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Hu Q, Lian Z, Xia X, Tian H, Li Z. Integrated chromatin accessibility and DNA methylation analysis to reveal the critical epigenetic modification and regulatory mechanism in gonadal differentiation of the sequentially hermaphroditic fish, Monopterus albus. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:73. [PMID: 36539889 PMCID: PMC9764712 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00484-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Monopterus albus is a hermaphroditic and economically farmed fish that undergoes sex reversal from ovary to testis via ovotestis during gonadal development. The epigenetic changes that are associated with gonadal development in this species remain unclear. METHODS We produced DNA methylome, transcriptome, and chromatin accessibility maps of the key stages of gonad development: ovary, ovotestis, and testis. The expression of the key candidate genes was detected using qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization and the methylation levels were analysed using bisulphite sequencing PCR. Promoter activity and regulation were assessed using dual-luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS Gonadal development exhibits highly dynamic transcriptomic, DNA methylation, and chromatin accessibility changes. We found that DNA methylation status, especially of the transcription start site, was significantly negatively correlated with gene expression while chromatin accessibility exhibited no correlation with gene expression during gonadal development. The epigenetic signatures revealed many novel regulatory elements and genes involved in sex reversal, which were validated. DNA methylation detection and site mutation of plastin-2 promoter, as a candidate gene, revealed that DNA methylation could impact the binding of transcription factor dmrt1 and foxl2 through methylation and demethylation to regulate plastin-2 expression during gonadal development. CONCLUSIONS These data provide novel insights into epigenetic modification and help elucidate the potential molecular mechanism by which dynamic modification of DNA methylation plays a crucial role in gonadal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaomu Hu
- grid.43308.3c0000 0000 9413 3760Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wudayuan First Road 8, Wuhan, 430223 China
| | - Zitong Lian
- grid.43308.3c0000 0000 9413 3760Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wudayuan First Road 8, Wuhan, 430223 China
| | - Xueping Xia
- grid.43308.3c0000 0000 9413 3760Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wudayuan First Road 8, Wuhan, 430223 China
| | - Haifeng Tian
- grid.43308.3c0000 0000 9413 3760Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wudayuan First Road 8, Wuhan, 430223 China
| | - Zhong Li
- grid.43308.3c0000 0000 9413 3760Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wudayuan First Road 8, Wuhan, 430223 China
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Hou M, Feng K, Luo H, Jiang Y, Xu W, Li Y, Song Y, Chen J, Tao B, Zhu Z, Hu W. Complete Depletion of Primordial Germ Cells Results in Masculinization of Monopterus albus, a Protogynous Hermaphroditic Fish. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 24:320-334. [PMID: 35303208 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-022-10106-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) play an important role in sexual fate determination and gonadal development in gonochoristic fish, such as zebrafish and medaka. However, little is known about the function of PGCs in hermaphroditic fish. Rice field eel (Monopterus albus), a protogynous hermaphroditic fish, is an economically valuable aquaculture species. We eliminated PGCs in rice field eels during embryogenesis via morpholino-mediated knockdown dead end (dnd). The PGCs-depleted gonads developed into testis-like structures with Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. The gene expression pattern of 15-month-old PGCs-depleted gonads showed that male-biased genes, dmrt1, sox9a, gsdf, and amh, were significantly higher than that of the WT, whereas female-biased genes, foxl2 and cyp19a1a, were significantly decreased. These results indicate that PGCs are essential for ovarian differentiation in rice field eel, and PGCs-depleted gonads develop into sterile males without undergoing the female and intersex stages. Our study is the first to identify the role of PGCs in sex differentiation in rice field eel, a protogynous hermaphrodite teleost. And it is of great significance in rice field eel for discovering the underlying mechanism of sex differentiation and establishing sex control technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxi Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ke Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Hongrui Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Yinjun Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wen Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yongming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Yanlong Song
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Ji Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Binbin Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China.
| | - Zuoyan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Wei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China.
- Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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