristics. Sex steroids are synthesized in steroid-producing cells (SPCs) in the testis known as Leydig cells, as well as in thecal and granulosa cells in the ovary. In SPCs, cholesterol is sequentially catalyzed by a set of steroidogenic factors and enzymes in order to produce sex steroids. Therefore, integrated expression of the genes involved in steroidogenesis is critical for the proper production of sex steroids. In the present study, regulatory mechanisms of steroidogenic factors and enzymes were examined. We focused on hsd3b, star and ad4bp/sf-1 as well as the description of temporal and spatial expression of these genes during gonadal development in medaka (Oryzias latipes). During testicular development, hsd3b, star and ad4bp/sf-1 were co-expressed in the interstitial somatic cells subsequent to the formation of the seminiferous tubule precursor, suggesting that ad4bp/sf-1 regulated the transcription of both hsd3b and star. During ovarian development, the expression pattern of hsd3b coincided with that of cyp11a1, but not with that of aromatase. Although ad4bp/sf-1 was mainly expressed in presumptive follicular cells, it was also detected in hsd3b positive interstitial cells in the developing ovary. Contrary to our expectations, the onset of star expression occurred during a later stage of ovarian development than the expression of other steroidogenic enzymes. Thus, the regulation mechanism of star transcription appears to differ from that of the other steroidogenic enzymes in the developing ovary, but not in the developing testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatoshi Nakamoto
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
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Zhang W, Lu H, Jiang H, Li M, Zhang S, Liu Q, Zhang L. Isolation and characterization of cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b promoters in the protogynous hermaphrodite orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2012; 175:473-87. [PMID: 22197207 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2011.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2011] [Revised: 11/20/2011] [Accepted: 12/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Aromatase (CYP19A1) catalyzes the conversion of androgens to estrogens. In teleosts, duplicated copies of cyp19a1 genes, namely cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b, were identified, however, the transcriptional regulation of these two genes remains poorly understood. In the present study, the 5'-flanking regions of the orange-spotted grouper cyp19a1a (gcyp19a1a) and cyp19a1b (gcyp19a1b) genes were isolated and characterized. The proximal promoter regions of both genes were relatively conserved when compared to those of the other teleosts. Notably, a conserved FOXO transcriptional factor binding site was firstly reported in the proximal promoter of gcyp19a1a, and deletion of the region (-112 to -60) containing this site significantly decreased the promoter activities. The deletion of the region (-246 to -112) containing the two conserved FTZ-F1 sites also dramatically decreased the transcriptional activities of gcyp19a1a promoter, and both two FTZ-F1 sites were shown to be stimulatory cis-acting elements. A FTZ-F1 homologue isolated from ricefield eel (eFTZ-F1) up-regulated gcyp19a1a promoter activities possibly via the FTZ-F1 sites, however, a previously identified orange-spotted grouper FTZ-F1 homologue (gFTZ-F1) did not activate the transcription of gcyp19a1a promoter unexpectedly. As to gcyp19a1b promoter, all the deletion constructs did not show good promoter activities in either TM4 or U251-MG cells. Estradiol (100nM) up-regulated gcyp19a1b promoter activities by about 13- and 36-fold in TM4 and U251-MG cells, respectively, via the conserved ERE motif, but did not stimulate gcyp19a1a promoter activities. These results are helpful to further elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b expression in the orange-spotted grouper as well as other teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weimin Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guanghzhou 510275, PR China.
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Navarro-Martín L, Viñas J, Ribas L, Díaz N, Gutiérrez A, Di Croce L, Piferrer F. DNA methylation of the gonadal aromatase (cyp19a) promoter is involved in temperature-dependent sex ratio shifts in the European sea bass. PLoS Genet 2011; 7:e1002447. [PMID: 22242011 PMCID: PMC3248465 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 310] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2011] [Accepted: 11/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex ratio shifts in response to temperature are common in fish and reptiles. However, the mechanism linking temperature during early development and sex ratios has remained elusive. We show in the European sea bass (sb), a fish in which temperature effects on sex ratios are maximal before the gonads form, that juvenile males have double the DNA methylation levels of females in the promoter of gonadal aromatase (cyp19a), the enzyme that converts androgens into estrogens. Exposure to high temperature increased the cyp19a promoter methylation levels of females, indicating that induced-masculinization involves DNA methylation-mediated control of aromatase gene expression, with an observed inverse relationship between methylation levels and expression. Although different CpGs within the sb cyp19a promoter exhibited different sensitivity to temperature, we show that the increased methylation of the sb cyp19a promoter, which occurs in the gonads but not in the brain, is not a generalized effect of temperature. Importantly, these effects were also observed in sexually undifferentiated fish and were not altered by estrogen treatment. Thus, methylation of the sb cyp19a promoter is the cause of the lower expression of cyp19a in temperature-masculinized fish. In vitro, induced methylation of the sb cyp19a promoter suppressed the ability of SF-1 and Foxl2 to stimulate transcription. Finally, a CpG differentially methylated by temperature and adjacent to a Sox transcription factor binding site is conserved across species. Thus, DNA methylation of the aromatase promoter may be an essential component of the long-sought-after mechanism connecting environmental temperature and sex ratios in vertebrate species with temperature-dependent sex determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Navarro-Martín
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Viñas
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laia Ribas
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Noelia Díaz
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arantxa Gutiérrez
- Centre de Regulació Genòmica (CRG)/ICREA and Univeristat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luciano Di Croce
- Centre de Regulació Genòmica (CRG)/ICREA and Univeristat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Piferrer
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Raghuveer K, Senthilkumaran B, Sudhakumari CC, Sridevi P, Rajakumar A, Singh R, Murugananthkumar R, Majumdar KC. Dimorphic expression of various transcription factor and steroidogenic enzyme genes during gonadal ontogeny in the air-breathing catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Sex Dev 2011; 5:213-23. [PMID: 21720151 DOI: 10.1159/000328823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study the expression of 13 genes known to be involved in sex differentiation and steroidogenesis in catfish was analyzed during gonadal ontogeny by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Dmrt1 and sox9a showed exclusive expression in male gonads while ovarian aromatase (cyp19a1) and foxl2 were abundant in differentiating female gonads. Most of the genes related to steroidogenesis were expressed only after gonadal differentiation. However, genes coding for 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-hsd), 17α-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase type 1 (cyp17) and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (star) were barely detectable during gonadal differentiation. Ovarian aromatase, cyp19a1, which is responsible for estradiol-17β biosynthesis in females, was expressed very early in the undifferentiated gonads of catfish, around 30-40 days post hatch (dph). The steroidogenic enzyme, 11β-hydroxylase (cyp11b1) required for the production of 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) was expressed only after differentiation of testis. These results suggest that estradiol-17β has a critical role in ovarian differentiation, while the role of 11-KT in testicular differentiation is doubtful. In conclusion, dimorphic expression of dmrt1 and sox9a in gonads during early development is required for testicular differentiation, and sex-specific expression of cyp19a1 and foxl2 in females plays a critical role in ovarian development. Our study reveals that the critical period of gonadal differentiation in catfish starts around 30-40 dph when sex-specific genes showed differential expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Raghuveer
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Life Sciences-Centre for Advanced Studies, University of Hyderabad, India
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Leet JK, Gall HE, Sepúlveda MS. A review of studies on androgen and estrogen exposure in fish early life stages: effects on gene and hormonal control of sexual differentiation. J Appl Toxicol 2011; 31:379-98. [PMID: 21557264 DOI: 10.1002/jat.1682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2011] [Revised: 02/23/2011] [Accepted: 02/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Teleost fish are unique among vertebrates in that phenotypic sex or onset of sex inversion can be easily manipulated by hormonal treatments. In recent years, researchers have begun reporting concentrations of synthetic and natural hormones in the environment. Although concentrations are very low (in the parts per trillion to low parts per billion), they are still of concern because of the high potency of synthetic hormones and the enhanced susceptibility of teleost fishes, especially early life stages, to hormonal exposures. In this review, we will focus on sex differentiation in teleost fishes and how these processes in fish early life stages may be impacted by environmental hormones which are known to contaminate aquatic environments. We will start by reviewing information on sources and concentrations of hormones in the environment and continue by summarizing the state of knowledge of sex differentiation in teleost gonochoristic fishes, including information on genes involved (e.g. cyp19, dmrt1, sox9 and foxl2). We will end our review with a summary of studies that have examined the effects of androgens and estrogens on fish sex differentiation after exposure of fish embryos and larvae and with ideas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica K Leet
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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Pisarska MD, Barlow G, Kuo FT. Minireview: roles of the forkhead transcription factor FOXL2 in granulosa cell biology and pathology. Endocrinology 2011; 152:1199-208. [PMID: 21248146 PMCID: PMC3206711 DOI: 10.1210/en.2010-1041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The forkhead transcription factor (FOXL2) is an essential transcription factor in the ovary. It is important in ovarian development and a key factor in female sex determination. In addition, FOXL2 plays a significant role in the postnatal ovary and follicle maintenance. The diverse transcriptional activities of FOXL2 are likely attributable to posttranslational modifications and binding to other key proteins involved in granulosa cell function. Mutations of FOXL2 lead to disorders of ovarian function ranging from premature follicle depletion and ovarian failure to unregulated granulosa cell proliferation leading to tumor formation. Thus, FOXL2 is a key regulator of granulosa cell function and a master transcription factor in these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margareta D Pisarska
- Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8635 West Third Street, Suite 160W, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA.
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Herpin A, Schartl M. Dmrt1 genes at the crossroads: a widespread and central class of sexual development factors in fish. FEBS J 2011; 278:1010-9. [PMID: 21281449 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2011.08030.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A plethora of corroborative genetic studies led to the view that, across the animal kingdom, the gene-regulatory cascades triggering sexual development bear little resemblance to each other. As a result, the common emerging picture is that the genes at the top of the cascade are not conserved, whereas the downstream genes have homologues in a much broader spectrum of species. Among these downstream effectors, a gene family involved in sex differentiation in organisms as phylogenetically divergent as corals, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, frogs, fish, birds and mammals is the dmrt gene family. Despite the attention that Dmrt1 factors have received, to date it has not been elucidated how Dmrt1s mediate their activities and putative downstream targets have yet to be characterized. However, a remarkable amount of descriptive expression data has been gathered in a large variety of fish, particularly with respect to early gonadal differentiation and sex change. This minireview aims at distilling the current knowledge of fish dmrt1s, in terms of expression and regulation. It is shown how gonadal identities correlate with dimorphic dmrt1 expression in gonochoristic and hermaphroditic fish species. It is also described how sex steroid hormones affect gonadal identity and dmrt1 expression. Emphasis is also given to recent findings dealing with transcriptional, post-transcriptional, post-translational and functional regulations of the dmrt1a/dmrt1bY gene pair in medaka.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaury Herpin
- Physiological ChemistryI, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
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von Schalburg KR, Yasuike M, Yazawa R, de Boer JG, Reid L, So S, Robb A, Rondeau EB, Phillips RB, Davidson WS, Koop BF. Regulation and expression of sexual differentiation factors in embryonic and extragonadal tissues of Atlantic salmon. BMC Genomics 2011; 12:31. [PMID: 21232142 PMCID: PMC3034696 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2010] [Accepted: 01/13/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The products of cyp19, dax, foxl2, mis, sf1 and sox9 have each been associated with sex-determining processes among vertebrates. We provide evidence for expression of these regulators very early in salmonid development and in tissues outside of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal/gonadal (HPAG) axis. Although the function of these factors in sexual differentiation have been defined, their roles in early development before sexual fate decisions and in tissues beyond the brain or gonad are essentially unknown. Results Bacterial artificial chromosomes containing salmon dax1 and dax2, foxl2b and mis were isolated and the regulatory regions that control their expression were characterized. Transposon integrations are implicated in the shaping of the dax and foxl2 loci. Splice variants for cyp19b1 and mis in both embryonic and adult tissues were detected and characterized. We found that cyp19b1 transcripts are generated that contain 5'-untranslated regions of different lengths due to cryptic splicing of the 3'-end of intron 1. We also demonstrate that salmon mis transcripts can encode prodomain products that present different C-termini and terminate before translation of the MIS hormone. Regulatory differences in the expression of two distinct aromatases cyp19a and cyp19b1 are exerted, despite transcription of their transactivators (ie; dax1, foxl2, sf1) occurring much earlier during embryonic development. Conclusions We report the embryonic and extragonadal expression of dax, foxl2, mis and other differentiation factors that indicate that they have functions that are more general and not restricted to steroidogenesis and gonadogenesis. Spliced cyp19b1 and mis transcripts are generated that may provide regulatory controls for tissue- or development-specific activities. Selection of cyp19b1 transcripts may be regulated by DAX-1, FOXL2 and SF-1 complexes that bind motifs in intron 1, or by signals within exon 2 that recruit splicing factors, or both. The potential translation of proteins bearing only the N-terminal MIS prodomain may modulate the functions of other TGF β family members in different tissues. The expression patterns of dax1 early in salmon embryogenesis implicate its role as a lineage determination factor. Other roles for these factors during embryogenesis and outside the HPAG axis are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian R von Schalburg
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Abramyan J, Wilhelm D, Koopman P. Molecular characterization of the Bidder's organ in the cane toad (Bufo marinus). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2010; 314:503-13. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.21357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Nakamoto M, Fukasawa M, Orii S, Shimamori K, Maeda T, Suzuki A, Matsuda M, Kobayashi T, Nagahama Y, Shibata N. Cloning and expression of medaka cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P450 during gonadal development. Dev Growth Differ 2010; 52:385-95. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-169x.2010.01178.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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von Schalburg KR, Yasuike M, Davidson WS, Koop BF. Regulation, expression and characterization of aromatase (cyp19b1) transcripts in ovary and testis of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2010; 155:118-25. [PMID: 19895900 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2009.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2009] [Revised: 10/17/2009] [Accepted: 10/20/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Cytochrome P450 aromatase is the key enzyme in the pathway that converts androgens to estrogens. The enzyme functions in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum in a complex with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. In teleost fish, at least two separate loci, cyp19a and cyp19b, encode distinct aromatase isoforms. The activity of cyp19a and cyp19b are predominantly associated with the ovary and brain, respectively, although their expression is not confined solely to these tissues. We found that at least five cyp19b1 transcripts with different 5'-UTRs are generated in the ovary and testis of rainbow trout. Regulation for selection of these variants may be through signals present in exon 2 that recruit alternative splicing factors. Also, binding elements for FOXL2 and SF-1 located within the cyp19b1 intron 1 may influence formation of transcripts that contain the 3'-end of the intron. Another transcript devoid of the exon 2 methionine initiator codon may utilize other downstream in-frame start codons. Less developed stages of ovarian and testicular tissues express only the intron-containing transcripts whereas precocious and more mature gonads express all five cyp19b1 messages. The function of these different 5'-UTRs may be for regulation of cyp19b1 at particular developmental stages or to specify control in distinct gonadal cell-types.
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Guiguen Y, Fostier A, Piferrer F, Chang CF. Ovarian aromatase and estrogens: a pivotal role for gonadal sex differentiation and sex change in fish. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2010; 165:352-66. [PMID: 19289125 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2009.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 411] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2008] [Revised: 02/23/2009] [Accepted: 03/03/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The present review focuses on the roles of estrogens and aromatase (Cyp19a1a), the enzyme needed for their synthesis, in fish gonadal sex differentiation. Based on the recent literature, we extend the already well accepted hypothesis of an implication of estrogens and Cyp19a1a in ovarian differentiation to a broader hypothesis that would place estrogens and Cyp19a1a in a pivotal position to control not only ovarian, but also testicular differentiation, in both gonochoristic and hermaphrodite fish species. This working hypothesis states that cyp19a1a up-regulation is needed not only for triggering but also for maintaining ovarian differentiation and that cyp19a1a down-regulation is the only necessary step for inducing a testicular differentiation pathway. When considering arguments for and against, most of the information available for fish supports this hypothesis since either suppression of cyp19a1a gene expression, inhibition of Cyp19a1a enzymatic activity, or blockage of estrogen receptivity are invariably associated with masculinization. This is also consistent with reports on normal gonadal differentiation, and steroid-modulated masculinization with either androgens, aromatase inhibitors or estrogen receptor antagonists, temperature-induced masculinization and protogynous sex change in hermaphrodite species. Concerning the regulation of fish cyp19a1a during gonadal differentiation, the transcription factor foxl2 has been characterized as an ovarian specific upstream regulator of a cyp19a1a promoter that would co-activate cyp19a1a expression, along with some additional partners such as nr5a1 (sf1) or cAMP. In contrast, upstream factors potentially down-regulating cyp19a1a during testicular differentiation are still hypothetical, such as the dmrt1 gene, but their definitive characterization as testicular repressors of cyp19a1a would strongly strengthen the hypothesis that early testicular differentiation would need active repression of cyp19a1a expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Guiguen
- INRA, UR1037 SCRIBE, IFR140, Ouest-Genopole, F-35000 Rennes, France.
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Bentsi-Barnes IK, Kuo FT, Barlow GM, Pisarska MD. Human forkhead L2 represses key genes in granulosa cell differentiation including aromatase, P450scc, and cyclin D2. Fertil Steril 2009; 94:353-6. [PMID: 19917504 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.09.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2009] [Revised: 09/15/2009] [Accepted: 09/23/2009] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
FOXL2 is expressed in granulosa cells (GC) of small and medium ovarian follicles, functions as a repressor of the human steroidogenic acute regulatory gene, a marker of a GC differentiation, and its mutation is associated with premature ovarian failure (POF) in women with blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES), type I. We now report that FOXL2 also represses the transcription of aromatase, P450scc, and cyclin D2, three other key genes involved in GC proliferation, differentiation, and steroidogenesis, and that a FOXL2 mutation found in patients with BPES type I, also fails to repress aromatase transcription, further supporting a role for FOXL2 in follicle maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikuko K Bentsi-Barnes
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048 , USA
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Tripathi V, Raman R. Identification of Wnt4 as the ovary pathway gene and temporal disparity of its expression vis-a-vis testis genes in the garden lizard, Calotes versicolor. Gene 2009; 449:77-84. [PMID: 19751810 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2009.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2009] [Revised: 08/06/2009] [Accepted: 09/01/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Sex determination in the Indian garden lizard, Calotes versicolor, which lacks sex chromosomes and temperature-dependent sex determination, appears to be genically controlled, and previous studies have identified orthologues of Sox9, Dmrt1 and Androgen receptor (AR) as genes involved in testis differentiation in genetic males. In the pursuit of female pathway genes in this species, the present paper deals with the identification of Wnt4 and Dax1 genes in C. versicolor and their expression in embryonic gonad. CvDax1 is expressed throughout the development in certain embryos from day 5 onwards but shows no clear association with either testis or ovary. However, its preferred association with CvSox9 in early development and with CvWnt4 during later development suggests a role in the structuring of the gonads. CvWnt4 shows little expression in early development. It expresses prominently from day 20 onwards, and almost exclusively in those embryos that do not express CvSox9, demonstrating that CvWnt4 is the ovary differentiation gene in this species. This evidence leads us to suggest that temporal distinction of expression of ovary-specific (day 20 onwards) and testis-specific (day 5 onwards) genes could be an important part of the process of sex determination in C. versicolor. Taken together, the mechanism of sex determination in C. versicolor appears closer to the CSD in mammals than that in the ESD reptiles and birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidisha Tripathi
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India
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Pala I, Schartl M, Thorsteinsdóttir S, Coelho MM. Sex determination in the Squalius alburnoides complex: an initial characterization of sex cascade elements in the context of a hybrid polyploid genome. PLoS One 2009; 4:e6401. [PMID: 19636439 PMCID: PMC2713423 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2009] [Accepted: 06/22/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sex determination processes vary widely among different vertebrate taxa, but no group offers as much diversity for the study of the evolution of sex determination as teleost fish. However, the knowledge about sex determination gene cascades is scarce in this species-rich group and further difficulties arise when considering hybrid fish taxa, in which mechanisms exhibited by parental species are often disrupted. Even though hybridisation is frequent among teleosts, gene based approaches on sex determination have seldom been conducted in hybrid fish. The hybrid polyploid complex of Squalius alburnoides was used as a model to address this question. Methodology/Principal Findings We have initiated the isolation and characterization of regulatory elements (dmrt1, wt1, dax1 and figla) potentially involved in sex determination in S. alburnoides and in the parental species S. pyrenaicus and analysed their expression patterns by in situ hybridisation. In adults, an overall conservation in the cellular localization of the gene transcripts was observed between the hybrids and parental species. Some novel features emerged, such as dmrt1 expression in adult ovaries, and the non-dimorphic expression of figla, an ovarian marker in other species, in gonads of both sexes in S. alburnoides and S. pyrenaicus. The potential contribution of each gene to the sex determination process was assessed based on the timing and location of expression. Dmrt1 and wt1 transcripts were found at early stages of male development in S. alburnoides and are most likely implicated in the process of gonad development. Conclusions/Significance For the first time in the study of this hybrid complex, it was possible to directly compare the gene expression patterns between the bisexual parental species and the various hybrid forms, for an extended set of genes. The contribution of these genes to gonad integrity maintenance and functionality is apparently unaltered in the hybrids, suggesting that no abrupt shifts in gene expression occurred as a result of hybridisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Pala
- Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
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Tomy S, Wu GC, Huang HR, Chang CF. Age-dependent differential expression of genes involved in steroid signalling pathway in the brain of protandrous black porgy,Acanthopagrus schlegeli. Dev Neurobiol 2009; 69:299-313. [DOI: 10.1002/dneu.20705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Ye P, Nakamura Y, Lalli E, Rainey WE. Differential effects of high and low steroidogenic factor-1 expression on CYP11B2 expression and aldosterone production in adrenocortical cells. Endocrinology 2009; 150:1303-9. [PMID: 18974272 PMCID: PMC2654740 DOI: 10.1210/en.2008-0667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1/Ad4BP/NR5A1) plays a major role in regulating steroidogenic enzymes. We have previously shown that SF-1 inhibits aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) reporter gene activity. Herein, we used the H295R/TR/SF-1 adrenal cells that increase SF-1 in a doxycycline-dependent fashion. Cells were incubated with or without doxycycline to induce SF-1 and then treated with angiotensin II (Ang II). Aldosterone was measured by immunoassay. SF-1 mRNA was silenced by small interfering RNA (siRNA) by Nucleofector technology. mRNA levels were measured by real-time RT-PCR. Ang II treatment without doxycycline increased aldosterone production by 11.3-fold and CYP11B2 mRNA by 116-fold. Doxycycline treatment increased SF-1 mRNA levels by 3.7-fold and inhibited Ang II-induced aldosterone by 84%. Doxycycline treatment inhibited Ang II-stimulated CYP11B2 mRNA levels by 86%. Doxycycline decreased basal CYP11B2 promoter activity by 68%. Doxycycline inhibited Ang II stimulation by 85%. Ang II increased CYP21 mRNA expression by 4.6-fold, whereas doxycycline inhibited induction by 69%. In contrast, doxycycline treatment increased CYP11B1 mRNA by 1.7-fold in basal cells and increased Ang II induction by 3.6-fold. SF-1-specific siRNA significantly reduced SF-1 mRNA expression as compared with cells treated with control siRNA. SF-1 siRNA reversed doxycycline stimulation of CYP B1 and its inhibition of CYP11B2. However, in H295R/TR/SF-1 cells without doxycycline treatment, both CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 mRNAs were significantly decreased, suggesting that both enzymes require a minimal level of SF-1 for basal expression. In summary, SF-1 overexpression dramatically inhibited CYP11B2 expression and decreased aldosterone production. The opposing effects of SF-1 on CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 suggest that the regulation of SF-1 activity may play a role that determines the relative ability to produce mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Ye
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA
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Vizziano D, Baron D, Randuineau G, Mahè S, Cauty C, Guiguen Y. Rainbow Trout Gonadal Masculinization Induced by Inhibition of Estrogen Synthesis Is More Physiological Than Masculinization Induced by Androgen Supplementation1. Biol Reprod 2008; 78:939-46. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.107.065961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
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Wu GC, Tomy S, Chang CF. The Expression of nr0b1 and nr5a4 During Gonad Development and Sex Change in Protandrous Black Porgy Fish, Acanthopagrus schlegeli1. Biol Reprod 2008; 78:200-10. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.107.062612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
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