Integrated mRNA and miRNA Expression Profile Analysis of Female and Male Gonads in Acrossocheilus fasciatus

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regarded as key regulators in gonadal development and sex determination in diverse organisms. However, the functions of miRNAs in gonads of Acrossocheilus fasciatus, an economically important freshwater species in the south of China, are still unclear. Here, high-throughput sequencing was performed to investigate the mRNA and miRNAs on gonads of A. fasciatus. In total, 49,447 unigenes were obtained, including 11,635 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), among which 4147 upregulated genes and 7488 downregulated genes in the testis compared to the ovary, while 300 (237 known, and 63 novel) miRNAs with 36 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were identified, from which 17 upregulated and 19 downregulated DEMs. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed to analyze the potential biological functions of DEGs and DEMs. Using qRT-PCR, 9 sex-related genes and 9 miRNAs were selected to verify the sequencing data. By dual-luciferase reporter assay, miR-22a-5p and miR-22b-5p interaction with piwil1, and miR-10d-5p interaction with piwil2 were identified. These findings could provide a reference for miRNA-regulated sex control of A. fasciatus and may reveal new insights into aquaculture and breeding concepts.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of Acrossocheilus fasciatus using PacBio sequencing and Hi-C technology

“…Moreover, as an omnivorous fish, the growth of A. fasciatus requires to feed with moss and other algae plants, which can inhibit the rankness of these aquatic plants, thus playing a role in ecological balance. Previous studies of A. fasciatus have primarily focused on its embryos and larval development, gonad histological characteristics, phylogenetic relationships, population structure,and artificial breeding 4 – 6 . On the other hand, A. fasciatus represents significant difference in growth rate and body size between males and females, with females growing faster than males (Fig.…”