Biochemical research on oogenesis. RNA accumulation in the oocytes of teleosts

High production of transfer RNAs identifies the presence of developing oocytes in ovaries and intersex testes of teleost fish

5S rRNA is highly transcribed in fish oocytes and this transcription levels can be used to identify the presence of oocytes in the intersex testes of fish exposed to xenoestrogens. Similar to 5S rRNA, tRNAs are transcribed by RNA polymerase III (Pol-III) in eukaryotes, so this study focuses in the analysis of the levels of expression of tRNAs in the gonads (ovaries and testes) of eight teleost species as a possible new oocyte molecular marker. Total RNA extracted from gonads of six commercial teleost species in the Biscay Bay, from the pollution sentinel species thicklip grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) known present intersex testes in response to xenoestrogens in Gernika estuary and from the laboratory model species Danio rerio were analysed through capillary electrophoresis. Bioanalyzer electropherograms were used to quantify the concentrations of tRNAs, 5S and 5.8S rRNA. All studied ovaries expressed significantly higher levels of tRNAs and 5S rRNA than testes. A tRNA to 5.8S rRNA index was calculated which differentiates ovaries from testes, and identifies some intersex testes in between testes and ovaries in mullets. The tRNA/5.8S ratio was highest in ovaries in previtellogenic stage, decreasing towards maturity. Thus, strong oocyte expression of tRNAs is an additional proof of high activity levels of Pol-III during early stages of oocyte development in teleost ovaries. Incidentally, we observed that miRNA concentrations were always higher in testes than ovaries. The indexing approach developed in the present study could have multiple applications in teleost reproduction research and in the development of early molecular markers of intersex condition.

Ribosome RNA Profiling to Quantify Ovarian Development and Identify Sex in Fish

Terminologies of ovary development, by somewhat subjective describing and naming main changes of oocytes, have been criticized for confusing and inconsistency of terms and classifications, and the incurred consequences impede communication among researchers. In the present work, we developed regression between ovary development and three ribosome RNA (rRNA) indexes, namely 5S rRNA percent, 18S rRNA percent, and 5S–18S rRNA ratio, using close relationship between volume percent of primary growth stage oocytes or gonadosomatic index and rRNA content, demonstrating species-specific quantification of ovary development can be established in species with either synchronous and asynchronous oogenesis. This approach may be extended to any species with primary growth oocytes, e.g. anurans and reptiles, to predict maturity stages in females. We further confirmed that 5S rRNA percent and 5S/18S rRNA ratio can serve as markers to distinguish sexes unambiguously. A micro-invasive sampling method may be invented for non-lethal prediction of ovary development and sex because only a small amount of ovary sample (<50 mg) is needed for the approach established in the current work. Researchers who work with ovary RNA-seq in these taxa should realize that insufficient depletion of rRNA will probably lead to incorrect quantification of gene expression and inaccurate conclusions.

Alteration in molecular markers of oocyte development and intersex condition in mullets impacted by wastewater treatment plant effluents

Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) discharges are an important source of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) into the aquatic environment. Fish populations inhabiting downstream of WWTP effluents show alterations in gonad and gamete development such as intersex condition, together with xenoestrogenic effects such as vitellogenin up-regulation. However, the molecular mechanisms participating in the development of intersex condition in fish are not elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of two WWTPs effluents (Gernika and Bilbao-Galindo situated in the South East Bay of Biscay) with different contaminant loads, in thicklip grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) populations inhabiting downstream, examining the presence and severity of intersex condition, during two seasons. Molecular markers of xenoestrogenicity and oocyte differentiation and development (vtgAa, cyp19a1a, cyp19a1b, cyp11b, foxl2, dmrt1 and gtf3a) were also studied. Intersex mullets were identified downstream of both WWTPs and vtgAa was upregulated in intersex and non intersex males. Sex dependent differential transcription levels of target genes were detected in mullets from Galindo. However, no such pattern was observed in mullets from Gernika, suggesting an attenuating effect over studied genes caused by a higher presence of EDCs in this site, as indicated by the elevated prevalence of intersex mullets in this population. In conclusion, no direct association between xenoestrogenic responses and intersex condition was established. Mullets from Gernika showed signs of severe EDC exposure compared to those from Galindo, as demonstrated by the higher prevalence of intersex males and the reduction in transcription profile differences between sexes of gametogenic gene markers.

Identification of Sex and Female's Reproductive Stage in Commercial Fish Species through the Quantification of Ribosomal Transcripts in Gonads

The estimation of maturity and sex of fish stocks in European waters is a requirement of the EU Data Collection Framework as part of the policy to improve fisheries management. On the other hand, research on fish biology is increasingly focused in molecular approaches, researchers needing correct identification of fish sex and reproductive stage without necessarily having in house the histological know-how necessary for the task. Taking advantage of the differential gene transcription occurring during fish sex differentiation and gametogenesis, the utility of 5S ribosomal RNA (5S rRNA) and General transcription factor IIIA (gtf3a) in the molecular identification of sex and gametogenic stage was tested in different economically-relevant fish species from the Bay of Biscay. Gonads of 9 fish species (, Atlantic, Atlantic-chub and horse mackerel, blue whiting, bogue, European anchovy, hake and pilchard and megrim), collected from local commercial fishing vessels were histologically sexed and 5S and 18S rRNA concentrations were quantified by capillary electrophoresis to calculate a 5S/18S rRNA index. Degenerate primers permitted cloning and sequencing of gtf3a fragments in 7 of the studied species. 5S rRNA and gtf3a transcript levels, together with 5S/18S rRNA index, distinguished clearly ovaries from testis in all of the studied species. The values were always higher in females than in males. 5S/18S rRNA index values in females were always highest when fish were captured in early phases of ovary development whilst, in later vitellogenic stages, the values decreased significantly. In megrim and European anchovy, where gonads in different oogenesis stages were obtained, the 5S/18S rRNA index identified clearly gametogenic stage. This approach, to the sexing and the quantitative non-subjective identification of the maturity stage of female fish, could have multiple applications in the study of fish stock dynamics, fish reproduction and fecundity and fish biology in general.

Development and validation of a mixed-tissue oligonucleotide DNA microarray for Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758)

BACKGROUND

The largest of the tuna species, Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), inhabits the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and is considered to be an endangered species, largely a consequence of overfishing. T. thynnus aquaculture, referred to as fattening or farming, is a capture based activity dependent on yearly renewal from the wild. Thus, the development of aquaculture practices independent of wild resources can provide an important contribution towards ensuring security and sustainability of this species in the longer-term. The development of such practices is today greatly assisted by large scale transcriptomic studies.

RESULTS

We have used pyrosequencing technology to sequence a mixed-tissue normalised cDNA library, derived from adult T. thynnus. A total of 976,904 raw sequence reads were assembled into 33,105 unique transcripts having a mean length of 893 bases and an N50 of 870. Of these, 33.4% showed similarity to known proteins or gene transcripts and 86.6% of them were matched to the congeneric Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) genome, compared to 70.3% for the more distantly related Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) genome. Transcript sequences were used to develop a novel 15 K Agilent oligonucleotide DNA microarray for T. thynnus and comparative tissue gene expression profiles were inferred for gill, heart, liver, ovaries and testes. Functional contrasts were strongest between gills and ovaries. Gills were particularly associated with immune system, signal transduction and cell communication, while ovaries displayed signatures of glycan biosynthesis, nucleotide metabolism, transcription, translation, replication and repair.

CONCLUSIONS

Sequence data generated from a novel mixed-tissue T. thynnus cDNA library provide an important transcriptomic resource that can be further employed for study of various aspects of T. thynnus ecology and genomics, with strong applications in aquaculture. Tissue-specific gene expression profiles inferred through the use of novel oligo-microarray can serve in the design of new and more focused transcriptomic studies for future research of tuna physiology and assessment of the welfare in a production environment.

Mugilid fish are sentinels of exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds in coastal and estuarine environments

Effects on fish reproduction can result from a variety of toxicity mechanisms first operating at the molecular level. Notably, the presence in the environment of some compounds termed endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can cause adverse effects on reproduction by interfering with the endocrine system. In some cases, exposure to EDCs leads to the animal feminization and male fish may develop oocytes in testis (intersex condition). Mugilid fish are well suited sentinel organisms to study the effects of reproductive EDCs in the monitoring of estuarine/marine environments. Up-regulation of aromatases and vitellogenins in males and juveniles and the presence of intersex individuals have been described in a wide array of mullet species worldwide. There is a need to develop new molecular markers to identify early feminization responses and intersex condition in fish populations, studying mechanisms that regulate gonad differentiation under exposure to xenoestrogens. Interestingly, an electrophoresis of gonad RNA, shows a strong expression of 5S rRNA in oocytes, indicating the potential of 5S rRNA and its regulating proteins to become useful molecular makers of oocyte presence in testis. Therefore, the use of these oocyte markers to sex and identify intersex mullets could constitute powerful molecular biomarkers to assess xenoestrogenicity in field conditions.

5S rRNA and accompanying proteins in gonads: powerful markers to identify sex and reproductive endocrine disruption in fish

In anuran ovaries, 5S rDNA is regulated transcriptionally by transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA), which upon transcription, binds 5S rRNA, forming 7S RNP. 5S rRNA can be stockpiled also in the form of 42S RNP bound to 42sp43. The aim of the present study was to assess the differential transcriptional regulation of 5S rRNA and associated proteins in thicklip gray mullet (Chelon labrosus) gonads. Up to 75% of the total RNA from mullet ovaries was 5S rRNA. qPCR quantification of 5S rRNA expression, in gonads of histologically sexed individuals from different geographical areas, successfully sexed animals. All males had expression levels that were orders of magnitude below expression levels in females, throughout an annual reproductive cycle, with the exception of two individuals: one in November and one in December. Moreover, intersex mullets from a polluted harbor had expression levels between both sexes. TFIIIA and 42sp43 were also very active transcriptionally in gonads of female and intersex mullets, in comparison to males. Nucleocytoplasmatic transport is important in this context and we also analyzed transcriptional levels of importins-α1, -α2, and -β2 and different exportins. Importin-αs behaved similarly to 5S rRNA. Thus, 5S rRNA and associated proteins constitute very powerful molecular markers of sex and effects of xenosterogens in fish gonads, with potential technological applications in the analysis of fish stock dynamics and reproduction as well as in environmental health assessment.

Morphological changes of the nucleolus during oogenesis in oviparous teleost fish, Barbus barbus (L.)

In fishes, like in amphibians, it is well established that variations in rRNA activity occur during oogenesis. Contrary to amphibians, however, little is known about the ultrastructural changes of the nucleolus during fish oogenesis. Evolution of the nucleolus has been followed during oogenesis in the teleost fish Barbus barbus (L.) using light and transmission electron microscopies. We show that the behaviour of the nucleolus during B. barbus oogenesis resembles that reported in amphibians but also presents several peculiarities. The most striking feature is the marked vacuolization of nucleoli occurs at the beginning of the growth during previtellogenesis. The results obtained by means of the in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-immunogold method for detecting DNA seem further to indicate that the chromatin cap becomes integrated into developing nucleoli during previtellogenesis and then segregate at the periphery of nucleoli at the end of glycoproteinic vitellogenesis. Our study also shows that the nucleoli of germ cells, like that of follicle cells, are devoid of fibrillar centre but comprise a fibrillar and a granular component whatever the oogenetic stage. Ultrastructural detection of DNA and nucleolar proteins (AgNOR proteins, fibrillarin, and pp135) supports further the view that the Barbus nucleolus is a bipartite structure.

Cytochemical characterization of the endomembranous system during the oocyte primary growth in Serrasalmus spilopleura (Teleostei, Characiformes, Characidae)

The morphophysiological changes that occur during oocyte primary growth in Serrasalmus spilopleura were studied using ultrastructural cytochemical techniques. In the previtellogenic oocytes endoplasmic reticulum components, Golgi complex cisternae and vesicles, lysosomes, multivesicular bodies and some electron-dense vesicles react to acid phosphatase (AcPase) detection. The endoplasmic reticulum components, Golgi complex cisternae and vesicles also react to osmium tetroxide and potassium iodide impregnation (KI). These structures, except for the Golgi complex cisternae, are strongly contrasted by osmium tetroxide and zinc iodide impregnation (ZIO). Some electron-dense vesicles are ZIO-stained, while microvesicles in the multivesicular bodies and other large isolated cytoplasmic vesicles are contrasted by KI. At primary oocyte growth, the activity of the endomembranous system and the proliferation of membranous organelles are intense. The biosynthetic pathway of the lysosomal proteins such as acid phosphatase, involves the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, vesicles with inactive hydrolytic enzymes and, finally, the lysosomes. The oocyte endomembranous system have reduction capacity and are involved in the metabolism of rich in SH groups.

Three genes under different developmental control encode elongation factor 1-alpha in Xenopus laevis

We have cloned cDNAs encoding two variants of the elongation factor for protein synthesis in Xenopus laevis, called EF-1 alpha. One of these (42Sp50) is expressed exclusively in immature oocytes. It is one of two protein components of a 42S RNP particle that is very abundant in previtellogenic oocytes. The 42S RNP particle consists of various tRNAs, 5S RNA, 42Sp50 and a 5S RNA binding protein (42Sp43). A major function served by 42Sp50 appears to be the storage of tRNAs for later use in oogenesis and early embryogenesis. The second EF-1 alpha variant (EF-1 alpha O) is expressed mainly in oocytes but transiently in early embryogenesis as well. Its mRNA cannot be detected after neurulation in somatic cells. EF-1 alpha O is closely related to a third EF-1 alpha (EF-1 alpha S), discovered originally by Krieg et al. (1). EF-1 alpha S is expressed at low levels in oocytes but actively in somatic cells. The latter two proteins are very similar to known eukaryotic EF-1 alpha from other organisms and presumably function in their respective cell types to support protein synthesis.

Biochemical research on oogenesis: distribution of tRNA-linked peptides and proteins in previtellogenic oocytes of Xenopus laevis

Peptides and proteins were detected in the deacylation products of tRNA purified from the 42S particles and from the messenger ribonucleoprotein particles (mRNPs) present in the previtellogenic oocytes of Xenopus laevis. Only a small fraction of particle tRNA carries a peptide or protein chain. The bulk of particle tRNA is simply aminoacylated. The tRNA-linked peptide chains of the particles appear to turn over more slowly in vivo than aminoacyl tRNA. These chains could arise in the particles by a peptidyl transfer reaction similar to that carried out by the ribosome.

Cloning, physical mapping and genome organization of mitochondrial DNA from Cyprinus carpio oocytes

The mitochondrial genome from Cyprinus carpio oocytes is a 10.5 megadalton, circular DNA molecule. The carp mitochondrial DNA was cloned in pBR325. Three recombinant plasmids accounted for the entire genome. Mapping of this DNA using 11 different restriction endonucleases is reported here. Both the large and small rRNA genes were then localized using Southern blot analysis. The subunit I of the cytochrome oxidase, the cytochrome b, the tRNAGlu and the URF 4 genes were localized by nucleotide sequence analysis and homology studies with human mtDNA. Our results suggest that a similar gene order has been maintained in the mitochondrial genomes of Chordata and support the hypothesis of a common ancestor for all vertebrate organelle genomes. This study constitutes the first report on the genome organization of a fish mtDNA and provides information for further investigation in connection with sequence determination, replication, and gene expression in carp mitochondria.

Biochemical Research on oogenesis. Composition of the 42-S storage particles of Xenopus laevix oocytes

Previtellogenic oocytes of Xenopus laevis contain far more 5-S RNA and tRNA than 28-S + 18-S RNA. tRNA and 5-S RNA are storage products that will be used in later oogenesis for protein synthesis and ribosome assembly. Stored tRNA and 5-S RNA are not free in the cell sap but belong to nucleoprotein particles of various sizes. There are two prominent kinds of storage particles in previtellogenic oocytes of X. laevis. The smaller ones (7-S) contain about half of the cell's 5-S RNA. The larger ones (42-S) contain the remainder of the 5-S RNA and 90% of the tRNA. The 7-S particles consist of one molecule of 5-S RNA and one molecule of protein. In this paper we describe the biochemical and physical properties of the 42-S particles. The 42-S particle contains four main components: tRNA, 5-S RNA, a 50000-Mr protein (a) and a 40000-Mr protein (b) in the following molar ratios: 3/1/2/1. We propose a 28-component model for the 42-S particles. This model is consistent with all the biochemical and physical data that we report here. A 42-S particle is made up of four subunits, each of which contains three molecules of tRNA, one molecule of 5-S RNA, two molecules of protein a, and one molecule of protein b. Protein b from the 42-S particles and the 7-S particle protein are indistinguishable by all tests that we have tried. We present evidence showing that protein a binds tRNA whereas protein b binds 5-S RNA in the 42-S particles as well as in the 7-S particles.

Biochemical research on oogenesis. Comparison between transfer RNAs from somatic cells and from oocytes in Xenopus laevis

The properties of tRNA from oocytes of Xenopus laevis were compared with those of tRNA from somatic cells of the same species. Both types of tRNAs were found to have the same average length and to contain an equal variety of modified nucleotides. However, tRNA from small oocytes differed from somatic tRNA by its chromatographic behavior on methylated-albumin kieselguhr columns. The elution profiles from reversed-phase chromatography 5 columns of several aminoacyl tRNAs were compared after charging somatic and oocyte tRNSs with 3H or 14C-labelled amino acids. Striking differences in peak position were observed when tRNA from small oocytes was mixed and co-chromatographed with somatic tRNA. The differences were less important when tRNAs from large oocytes and from somatic cells were compared. Mixtures of egg and somatic tRNAs gave completely or almost completely coincident elution profiles. Only one isoacceptor, tNRA1Met (initiator tRNA) had the same position in all reversed-phase chromatography 5 chromatograms. The results are discussed in terms of possible post-transcriptional modifications of tRNA in the course of oogenesis. An alternative explanation resorting to changes in the tRNA population of the growing oocyte is also envisaged.