Gonadal Transcriptome Analysis of Sex-Related Genes in the Protandrous Yellowfin Seabream (Acanthopagrus latus)

Abstract

Yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus), a protandrous hermaphroditic fish, is a good model for studying the mechanism of sex reversal. However, limited knowledge is known about the genetic information related to reproduction and sex differentiation in this species. Here, we performed de novo transcriptome sequencing analysis of the testis, ovotestis, and ovary to identify sex-related genes in yellowfin seabream. The results assembled 71,765 unigenes in which 16,126 and 17,560 unigenes were differentially expressed in the ovotestis and ovary compared to the testis, respectively. The most differentially expressed gene (DEG)-enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and GO pathways were closely associated with the synthesis of sex steroid hormones. Functional analyses identified 55 important sex-related DEGs, including 32 testis-biased DEGs (dmrt1, amh, and sox9, etc.), 20 ovary-biased DEGs (cyp19a, foxl2, and wnt4, etc.), and 3 ovotestis-biased DEGs (lhb, dmrt2, and foxh1). Furthermore, the testis-specific expression of dmrt1 and the brain-pituitary-ovary axis expression of foxl2 were characterized, suggesting that they might play important roles in sex differentiation in yellowfin seabream. Our present work provided an important molecular basis for elucidating the mechanisms underlying sexual transition and reproductional regulation in yellowfin seabream.

Identification and Comparison of microRNAs in the Gonad of the Yellowfin Seabream (Acanthopagrus Latus)

“…Previously, we have identified many sex-biased genes through the transcriptome sequencing of yellowfin seabream gonads [ 38 ]. Here, the interaction networks of the sex-related genes and the DE miRNAs were analyzed ( Figure 8 ).…”

“…The important role of miRNAs in sexual differentiation and gonadal development has been reported in diverse animals, including mammals, birds, and fish [15][16][17]. Small RNA high-throughput sequencing has identified sex-related miRNAs in a wide range of fish species, including Danio rerio [17,42], Pelteobagrus fulvidraco [18,19], Oreochromis niloticus [20,21], Oplegnathus punctatus [22], Acipenser schrenckii [25], Trachinotus ovatus [26], and Previously, we have identified many sex-biased genes through the transcriptome sequencing of yellowfin seabream gonads [38]. Here, the interaction networks of the sex-related genes and the DE miRNAs were analyzed (Figure 8).…”

The complete mitochondrial genome of yellowfin seabream, Acanthopagrus latus (Percoiformes, Sparidae) from Beibu Bay

“… 2008 ; Li et al. 2020 ). A. latus is widely distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific (Xia et al.…”

“…The yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) is a commercially and ecologically important species, which is a popular food in Asia due to its beautiful appearance, delicious taste, and nutritional value Li et al 2020). A. latus is widely distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific , and it usually inhabits warm shallow and coastal waters.…”

Chromosome-level genome assembly ofAcanthopagrus latususing PacBio and Hi-C technologies

“…of sex reversal for this species. 9,10 . In addition, this lack was also limited the studies of evolution of sexual systems for Sparidae.…”