A refined roadmap to decapod sexual manipulation

Abstract

Many decapod crustaceans with sexual dimorphism in body size are economically significant species for fisheries and aquaculture, making monosex culture a desirable practice to increase farmers' yield and profits. It is well established that the male‐specific androgenic gland (AG) mediates masculinization in decapods by producing and secreting the insulin‐like AG hormone (IAG). However, IAG is not a sex‐determining factor; hence, iag silencing in decapods does not always lead to successful sex change. Since the establishment of monosex populations in the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, the same AG/iag manipulation approach has been attempted in economically significant penaeid shrimps, crabs, crayfish and spiny lobsters, to no avail. There are many factors at play with species‐specific intricacies which require close examination when addressing monosex production. This review provides a refined roadmap to successful sexual manipulation in decapod crustaceans, highlighting the key caveats to be considered and critical gaps in knowledge such as the timing of iag expression compared to the development of sexual characteristics, the relationship between iag and a master regulator, as well as silencing capacity. Lastly, this review examines what the future might hold for monosex aquaculture in decapods, taking into consideration novel technologies such as gene editing.

Phylogenetic and transcriptomic characterization of insulin and growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases in crustaceans

“…Moreover, this extensive catalog of crustacean RTKs facilitates a systematic analysis of InsR, EGFR, FGFR, and PVR functions in various physiological processes, including, but not limited to, molting and growth, reproduction, regeneration, development and metamorphosis, nutrition and metabolism, and immunity, as well as their interactions with environmental stressors arising from climate change ( 94 – 96 ). Moreover, a greater understanding of growth factor/RTK signaling has important applications to sustainable aquacultural practices and the development of entirely new bioindustries, such as cellular agriculture and cultivated meats ( 28 , 97 – 102 ).…”

Chemical synthesis of insulin‐like peptide 1 and its potential role in vitellogenesis of the kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus

“…[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] Sexual manipulation technique targeting IAG is in practical use in some decapods. 24 In contrast, little is known about the functions of ILPs other than IAG/AGH. To date, four insulin family peptides have been identified in the kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus, including three male-dominant peptides (Maj-IAG, Maj-ILP2, and Maj-GON) and one female-specific peptide (Maj-ILP1; Figure 1).…”

“…Both AGH and IAG, sometimes collectively called androgenin, 12 have been reported to be important regulators of male sex differentiation 16–23 . Sexual manipulation technique targeting IAG is in practical use in some decapods 24 . In contrast, little is known about the functions of ILPs other than IAG/AGH.…”