Molecular characterization and expression pattern of dmrt1 in the immature Chinese sturgeon Acipenser sinensis

Abstract

In this study, the cDNA of dmrt1 gene from the Chinese sturgeon Acipenser sinensis was isolated and its expression pattern was characterized in different tissues of immature A. sinensis. By real-time quantitative PCR (qrtPCR) analysis, the A. sinensis dmrt1 mRNA was detected mainly in gonad and with a higher level in the testis than the ovary, especially in 3 and 4 year-old samples. This indicated that the dmrt1 expression exhibited gradual testis specificity with development. The subcellular localization analysis indicated that the Dmrt1 protein exists only in germ cells and not in somatic cells. These results suggest that A. sinensis dmrt1 might be a highly specific sex differentiation gene for testis development and spermatogenesis.

Gene expression involved in the sexual development of Best Beluga hybrid sturgeons

“…In case of the dmrt1 gene we have observed no statistically significant difference in the expression between male and female gonads, but expression was limited to gonads. Similarly, no difference in expression was reported for mature Scaphirhynchus platorynchus (Rafinesque 1820) individuals (Amberg et al ., ) and for H. huso individuals of stage I (with small oogonia–immature testes; Yarmohammadi et al ., ) while a significantly higher expression in males compared with females was detected for 2 year‐old A. ruthenus individuals (with spermatocites–previtellogenic OCs; Wang et al ., ), 7 year‐old mature Acipenser schrenckii Brandt 1869 individuals (Okada et al ., ), 16 month‐old and 18 month‐old Acipenser baerii Brandt 1869 individuals (with spermatogonia–previtellogenic OCs) and 3 year‐old immature A. baerii individuals with differentiated gonads (Berbejillo et al ., , , ), 1,600 day‐old Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt & Ratzeburg 1833 (Fajkowska et al ., ) and 1, 2, 3 and 4 year‐old Acipenser sinensis Gray 1835 in different stages of development (Leng et al ., ). As observed, dmrt1 exhibits a species‐specific pattern of expression at the different ages (different development stages) at which this pattern occurs.…”

“…For the 21 month‐old immature individuals we have observed that the gonads present the expression of all the genes investigated (Supporting Information Table S1). Similar studies have reported the expression of foxl2 , cyp17a1 , ar , dmrt1 , sox9 , star in other sturgeon species (Amberg et al ., ; Berbejillo et al ., , , ; Fajkowska et al ., ; Hagihara et al ., ; Kusakabe et al ., ; Leng et al ., ; Okada et al ., ; Wang et al ., ; Yarmohammadi et al ., ). In case of the dmrt1 gene we have observed no statistically significant difference in the expression between male and female gonads, but expression was limited to gonads.…”

“…In case of the dmrt1 gene we have observed no statistically significant difference in the expression between male and female gonads, but expression was limited to gonads. Similarly, no difference in expression was reported for mature Scaphirhynchus platorynchus 3 year-old immature A. baerii individuals with differentiated gonads (Berbejillo et al, 2011(Berbejillo et al, , 2012(Berbejillo et al, , 2013, 1,600 day-old Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt & Ratzeburg 1833 (Fajkowska et al, 2016) and 1, 2, 3 and 4 year-old Acipenser sinensis Gray 1835 in different stages of development (Leng et al, 2016). As observed, dmrt1 exhibits a species-specific pattern of expression at the different ages (different development stages) at which this pattern occurs.…”

Expression Characterization of Six Genes Possibly Involved in Gonad Development for Stellate Sturgeon Individuals (Acipenser stellatus, Pallas 1771)

“…With NGS laying the groundwork for gene discovery, the next step was the analysis of gene pathways using qPCR studies; therefore, the most-studied genes in vertebrates that are involved in male pathway were sox9 , amh , nr5a1 , nrob1 , and wt1 [ 34 – 36 ]. In the case of sturgeons, there have been a series of studies regarding genes involved in male or female sex development: Sertoli cell factors dmrt1 and sox9 , Leydig cell factors star and cyp17a1 , and other genes such as lh , ar , vtg , foxl2 , fsh , and igf1 [ 35 – 41 ], showing that the genes are expressed differently in the various tissues investigated. Even if there are studies that investigate sturgeon sex development, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood, and no master sex gene has been identified as of yet.…”

The effects of 11‐ketotestosterone implants on transcript levels of gonadotropin receptors, and foxl2 and dmrt1 genes in the Previtellogenic ovary of cultured beluga (Huso huso)

“…In rare minnow, Gobiocypris rarus , rainbow trout and southern catfish, Silurus meridionalis , foxl2 was downregulated after exposure to the androgen 2‐methyltestosterone (Jiang et al ., 2011). In Amur sturgeon, Acipenser schrenckii , shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus and Chinese sturgeon foxl2 was mainly expressed in ovary while dmrt1 was mostly expressed in testis (Amberg et al ., 2010; Leng et al ., 2016; Okada et al ., 2017).…”