Molecular Characterization of a Novel Cathepsin L in Macrobrachium nipponense and Its Function in Ovary Maturation

Abstract

Cathepsin L genes, which belonged to cysteine proteases, were a series of multifunctional protease and played important roles in a lot of pathological and physiological processes. In this study, we analyzed the characteristics a cathepsin L (named Mn-CL2) in the female oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense which was involved in ovary maturation. The Mn-CL2 was1,582 bp in length, including a 978 bp open reading frame that encoded 326 amino acids. The Mn-CL2 was classified into the cathepsin L group by phylogenetic analysis. Real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis indicated that Mn-CL2 was highly expressed in the hepatopancreas and ovaries of female prawns. During the different ovarian stages, Mn-CL2 expression in the hepatopancreas and ovaries peaked before ovarian maturation. In situ hybridization studies revealed that Mn-CL2 was localized in the oocyte of the ovary. Injection of Mn-CL2 dsRNA significantly reduced the expression of vitellogenin. Changes in the gonad somatic index also confirmed the inhibitory effects of Mn-CL2 dsRNA on ovary maturation. These results suggest that Mn-CL2 has a key role in promoting ovary maturation.

A Novel Legumain-Like Protease in Macrobrachium nipponense: Identification, Characterization, and Function Analysis in Ovary Maturation

“…Ovary stage III was a rapid period of growth and proliferation of oocytes, which provided nutrients and energy. Previous studies ( 42 , 43 ) suggested that two cathepsin L genes are mainly expressed in the hepatopancreas, and their expression levels in the ovary reached the maximum in stage III, which was similar to Mn-Lel. ISH results also showed that a clear Mn-Lel signal was detected in all five stages.…”

Hepatopancreas Proteomic Analysis Reveals Key Proteins and Pathways in Regulatory of Ovary Maturation of Macrobrachium nipponense

“…Pond-aquaculture of M. nipponense are prevalent with production exceeding 240,000 tons in China in 2021 [ 17 ]. Adult female M. nipponense have a short sexual maturity cycle [ 18 ]. During each breeding season, gonad maturation and larval development of M. nipponense are accelerated by increases in water temperature.…”

“…Newborn female prawns develop to sexual maturity and lay eggs within 45 days after hatching by early autumn (known as “autumn reproduction”) [ 19 ]. Such rapid sexual maturation results in multiple generations and reduces resilience and survival rates [ 18 ]. A large amount of energy is used for such reproduction, resulting in significant decreases in the number of large-sized prawn, especially the female, which seriously affected the prawn aquaculture [ 20 ].…”

Hepatopancreas transcriptome analyses provide new insights into the molecular regulatory mechanism of fast ovary maturation in Macrobrachium nipponense

“…The short sexual maturity period of female M. nipponense leads to rapid mass self-reproduction in autumn [ 3 ]. During the breeding season, ovarian maturation of M. nipponense accelerates with increases in water temperature.…”