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Liu R, Friedrich M, Hemmen K, Jansen K, Adolfi MC, Schartl M, Heinze KG. Dimerization of melanocortin 4 receptor controls puberty onset and body size polymorphism. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1267590. [PMID: 38027153 PMCID: PMC10667928 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1267590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Xiphophorus fish exhibit a clear phenotypic polymorphism in puberty onset and reproductive strategies of males. In X. nigrensis and X. multilineatus, puberty onset is genetically determined and linked to a melanocortin 4 receptor (Mc4r) polymorphism of wild-type and mutant alleles on the sex chromosomes. We hypothesized that Mc4r mutant alleles act on wild-type alleles by a dominant negative effect through receptor dimerization, leading to differential intracellular signaling and effector gene activation. Depending on signaling strength, the onset of puberty either occurs early or is delayed. Here, we show by Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) that wild-type Xiphophorus Mc4r monomers can form homodimers, but also heterodimers with mutant receptors resulting in compromised signaling which explains the reduced Mc4r signaling in large males. Thus, hetero- vs. homo- dimerization seems to be the key molecular mechanism for the polymorphism in puberty onset and body size in male fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Liu
- Molecular Microscopy, Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translation Bioimaging, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), Wuerzburg, Germany
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Mike Friedrich
- Molecular Microscopy, Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translation Bioimaging, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Katherina Hemmen
- Molecular Microscopy, Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translation Bioimaging, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Jansen
- Molecular Microscopy, Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translation Bioimaging, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Mateus C. Adolfi
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), Wuerzburg, Germany
- The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Katrin G. Heinze
- Molecular Microscopy, Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translation Bioimaging, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), Wuerzburg, Germany
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Adolfi MC, Du K, Kneitz S, Cabau C, Zahm M, Klopp C, Feron R, Paixão RV, Varela ES, de Almeida FL, de Oliveira MA, Nóbrega RH, Lopez-Roques C, Iampietro C, Lluch J, Kloas W, Wuertz S, Schaefer F, Stöck M, Guiguen Y, Schartl M. A duplicated copy of id2b is an unusual sex-determining candidate gene on the Y chromosome of arapaima (Arapaima gigas). Sci Rep 2021; 11:21544. [PMID: 34732792 PMCID: PMC8566520 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01066-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Arapaima gigas is one of the largest freshwater fish species of high ecological and economic importance. Overfishing and habitat destruction are severe threats to the remaining wild populations. By incorporating a chromosomal Hi-C contact map, we improved the arapaima genome assembly to chromosome-level, revealing an unexpected high degree of chromosome rearrangements during evolution of the bonytongues (Osteoglossiformes). Combining this new assembly with pool-sequencing of male and female genomes, we identified id2bbY, a duplicated copy of the inhibitor of DNA binding 2b (id2b) gene on the Y chromosome as candidate male sex-determining gene. A PCR-test for id2bbY was developed, demonstrating that this gene is a reliable male-specific marker for genotyping. Expression analyses showed that this gene is expressed in juvenile male gonads. Its paralog, id2ba, exhibits a male-biased expression in immature gonads. Transcriptome analyses and protein structure predictions confirm id2bbY as a prime candidate for the master sex-determiner. Acting through the TGFβ signaling pathway, id2bbY from arapaima would provide the first evidence for a link of this family of transcriptional regulators to sex determination. Our study broadens our current understanding about the evolution of sex determination genetic networks and provide a tool for improving arapaima aquaculture for commercial and conservation purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus C Adolfi
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Wuerzburg, Germany.
| | - Kang Du
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Wuerzburg, Germany
- The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Susanne Kneitz
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Cédric Cabau
- Sigenae, GenPhySE, INRAE, ENVT, Université de Toulouse, Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - Margot Zahm
- Sigenae, GenPhySE, INRAE, ENVT, Université de Toulouse, Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - Christophe Klopp
- MIAT, INRA, Université de Toulouse, Chemin de Borde Rouge, 31326, Castanet-Tolosan Cedex, France
| | - Romain Feron
- INRAE, LPGP, Rennes, France
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Marcos A de Oliveira
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Rafael H Nóbrega
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil
| | | | | | - Jérôme Lluch
- GeT-PlaGe, INRAE, Genotoul, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Werner Kloas
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, IGB, Müggelseedamm 301 & 310, 12587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven Wuertz
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, IGB, Müggelseedamm 301 & 310, 12587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabian Schaefer
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, IGB, Müggelseedamm 301 & 310, 12587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Stöck
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, IGB, Müggelseedamm 301 & 310, 12587, Berlin, Germany
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8526, Japan
| | | | - Manfred Schartl
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Wuerzburg, Germany
- The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, TX, 78666, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
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Adolfi MC, Herpin A, Martinez-Bengochea A, Kneitz S, Regensburger M, Grunwald DJ, Schartl M. Crosstalk Between Retinoic Acid and Sex-Related Genes Controls Germ Cell Fate and Gametogenesis in Medaka. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:613497. [PMID: 33537305 PMCID: PMC7848095 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.613497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex determination (SD) is a highly diverse and complex mechanism. In vertebrates, one of the first morphological differences between the sexes is the timing of initiation of the first meiosis, where its initiation occurs first in female and later in male. Thus, SD is intimately related to the responsiveness of the germ cells to undergo meiosis in a sex-specific manner. In some vertebrates, it has been reported that the timing for meiosis entry would be under control of retinoic acid (RA), through activation of Stra8. In this study, we used a fish model species for sex determination and lacking the stra8 gene, the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), to investigate the connection between RA and the sex determination pathway. Exogenous RA treatments act as a stress factor inhibiting germ cell differentiation probably by activation of dmrt1a and amh. Disruption of the RA degrading enzyme gene cyp26a1 induced precocious meiosis and oogenesis in embryos/hatchlings of female and even some males. Transcriptome analyzes of cyp26a1–/–adult gonads revealed upregulation of genes related to germ cell differentiation and meiosis, in both ovaries and testes. Our findings show that germ cells respond to RA in a stra8 independent model species. The responsiveness to RA is conferred by sex-related genes, restricting its action to the sex differentiation period in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus C Adolfi
- University of Wuerzburg, Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Amaury Herpin
- INRA, UR1037, Fish Physiology and Genomics, Rennes, France.,State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Anabel Martinez-Bengochea
- University of Wuerzburg, Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, Wuerzburg, Germany.,Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Morphology, Institute of Bioscience of Botucatu, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Susanne Kneitz
- University of Wuerzburg, Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Martina Regensburger
- University of Wuerzburg, Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - David J Grunwald
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Manfred Schartl
- University of Wuerzburg, Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, Wuerzburg, Germany.,University of Wuerzburg, Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, Wuerzburg, Germany
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Liu R, Du K, Ormanns J, Adolfi MC, Schartl M. Melanocortin 4 receptor signaling and puberty onset regulation in Xiphophorus swordtails. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 295:113521. [PMID: 32470471 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Fish of the genus Xiphophorus provide a prominent example of genetic control of male body size and reproductive tactics. In X.nigrensis and X.multilineatus, puberty onset and body length are determined by melanocortin 4 receptor (Mc4r) allelic and copy number variations which were proposed to fine-tune the signaling output of the system. Accessory protein Mrap2 is required for growth across species by affecting Mc4r signaling. The molecular mechanism how Mc4r signaling controls puberty regulation in Xiphophorus and whether the interaction with Mrap2 is also involved was so far unclear. Hence, we examined Mc4r and Mrap2 in X.nigrensis and X.multilineatus, in comparison to a more distantly related species, X.hellerii. mc4r and mrap2 transcripts co-localized in the hypothalamus and preoptic regions in large males, small males and females of X.nigrensis, with similar signal strength for mrap2 but higher expression of mc4r in large males. This overexpression is constituted by wild-type and one subtype of mutant alleles. In vitro studies revealed that Mrap2 co-expressed with Mc4r increased cAMP production but did not change EC50. Cells co-expressing the wild-type and one mutant allele showed lower cAMP signaling than Mc4r wild-type cells. This indicates a role of Mc4r alleles, but not Mrap2, in puberty signaling. Different from X.nigrensis and X.multilineatus, X.hellerii has only wild-type alleles, but also shows a puberty onset and body length polymorphism, despite the absence of mutant alleles. Like in the two other species, mc4r and mrap2 transcripts colocalized and mc4r is expressed at substantially higher levels in large males. This demonstrates that puberty and growth regulation mechanism may not be identical even within same genus.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism
- Alleles
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Cyprinodontiformes/genetics
- Cyprinodontiformes/metabolism
- DNA Copy Number Variations/genetics
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Male
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4/chemistry
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4/genetics
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4/metabolism
- Sexual Maturation/physiology
- Signal Transduction
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Liu
- Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Kang Du
- Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany; Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Jenny Ormanns
- Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Mateus C Adolfi
- Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany; Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany; Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany; The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA.
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Herpin A, Schmidt C, Kneitz S, Gobé C, Regensburger M, Le Cam A, Montfort J, Adolfi MC, Lillesaar C, Wilhelm D, Kraeussling M, Mourot B, Porcon B, Pannetier M, Pailhoux E, Ettwiller L, Dolle D, Guiguen Y, Schartl M. A novel evolutionary conserved mechanism of RNA stability regulates synexpression of primordial germ cell-specific genes prior to the sex-determination stage in medaka. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000185. [PMID: 30947255 PMCID: PMC6448818 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dmrt1 is a highly conserved transcription factor, which is critically involved in regulation of gonad development of vertebrates. In medaka, a duplicate of dmrt1-acting as master sex-determining gene-has a tightly timely and spatially controlled gonadal expression pattern. In addition to transcriptional regulation, a sequence motif in the 3' UTR (D3U-box) mediates transcript stability of dmrt1 mRNAs from medaka and other vertebrates. We show here that in medaka, two RNA-binding proteins with antagonizing properties target this D3U-box, promoting either RNA stabilization in germ cells or degradation in the soma. The D3U-box is also conserved in other germ-cell transcripts, making them responsive to the same RNA binding proteins. The evolutionary conservation of the D3U-box motif within dmrt1 genes of metazoans-together with preserved expression patterns of the targeting RNA binding proteins in subsets of germ cells-suggest that this new mechanism for controlling RNA stability is not restricted to fishes but might also apply to other vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaury Herpin
- INRA, UR1037 Fish Physiology and Genomics, Rennes, France
- University of Wuerzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, Wuerzburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Cornelia Schmidt
- University of Wuerzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Kneitz
- University of Wuerzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Clara Gobé
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France
| | | | - Aurélie Le Cam
- INRA, UR1037 Fish Physiology and Genomics, Rennes, France
| | | | - Mateus C. Adolfi
- University of Wuerzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Christina Lillesaar
- University of Wuerzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Dagmar Wilhelm
- University of Melbourne, Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Kraeussling
- University of Wuerzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Maëlle Pannetier
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France
| | - Eric Pailhoux
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France
| | - Laurence Ettwiller
- University of Heidelberg, Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Department of Developmental Biology, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Dolle
- University of Heidelberg, Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Department of Developmental Biology, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yann Guiguen
- INRA, UR1037 Fish Physiology and Genomics, Rennes, France
| | - Manfred Schartl
- University of Wuerzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Hagler Institute for Advanced Study and Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
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Liu R, Kinoshita M, Adolfi MC, Schartl M. Analysis of the Role of the Mc4r System in Development, Growth, and Puberty of Medaka. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:213. [PMID: 31024451 PMCID: PMC6463759 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals the melanocortin 4 receptor (Mc4r) signaling system has been mainly associated with the regulation of appetite and energy homeostasis. In fish of the genus Xiphophorus (platyfish and swordtails) puberty onset is genetically determined by a single locus, which encodes the mc4r. Wild populations of Xiphophorus are polymorphic for early and late-maturing individuals. Copy number variation of different mc4r alleles is responsible for the difference in puberty onset. To answer whether this is a special adaptation of the Mc4r signaling system in the lineage of Xiphophorus or a more widely conserved mechanism in teleosts, we studied the role of Mc4r in reproductive biology of medaka (Oryzias latipes), a close relative to Xiphophorus and a well-established model to study gonadal development. To understand the potential role of Mc4r in medaka, we characterized the major features of the Mc4r signaling system (mc4r, mrap2, pomc, agrp1). In medaka, all these genes are expressed before hatching. In adults, they are mainly expressed in the brain. The transcript of the receptor accessory protein mrap2 co-localizes with mc4r in the hypothalamus in adult brains indicating a conserved function of modulating Mc4r signaling. Comparing growth and puberty between wild-type and mc4r knockout medaka revealed that absence of Mc4r does not change puberty timing but significantly delays hatching. Embryonic development of knockout animals is retarded compared to wild-types. In conclusion, the Mc4r system in medaka is involved in regulation of growth rather than puberty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Liu
- Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Masato Kinoshita
- Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mateus C Adolfi
- Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Clinic Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Hagler Institute for Advanced Study and Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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Adolfi MC, Herpin A, Regensburger M, Sacquegno J, Waxman JS, Schartl M. Retinoic acid and meiosis induction in adult versus embryonic gonads of medaka. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34281. [PMID: 27677591 PMCID: PMC5039705 DOI: 10.1038/srep34281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In vertebrates, one of the first recognizable sex differences in embryos is the onset of meiosis, known to be regulated by retinoic acid (RA) in mammals. We investigated in medaka a possible meiotic function of RA during the embryonic sex determination (SD) period and in mature gonads. We found RA mediated transcriptional activation in germ cells of both sexes much earlier than the SD stage, however, no such activity during the critical stages of SD. In adults, expression of the RA metabolizing enzymes indicates sexually dimorphic RA levels. In testis, RA acts directly in Sertoli, Leydig and pre-meiotic germ cells. In ovaries, RA transcriptional activity is highest in meiotic oocytes. Our results show that RA plays an important role in meiosis induction and gametogenesis in adult medaka but contrary to common expectations, not for initiating the first meiosis in female germ cells at the SD stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus C Adolfi
- University of Wuerzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, Am Hubland, D-97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Amaury Herpin
- University of Wuerzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, Am Hubland, D-97074 Wuerzburg, Germany.,INRA, UR1037, Fish Physiology and Genomics, Rennes F-35000, France
| | - Martina Regensburger
- University of Wuerzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, Am Hubland, D-97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Jacopo Sacquegno
- University of Wuerzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, Am Hubland, D-97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Joshua S Waxman
- The Heart Institute, Molecular Cardiovascular Biology and Developmental Biology Divisions, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Manfred Schartl
- University of Wuerzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, Am Hubland, D-97074 Wuerzburg, Germany.,Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Clinic Würzburg, Josef Schneider Straße 6, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany and Texas Institute for Advanced Study and Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
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8
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Adolfi MC, Carreira ACO, Jesus LWO, Bogerd J, Funes RM, Schartl M, Sogayar MC, Borella MI. Molecular cloning and expression analysis of dmrt1 and sox9 during gonad development and male reproductive cycle in the lambari fish, Astyanax altiparanae. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2015; 13:2. [PMID: 25577427 PMCID: PMC4298075 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-13-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The dmrt1 and sox9 genes have a well conserved function related to testis formation in vertebrates, and the group of fish presents a great diversity of species and reproductive mechanisms. The lambari fish (Astyanax altiparanae) is an important Neotropical species, where studies on molecular level of sex determination and gonad maturation are scarce. METHODS Here, we employed molecular cloning techniques to analyze the cDNA sequences of the dmrt1 and sox9 genes, and describe the expression pattern of those genes during development and the male reproductive cycle by qRT-PCR, and related to histology of the gonad. RESULTS Phylogenetic analyses of predicted amino acid sequences of dmrt1 and sox9 clustered A. altiparanae in the Ostariophysi group, which is consistent with the morphological phylogeny of this species. Studies of the gonad development revealed that ovary formation occurred at 58 days after hatching (dah), 2 weeks earlier than testis formation. Expression studies of sox9 and dmrt1 in different tissues of adult males and females and during development revealed specific expression in the testis, indicating that both genes also have a male-specific role in the adult. During the period of gonad sex differentiation, dmrt1 seems to have a more significant role than sox9. During the male reproductive cycle dmrt1 and sox9 are down-regulated after spermiation, indicating a role of these genes in spermatogenesis. CONCLUSIONS For the first time the dmrt1 and sox9 were cloned in a Characiformes species. We show that both genes have a conserved structure and expression, evidencing their role in sex determination, sex differentiation and the male reproductive cycle in A. altiparanae. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of sex determination and differentiation in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus C Adolfi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP Brazil
- Department of Physiological Chemistry I, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ana CO Carreira
- Chemistry Institute, Biochemistry Department, Cell and Molecular Therapy Center (NUCEL-NETCEM), School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Lázaro WO Jesus
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Jan Bogerd
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rejane M Funes
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Department of Physiological Chemistry I, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mari C Sogayar
- Chemistry Institute, Biochemistry Department, Cell and Molecular Therapy Center (NUCEL-NETCEM), School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Maria I Borella
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP Brazil
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9
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Herpin A, Adolfi MC, Nicol B, Hinzmann M, Schmidt C, Klughammer J, Engel M, Tanaka M, Guiguen Y, Schartl M. Divergent expression regulation of gonad development genes in medaka shows incomplete conservation of the downstream regulatory network of vertebrate sex determination. Mol Biol Evol 2013; 30:2328-46. [PMID: 23883523 PMCID: PMC3888023 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/mst130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic control of male or female gonad development displays between different groups of organisms a remarkable diversity of "master sex-determining genes" at the top of the genetic hierarchies, whereas downstream components surprisingly appear to be evolutionarily more conserved. Without much further studies, conservation of sequence has been equalized to conservation of function. We have used the medaka fish to investigate the generality of this paradigm. In medaka, the master male sex-determining gene is dmrt1bY, a highly conserved downstream regulator of sex determination in vertebrates. To understand its function in orchestrating the complex gene regulatory network, we have identified targets genes and regulated pathways of Dmrt1bY. Monitoring gene expression and interactions by transgenic fluorescent reporter fish lines, in vivo tissue-chromatin immunoprecipitation and in vitro gene regulation assays revealed concordance but also major discrepancies between mammals and medaka, notably amongst spatial, temporal expression patterns and regulations of the canonical Hedgehog and R-spondin/Wnt/Follistatin signaling pathways. Examination of Foxl2 protein distribution in the medaka ovary defined a new subpopulation of theca cells, where ovarian-type aromatase transcriptional regulation appears to be independent of Foxl2. In summary, these data show that the regulation of the downstream regulatory network of sex determination is less conserved than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaury Herpin
- University of Wuerzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, Am Hubland, Wuerzburg, Germany
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