|
1
|
Huang J, Wan H, Jiang J, Huang Y, Zou P, Zhang Z, Jia X, Wang Y. miR-34 negatively regulates the expression of Dmrt and related genes in the testis of mud crab Scylla paramamosain. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 275:111018. [PMID: 39128537 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2024.111018] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
The mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) is a commercially significant marine decapod crustacean. Due to its obvious sexual dimorphism, the mechanism of sex differentiation and gonadal development has attracted significant research interest. The Dmrt (double-sex and mab-3 related transcription factor) genes are vital in animal gonadal development and sex differentiation. In the present study, miR-34 was predicted to target the 3' end of Dmrt-1, idmrt-2, Dmrt-3, Dsx and Dmrt-like genes by prediction software, and the interactions between miR-34 and these Dmrt genes were validated by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Dual luciferase assay results indicated that miR-34 mimics/inhibitors co-transfected with plasmid vectors with 3' end of Dmrt-1, idmrt-2, Dmrt-3, Dsx and Dmrt-like, respectively, led to a significant decrease/increase of fluorescence activity in HEK293T cells. In vivo experiments showed that injection of agomir-34 significantly inhibited Dmrt-1, idmrt-2, Dsx and Dmrt-like expression, while injection of antagomir-34 caused the opposite result. However, Dmrt-3 expression was not affected by injection of miR-34 reagents. Meanwhile, the expression of spermatogenesis and testicular development-related molecular marker genes (IAG, foxl2 and vasa) in mud crabs was significantly changed after injecting the miR-34 reagent in vivo. Furthermore, the result of immunoblotting proved that the expression level of Dmrt-like protein can be regulated by miR-34. These results imply that miR-34 is indirectly involved in sex differentiation and testicular development of S. paramamosain by regulating Dmrt-1, idmrt-2, Dsx and Dmrt-like genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinkun Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Haifu Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Jing Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Yicong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Pengfei Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Ziping Zhang
- College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xiwei Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China.
| | - Yilei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China.
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Noor Z, Zhao Z, Guo S, Wei Z, Cai B, Qin Y, Ma H, Yu Z, Li J, Zhang Y. A Testis-Specific DMRT1 (Double Sex and Mab-3-Related Transcription Factor 1) Plays a Role in Spermatogenesis and Gonadal Development in the Hermaphrodite Boring Giant Clam Tridacna crocea. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5574. [PMID: 38891762 PMCID: PMC11172331 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115574] [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: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The testis-specific double sex and mab-3-related transcription factor 1 (DMRT1) has long been recognized as a crucial player in sex determination across vertebrates, and its essential role in gonadal development and the regulation of spermatogenesis is well established. Here, we report the cloning of the key spermatogenesis-related DMRT1 cDNA, named Tc-DMRT1, from the gonads of Tridacna crocea (T. crocea), with a molecular weight of 41.93 kDa and an isoelectric point of 7.83 (pI). Our hypothesis is that DMRT1 machinery governs spermatogenesis and regulates gonadogenesis. RNAi-mediated Tc-DMRT1 knockdown revealed its critical role in hindering spermatogenesis and reducing expression levels in boring giant clams. A histological analysis showed structural changes, with normal sperm cell counts in the control group (ds-EGFP) but significantly lower concentrations of sperm cells in the experimental group (ds-DMRT1). DMRT1 transcripts during embryogenesis exhibited a significantly high expression pattern (p < 0.05) during the early zygote stage, and whole-embryo in-situ hybridization confirmed its expression pattern throughout embryogenesis. A qRT-PCR analysis of various reproductive stages revealed an abundant expression of Tc-DMRT1 in the gonads during the male reproductive stage. In-situ hybridization showed tissue-specific expression of DMRT1, with a positive signal detected in male-stage gonadal tissues comprising sperm cells, while no signal was detected in other stages. Our study findings provide an initial understanding of the DMRT1 molecular machinery controlling spermatogenesis and its specificity in male-stage gonads of the key bivalve species, Tridacna crocea, and suggest that DMRT1 predominantly functions as a key regulator of spermatogenesis in giant clams.
Collapse
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; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, 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; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
- Animal Science and Technology College, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, 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; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Zonglu Wei
- 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; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
- Animal Science and Technology College, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Borui Cai
- 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; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Yanping 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; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, 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; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, 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; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, 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; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, 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; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
| |
Collapse
|
|
3
|
Zhang J, Sun Z, Su W, Wang Z, Meng W, Chang Y. A signal recognition particle receptor gene from the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicas. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22973. [PMID: 38151522 PMCID: PMC10752883 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50320-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The signal recognition particle (SRP) system delivers approximately 30% of the proteome to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. SRP receptor alpha (SRα) binds to SRP for targeting nascent secreted proteins to the ER membrane in eukaryotic cells. In this study, the SRα homologous gene was identified in the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus (AjSRα). AjSRα codes for 641 amino acids and has 54.94% identity with its mammalian homologs. Like mammalian SRα, it is expected to contain the SRP-alpha N domain, SRP54_N domain, and SRP54 domain. In addition, AjSRα is ubiquitously expressed in adult tissues and exhibits a sexually dimorphic expression pattern, with significantly higher expression in ovaries compared to testes. As a maternal factor, AjSRα can be continuously detected during embryonic development. Importantly, we first attempted to investigate its function by using lentiviral vectors for delivering SRα gene-specific shRNA, and we revealed that lentiviral vectors do not induce an upregulation of immune-related enzymes in sea cucumbers. However, compared to the dsRNA-based RNA interference (RNAi) method, lentivirus-mediated RNAi caused dynamic changes in gene expression at a later time. This study supplied the technical support for studying the functional mechanism of SRα in sea cucumbers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- School of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, 116029, China
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Zhihui Sun
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
| | - Weiyi Su
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Zengdong Wang
- Shandong Anyuan Aquaculture Co. Ltd, Yantai, 264000, China
| | - Weihan Meng
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Yaqing Chang
- School of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, 116029, China.
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
| |
Collapse
|