Identification of Important Genes Involved in the Sex-Differentiation Mechanism of Oriental River Prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense, During the Gonad Differentiation and Development Period

Abstract

Identification of important genes, involved in the gonad differentiation and development, plays essential roles in the establishment of the artificial technique to regulate the process of testis development in M. nipponense. In this study, we aimed to determine the sensitive period of gonad differentiation and development through hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The important genes involved in the gonad differentiation and development of M. nipponense were then identified through transcriptome profiling analysis during the sensitive period of gonad differentiation and development. HE staining analysis revealed that the sensitive period of gonad differentiation and development was from the post–larval developmental stages 5 (PL5) to PL25, which was dramatically faster than was for the other identified aquatic animals. The transcriptome profiling analysis predicted that phagosome, lysosome, oxidative phosphorylation, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis play essential roles in the mechanism of gonad differentiation and development in M. nipponense. A total of 29 genes were further identified as the candidate genes, involved in the process of gonad differentiation and development in M. nipponense, based on the gene annotation and gene expression pattern. The qPCR analysis of Mn-JHEH, Mn-DHP, Mn-ALY, and Mn-SMA6 during the whole developmental process revealed that all of these four genes showed high expression levels during the sensitive period of gonad differentiation and development in M. nipponense. Mn-JHEH, Mn-DHP, and Mn-ALY showed higher expressions at PL25F than at PL25M, while Mn-SMA6 showed a higher expression at PL25M. The RNA interference (RNAi) analysis was further used to investigate the potential functions of SMA6 in male sexual development of M. nipponense. The RNAi analysis revealed that SMA6 positively regulated the testis development in M. nipponense by affecting the expression of Mn-IAG. This study provided valuable evidences for the establishment of the technique to regulate the process of gonad development in M. nipponense.

A high-density linkage map and sex-determination loci in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

“…The AX-249,988,993 (LG31, pos: 26.457 cM) and AX-249,687,820 (LG31, pos: 28.246 cM) SNPs intercepted the oplophorus-luciferin 2-monooxygenase and serine/arginine repetitive matrix protein genes, respectively. Although these genes are not directly related to sex determination, some studies shown that they are expressed in the gonads of crustaceans, such as Macrobrachium nipponense [ 33 ] and Penaeus monodon [ 34 , 35 ]. Another interesting gene, spermine oxidase , was found close to the AX-249,610,151 SNP (~ 20Kb downstream).…”

“…However, oplophorus-luciferin 2-monooxygenase and serine/arginine repetitive matrix protein (SRRM1) genes were intercepted by significant SNPs. The first gene was downregulated at both the PL15 and PL25 stages in the gonadal tissues of M. nipponense [ 33 ]. Although its specific function is still unclear, this gene was found to be related to metabolic and extra cellular matrix processes in other crustacean species [ 50 , 51 ].…”

Two Short Repeats in the 5′ Untranslated Region of Insulin-like Androgenic Gland Factor in Procambarus clarkii (PcIAG) That Regulate PcIAG Expression

“…Based on sequence annotation and literature report [ 3 , 24 , 25 , 26 ], sex-related genes were identified in mRNA expression profiles ( Table S7 ). The expression levels of IAG and membrane-anchored androgenic gland-specific factors ( MAG ) showed similar trends.…”

Identification of Male Sex-Related Genes Regulated by SDHB in Macrobrachium nipponense Based on Transcriptome Analysis after an RNAi Knockdown

“…In addition, the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway is involved in most biological processes, and has been shown to be an important pathway participating in male development in M. nipponense. In previous transcriptome studies in M. nipponense, the expression of many genes in the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway was found to vary during the post-larval developmental stages 5 (PL5) to PL25, the sensitive periods for gonad development [34]. In addition, after ablation of the eyestalk, which is a key organ for secreting many hormones during male sexual development in crustaceans, the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway is also one of the main sources of enrichment of the DEGs in the testes and androgenic gland of M. nipponense [35].…”