Gonadal Transcriptome Analysis and Sequence Characterization of Sex-Related Genes in Cranoglanis bouderius

Abstract

In China, the Cranoglanis bouderius is classified as a national class II-protected animal. The development of C. bouderius populations has been affected by a variety of factors over the past few decades, with severe declines occurring. Considering the likelihood of continued population declines of the C. bouderius in the future, it is critical to investigate the currently unknown characteristics of gonadal differentiation and sex-related genes for C. bouderius conservation. In this study, the Illumina sequencing platform was used to sequence the gonadal transcriptome of the C. bouderius to identify the pathways and genes related to gonadal development and analyze the expression differences in the gonads. A total of 12,002 DEGs were identified, with 7220 being significantly expressed in the ovary and 4782 being significantly expressed in the testis. According to the functional enrichment results, the cell cycle, RNA transport, apoptosis, Wnt signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, and prolactin signaling pathway play important roles in sex development in the C. bouderius. Furthermore, the sequence characterization and evolutionary analysis revealed that AMH, DAX1, NANOS1, and AR of the C. bouderius are highly conserved. Specifically, the qRT-PCR results from various tissues showed significant differences in AMH, DAX1, NANOS1, and AR expression levels in the gonads of both sexes of C. bouderius. These analyses indicated that AMH, DAX1, NANOS1, and AR may play important roles in the differentiation and development of C. bouderius gonads. To our best knowledge, this study is the first to analyze the C. bouderius gonadal transcriptome and identify the structures of sex-related genes, laying the foundation for future research.

Screening of temperature-responsive signalling molecules during sex differentiation in Asian yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica)

“…In the Asian yellow pond turtle, Vasa is rst detected in embryos at stage 16 and shows differential expression in embryos between MPT and FPT, providing new insights into our understanding of the conservation and divergence of the Vasa gene, and indeed other germ cell genes across phyla [20]. Nanos1 is a conserved gene involved in germline cell speci cation and differentiation [38,39], and also shows signi cant differences in the gonads of both sexes, suggesting an important role in gonadal differentiation and development [40,41]. Piwil2 had potentially vital functions in embryonic and gonadal development in Scophthalmus maximus and may play different roles in gonadal development in different sexes [42].…”

Screening of temperature-responsive signalling molecules during sex differentiation in Asian yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica)

“…4 and 5 ). These genes were differentially expressed in male and female embryos as early as stage 12 in red-eared slider turtles [ 38 ] and Asian yellow pond turtles [ 18 ], but at relatively later stages in mice [ 43 , 44 ]. This suggests a certain level of conservatism of these thermosensitive genes in turtles with TSD.…”

In Silico Chromosome Mapping of the Male-Specific/Linked Loci in the Jade Perch (Scortum barcoo) Suggests Chromosome 19 as the Putative Y Sex Chromosome

“…However, sex determining regions (SDRs), which are important to better understand sex determination mechanisms, remain unknown. Teleosts display a large diversity in SDSs, including genetic sex determination (GSD), environmental sex determination, and interactions between the two systems [10][11][12][13][14]. Different systems of GSD have been identified in a particular species with one system (XX/XY or ZZ/ZW), or both XX/XY and ZZ/ZW systems existing within the same genus, species, and even at the population level [15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”