Identification and profiling of microRNAs during gonadal development in the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Abstract

As post-transcriptional regulators, microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in growth and reproductive processes. So far, there is limited information regarding crustacean miRNAs. To explore the potential role of miRNAs in the gonadal development of the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, we constructed seven small RNA libraries from ovarian and testicular tissues at various stages using somatic tissue as the control. A total of 1,954 known and 129 novel miRNAs were retrieved. By comparing differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) between testes and ovaries, forty-one miRNAs were identified with sex-biased expression patterns, including 17 ovary-biased and 24 testis-biased patterns. Furthermore, the putative target genes of the sex-biased miRNAs, such as cyclin L1, mitogen-activated protein kinase 7 (MAPK 7), heat shock protein (HSP), and zinc finger protein, were significantly enriched in many reproduction-related pathways including the Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pathway, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis pathway, ovarian steroidogenesis, estrogen signaling pathway, MAPK pathway, Wnt pathway, and insulin signaling pathway, implicating potential regulatory roles of miRNAs in reproduction. These data aid in the further investigation of the mechanism of gonadal development and reproductive regulation mediated by miRNA in M. rosenbergii.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Gonads for the Identification of Sex-Related Genes in Giant Freshwater Prawns (Macrobrachium Rosenbergii) Using RNA Sequencing

“…Although the Z and W chromosomes have not been identified, the results still provided a useful resource and comprehensive knowledge of genomic structure of M. rosenbergii [10]. However, sex-related genes and a list of biological pathways involved in gonads development have been revealed [11][12][13][14][15][16], the potential molecular mechanisms of sex determination in M. rosenbergii are still not well understood.Currently, along with the emergence of next generation sequencing (NGS), RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was widely applied to detect the expression profiles of genes and identify the sex-related genes in aquaculture species, especially those lacking genomic sequences, due to its high throughput and low cost. To date, some progresses have been made in the characterization of sex-related genes and pathways in M. rosenbergii [16], Macrobrachium nipponense [17], Silver Sillago [18], Olive Flounder [19], Pacific abalone [20], Pacific white shrimp [21], catfish [22], and Acipenser dabryanus [23].…”

“…Although the Z and W chromosomes have not been identified, the results still provided a useful resource and comprehensive knowledge of genomic structure of M. rosenbergii [10]. However, sex-related genes and a list of biological pathways involved in gonads development have been revealed [11][12][13][14][15][16], the potential molecular mechanisms of sex determination in M. rosenbergii are still not well understood.…”

Integrative Proteomic and MicroRNA Analysis: Insights Into Mechanisms of Eyestalk Ablation-Induced Ovarian Maturation in the Swimming Crab Portunus trituberculatus

“…Accumulating evidence suggests that miRNAs are critical in ovarian development of crustacean (59,60). However, their functions in ESA-induced ovarian maturation are still unclear.…”

Integrated mRNA and miRNA expression profile analysis of female and male gonads in Hyriopsis cumingii

“…They and their predicted target genes may have a strong impact on sex differentiation/determination 10 . miRNAs were also identified and analyzed during the gonadal development of Macrobrachium rosenbergii and zebrafish 11 , 12 . These data will be useful for further study of miRNA mediated gonadal development and reproductive regulation mechanism.…”