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Abstract

Here, we report the genomic structure and expression pattern of the cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b of ayu. The cDNAs of cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b coded 529 and 540 amino acid residues with a similarity of 76% and 77% with Salmo trutta (cyp19a1a) and Oncorhynchus mykiss (cyp19a1b), respectively. Genomic structure analysis revealed that ayu cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b genes contained six and seven introns, respectively. The insert sites of cyp19a1b agreed with other fish species, while that of cyp19a1a varied slightly. Sequence analysis of the 5′-flank region showed that the coding start sites were 71 bp and 72 bp from the translation start sites (TSS) of cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b, respectively. The expression patterns of cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b in adult ayu tissues were same as most teleostomi. Cyp19a1a was predominantly expressed in the ovary and female brain. Unexpectedly, Cyp19a1a also expressed strongly in the muscle. However, cyp19a1b was predominantly expressed in the brain. The expression patterns of ayu embryos and juveniles revealed that cyp19a1a expression fluctuated significantly during ovarian differentiation, while cyp19a1b showed no significant variations during this stage. Based on our data, cyp19a1a might play an important role in gonad differentiation and cyp19a1b might involve in the development of ayu nervous system.