暗纹东方鲀抗苗勒氏管激素Ⅱ型受体基因的克隆、生物信息学及表达分析

为探究暗纹东方鲀(Takifugu obscures)抗苗勒氏管激素Ⅱ型受体(anti-Müllerian hormone receptorⅡ,Amhr2)基因的序列和结构信息,初步研究amhr2基因在性腺发育和性别分化过程中的作用,实验通过设计简并引物扩增及RACE技术,克隆出暗纹东方鲀amhr2完整的CDS区,分析其相应的生物信息学特征及其在不同组织和不同发育期的mRNA表达水平。结果表明:amhr2序列cDNA全长为1 868 bp(NCBI登录号:MH218814),编码513个氨基酸,与红鳍东方鲀(Takifugu rubripes)同源性最高,达99%。氨基酸多重序列比对结果显示,Amhr2氨基酸序列中的近C-末端区域序列较为保守;通过构建系统进化树发现,暗纹东方鲀Amhr2与红鳍东方鲀亲缘关系最近。荧光定量PCR分析显示,暗纹东方鲀amhr2仅在性腺中表达,且卵巢中的表达量明显高于精巢;并且在性腺早期发育过程中,amhr2在精巢和卵巢中的表达量均呈现出先降低再迅速升高的表达趋势。研究结果表明,amhr2在暗纹东方鲀中的表达具有组织特异性,且在性别分化和性别维持等过程中发挥重要的作用。     

芳香化酶抑制剂对暗纹东方鲀CYP19A、DMRT1基因表达及性腺分化的影响

采用组织学和分子生物学方法,研究了投喂芳香化酶抑制剂来曲唑(LE)后暗纹东方鲀(Takifugu obscures)初孵仔鱼CYP19A、DMRT1基因表达以及性腺的组织学变化,以期进一步了解P450芳香化酶(P450arom)在鱼类早期性别分化过程中的作用。RT-PCR结果显示,对照组样品CYP19A和DMRT1表达显示性二态,雌性表达CYP19A基因,雄性表达DMRT1基因。LE处理组在性别分化期间,雄性样品单一表达DMRT1,雌性样品则同时表达CYP19A和DMRT1。qRT-PCR结果显示:LE处理组雌性仔鱼CYP19A基因表达被显著抑;虽然在仔鱼出膜后22d(dph)的表达水平高于9 dph,但仅为同日对照组的2.11%。LE处理组雌性样品22 dph时DMRT1基因表达量上调,至150 dph时达对照组雄性水平。55 dph的性腺组织学结果表明,LE处理可导致暗纹东方鲀稚鱼原始卵巢退化,并向功能性精巢发育。150 dph的LE处理组性腺均为精巢,并与对照组精巢发育同步。结论认为,暗纹东方鲀性腺分化期间P450arom是卵巢形成和维持发育所必须的,抑制P450arom活性可导致雌性暗纹东方鲀发生雄性化逆转。     

不同倍性鲫鲤性腺型芳香化酶cyp19a1a基因cDNA的克隆及表达

为研究性腺型芳香化酶P450aromA(cyp19a1a基因编码)在不同倍性鲫鲤卵巢发育过程中的作用,实验采用同源克隆和cDNA末端快速扩增技术(RACE),获得了二倍体红鲫、三倍体湘云鲫和四倍体鲫鲤的cyp19a1a基因cDNA全长。结果显示,3种鱼cyp19a1a基因均编码517个氨基酸残基,而且编码的蛋白都包含P450aromA特有的跨膜螺旋区、I-螺旋区、Ozol’s肽区、芳香化酶特异保守区以及血红素结合区。采用RT-PCR分析cyp19a1a基因mRNA在3种不同倍性鱼类组织中的表达情况,结果显示,cyp19a1a基因主要在实验鱼的卵巢中表达,其次在精巢、脑、脾脏有少量表达。采用实时荧光定量PCR对cyp19a1a基因mRNA在不同倍性鱼卵巢中的表达进行分析,结果发现,cyp19a1a基因在不同倍性鱼的非繁殖期卵巢的表达都高于繁殖期卵巢,并且在繁殖期和非繁殖期,cyp19a1a基因在三倍体湘云鲫的表达量高于二倍体红鲫和四倍体鲫鲤。采用免疫组织化学方法对CYP19A蛋白在不同倍性鲫鲤卵巢中的定位进行分析,结果发现,CYP19A蛋白主要定位在滤泡细胞、Ⅳ时相卵母细胞的放射膜上以及Ⅱ时相卵母细胞的卵浆中。研究表明,性腺型芳香化酶在不同倍性鲫鲤卵巢发育过程中的表达存在一定的差异性,三倍体鱼cyp19a1a基因mRNA水平表达异常,推测与其不育有关联性。     

暗纹东方鲀心型脂肪酸结合蛋白H-FABP基因克隆与表达分析

为深入了解心型脂肪酸结合蛋白(heart-type fatty acid-binding protein,H-FABP)的结构与功能,采用RACE技术克隆得到暗纹东方鲀H-FABP的全长cDNA序列,共772 bp,开放阅读框为402 bp,编码133个氨基酸。生物信息学分析表明,暗纹东方鲀H-FABP基因具有一个脂质转运蛋白家族保守结构域和多个蛋白激酶磷酸化位点。NJ法系统进化分析显示,暗纹东方鲀与红鳍东方鲀亲缘关系最近,其次是鲈形目。经荧光定量PCR检测,H-FABP基因在暗纹东方鲀所有被检测的组织中都有表达,其中肝脏中的表达量最高,其次为肌肉和心脏,预示H-FABP主要参与脂肪酸氧化分解过程。为探究豆油作为脂肪源的可行性,采用不同比例(0、25%、50%和75%)豆油替代鱼油的饲料投喂初始体质量为(8.31±0.20)g的暗纹东方鲀8周。结果显示,全鱼油组肝脏中H-FABP基因的表达量显著高于50%豆油组和75%豆油组,但与25%豆油组无显著性差异,且随着饲料中豆油比例的增加,暗纹东方鲀肝脏中H-FABP基因的表达量呈下降趋势。研究表明,富含n-3多不饱和脂肪酸的鱼油可以促进脂肪酸氧化分解,能预防脂肪肝。因此,为不影响暗纹东方鲀肝脏脂肪代谢,饲料中豆油替代鱼油的比例应控制在50%以下。     

奥利亚罗非鱼卵巢芳香化酶基因的克隆及其表达

采用RT-PCR和快速扩增cDNA末端(Rapid amplification of cDNA ends,RACE)法分离出奥利亚罗非鱼(Oreochromis aureus)卵巢芳香化酶(P450aromA)的全序列,得到1784bp的全长eDNA,包括38bp5'非翻译区,1566 bp阅读框以及含Poly(A)信号(AATAAA)的167bp3'非翻译区[不包括Poly(A)].阅读框共编码521个氨基酸,推算的蛋白质分子量为59kD.同源性分析显示,奥利亚罗非鱼P450aromA的氨基酸序列与其他鱼类性腺芳香化酶(P450arom)具有70%以上的同源性,与其他鱼类脑P450arom有60%左右同源性,但其芳香化酶高保守区包括I-螺旋区、芳香化酶特异保守区和血红素结合区分别与其他鱼类P450arom的同源性高达83%～96%、78%~86%和85% ～100%.系统发育分析表明,奥利亚罗非鱼P450aromA属于鱼类性腺P450arom,分子系统进化树分析结果与根据传统的形态学和生化特征分类结果基本一致.生物信息学分析显示,奥利亚罗非鱼P450aromA基因编码的蛋白无信号肽,无跨膜区域,为非分泌型蛋白.同时还含有多个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点、N-糖基激化位点、N-肉豆蔻酰化位点及蛋白激酶C磷酸化位点.使用Taqman探针法检测P450aromA在奥利亚罗非鱼咸鱼各种组织中的表达.结果发现,P450aromA只在卵巢中表达.同时比较了鱼苗、鱼种和成鱼卵巢中P450aromA的表达差异,结果显示,鱼苗中无P450aromA的表达,成鱼中P450aromA的表达量是鱼种阶段的30倍.     

条斑星鲽CYP19a基因克隆及其在雄鱼生殖周期中的表达

细胞色素P450芳香化酶(P450arom)作为P450细胞色素酶超家族中的一员,是性类固醇生成途径中的末端酶,能够将雄激素转化为雌激素。在大多数脊椎动物中,P450arom由CYP19单基因编码。但是在鱼类中存在两种P450芳香化酶,分为性腺型芳香化酶(P450aromA)和脑型芳香化酶(P450aromB),它们由不同的基因(CYP19a和CYP19b)编码,分布在不同的组织。通过简并引物扩增及RACE cDNA扩增克隆,在国内外首次获得全长为2167bp的条斑星鲽CYP19a cDNA序列,并将推测的氨基酸序列与其它物种P450arom氨基酸序列进行多重比较,发现存在跨膜螺旋区、I-螺旋区、Ozol肽区、芳香化酶特异保守区以及血红素结合区。通过RT-PCR分析了P450aromA mRNA在条斑星鲽不同组织中的表达情况,结果表明,CYP19a基因主要在脑、卵巢和精巢中表达,其次在肠、肝脏、肾脏也有少量表达。同时也分析了P450aromA mRNA在处于不同发育期的精巢中的表达情况,发现在Ⅱ期精巢中表达量最高,在Ⅴ期精巢中表达量最低。     

大菱鲆促黄体激素受体基因的克隆及其生物信息学分析

通过兼并引物扩增及RACE技术,克隆大菱鲆促黄体激素受体(luteinizing hormone receptor,LHR)基因,分析其相应生物信息学特征和组织表达。结果显示:LHR基因序列全长3 184 bp,编码685个氨基酸,同大西洋庸鲽同源性最高。氨基酸序列分析发现,该基因编码蛋白为疏水性蛋白,相对分子量76.54 ku,理论等电点7.22,存在信号肽序列和跨膜区;亚细胞定位主要在内质网和细胞膜;预测该蛋白含有33个磷酸化位点、5个糖基化位点、6个富含亮氨酸重复序列、7个跨膜保守结构域,二级结构以无规则卷曲为主,三级结构其结构域呈α螺旋状构象;蛋白功能预测表明,LHR主要在辅助、运载、翻译和代谢调节过程中发挥关键作用。组织表达分析表明,LHR基因除在卵巢大量表达外,在其他非性腺组织也有表达,尤其是在肝脏表达较高。上述结果为深入探讨LHR基因在大菱鲆性腺发育过程中的生物学功能奠定了遗传信息基础,也为研究其他海水养殖鱼类生殖调控提供重要参考。     

暗纹东方鲀线粒体COIII克隆及序列分析

克隆并测定了暗纹东方鲀线粒体基因组(m tDNA)含完整的细胞色素氧化酶亚基Ⅲ(CO III)及其下游70 bp的tRNAG ly序列。CO III基因编码框包含786个核苷酸,编码262个氨基酸的蛋白质。鱼类CO III的序列组成对A T核苷酸的偏倚程度比较低。通过暗纹东方鲀与GenBank中8个目12种鱼类的CO III序列同源性比较,显示暗纹东方鲀与这些鱼类的CO III基因具有较高的同源性。根据暗纹东方鲀与鲀目其他5种鱼的CO III基因序列所建立的进化树,与传统的分类地位相吻合。推定的tR-NA的二级结构具有典型的三叶草型结构。根据CO III序列构建的分子进化树分析,认为在采用线粒体基因序列进行分子进化分析时,应综合考虑物种遗传变异的特点。     

食蚊鱼CYP19a基因的克隆与序列分析

硬骨鱼类CYP19基因与生物的性别分化和激素调节相关,因此可开发用来探究环境激素污染与基因表达的关系。本研究首次克隆和分析了食蚊鱼CYP19a cDNA的全系列,为将CYP19基因作为监测环境激素生物标志物的研究提供了全面的实验数据。根据CYP19a基因c DNA保守区域设计引物,扩增保守区域并测序。采用RACE法扩增食蚊鱼CYP19a基因c DNA序列全长,对其蛋白序列进行同源性分析,并将序列应用于CYP19a mRNA转录水平的RT-PCR法检测中。成功克隆食蚊鱼CYP19a基因全长,获得CYP19a基因总长为2020 bp,ORF为238~1791 bp,共编码518个氨基酸,对其编码的蛋白质进行有关信号肽、跨膜螺旋、亲水性/疏水性、一级结构、二级结构和三级结构分析,与其他硬骨鱼类底鰆、青鰆、平鲷、鲫、鲤和斑马鱼的性腺CYP19a基因作同源性比较,其基因相似度分别为93%、84%、84%、71%、71%和66%。用MEGA6.0软件对19个物种的CYP19a基因进行聚类分析,食蚊鱼CYP19a基因与底鰆、青鰆同源性最高,说明芳香化酶在进化上相对保守。确定从食蚊鱼性腺所克隆的CYP19a基因是芳香化酶基因,证明食蚊鱼的芳香化酶是由CYP19a和CYP19b两种基因编码的。食蚊鱼卵巢芳香化酶具有3个高度保守的片段,并具有催化活性。     

养殖型暗纹东方鲀生长与发育特性

观测养殖型暗纹东方鲀，获得4个年龄组的生长数据和解剖资料。拟合出雌、雄的体长体重关系和生长方程，分析其肥满度、胸腹围特点以及性腺和肝脏发育特点。结果显示，养殖型暗纹东方鲀雌雄体长生长规律相似；但体重在2．5龄前雄鱼生长速度大于雌鱼，2．5龄后则相反。养殖暗纹东方鲀体型比野生暗纹东方纯肥胖。体重／体长和肥满度皆大于野生型。研究还发现，养殖暗纹东方鲀性腺发育不良和肝脏脂肪变性发生率高，且两者的发生存在一定关系，致使全人工育成的成鱼繁殖难以成功。     

Increase in estrogen signaling in the early brain of orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides: a mini-review

Despite neurosteroidogenic enzymes are playing important roles in the regulation of brain development and function, the potential link between brain and gonad by the action of steroid hormones during gonadal sex differentiation is still not clear in teleosts. In this mini-review, we summarized our understanding on the early brain development related to the synthesis of neurosteroids and receptor signaling during gonadal sex differentiation in protogynous orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides (functional females for the first 6 years of life and start to sex change around the age of 7 years) and protandrous black porgy (functional males for the first 2 years of life but begin to change sex during the third year). We found a similar profile in the increased expression of brain aromatase gene (aromatatse B or cyp19a1b), aromatase activity, estradiol (E₂), and estrogen signaling in the brain of both grouper and black porgy fish during gonadal sex differentiation. In contrast to mammals, teleost fish Cyp19a1b expressed in a unique cell type, a radial glial cell, which is acted as progenitors in the brain of developing and adult fish. In agreement with these pioneer studies, we demonstrated that the grouper cyp19a1b/Cyp19a1b was expressed in radial glial cells. Further, in vivo data in the grouper brain showed that exogenous E₂ upregulated Cyp19a1b immunoreactivity (ir) in radial glial cells. These data suggest the possible roles of Cyp19a1b and E₂ in early brain development which is presumably related to gonadal sex differentiation.     

Identification of a gonad-expression differential gene insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (Igf1r) in the swamp eel (Monopterus albus)

In vertebrate species, the biopotential embryonic gonad differentiation is affected by many key genes and key steroidogenic enzymes. Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (Igf1r) has been considered as an important sex-differentiation gene in mammals and could mediate the biological action of Igf1, an important regulator of key steroidogenic enzymes. However, Igf1r gene is still unknown in the swamp eel, an economically important fish. In our study, we identified Igf1r gene in the swamp eel, which was a 2,148-bp open-reading frame encoding a protein of 716 amino acids. The alignment and the phylogenetic tree showed that Igf1r of the swamp eel had a conservative sequence with other vertebrates, especial fishes. Western blotting of Igf1r showed that Igf1r expressed much more in ovotestis and testis than in ovary, indicating an important role of Igf1r during gonad differentiation. We analyzed ubiquitination of Igf1r by co-immunoprecipitation and found the amount of ubiquitinated Igf1r was increased from ovary, ovotestis to testis, which was reversely to the trend of Hsp10 expression during gonadal transformation. It was possible that Hsp10 could suppress Igf1r ubiquitination during gonadal development of the swamp eel.     

施氏鲟促卵泡激素受体基因cDNA的克隆、表达及调控

为研究促卵泡激素受体基因(FSHR)在施氏鲟(Acipenser schrenckii)性腺分化过程中的表达、分布及调控作用,采用反转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)和RACE技术克隆得到施氏鲟促性腺激素(FSHR)基因的全长cDNA序列,并对其编码氨基酸序列的特征、基因表达及调控作用进行了分析。结果显示:施氏鲟FSHR基因的cDNA全长为2696 bp,编码661个氨基酸,属于含有信号肽、跨膜结构且分泌到细胞外的疏水性蛋白。氨基酸同源性及进化分析表明,施氏鲟与小体鲟(A.ruthenus)FSHR序列一致性最高,亲缘关系最近。PCR结果显示,FSHR mRNA的表达具有广泛性,各组织中均有表达,但在性腺、垂体中的表达量较高,显著高于其他组织中的表达量。LHRH-A注射实验显示:不同浓度组中,施氏鲟性腺组织中FSHR mRNA的表达量呈先升高后降低的变化趋势;与对照组相比,1μg/kg组在诱导3 d时性腺组织中FSHR mRNA的表达量达到最高,极显著高于3μg/kg和5μg/kg组。与性腺组织中FSHR mRNA表达模式不同,垂体中FSHR mRNA的表达呈升高后降低趋势,3μg/kg组在注射后第3天达最大值。综上结果表明,LHRH-A可通过调控FSHR的表达参与施氏鲟的早期性腺发育。     

Seasonal expression of arginine vasotocin mRNA and its correlations to gonadal steroidogenic enzymes and sexually dimorphic coloration during sex reversal in the gilthead seabream (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sparus aurata</Emphasis>)

Arginine vasotocin is a hormone produced in the hypothalamus of teleost fish that has been shown to regulate gonad development and sexual behavior. To study the role of arginine vasotocin in the gonadal cycle of the hermaphrodite gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, we cloned the seabream arginine vasotocin (avt) complementary DNA (cDNA). We investigated the expression of brain avt throughout the gonad cycle using real-time quantitative PCR and compared its expression levels to the expression levels of two key gonadal steroidogenic enzymes, cyp19a1a and cyp11b2. In July, when the process of sex reversal is thought to begin, avt expression was elevated over the previous 2 months. Avt in the brain remained at or above the level of July until November then peaked again in December. There was no difference between males and females in the expression levels of brain avt throughout the year. However, only in ambisexual fish was the expression of the cyp19a1a gonadal aromatase correlated to the expression of avt in the brain. Cyp11b2 did not show any correlation to brain avt expression. We also found that females had more intense body coloration than males and that this intensity peaked prior to spawning. Avt expression and female coloration were positively correlated. The fact that brain avt expression was lowest during gonad quiescence, together with the observation of a correlation between brain avt with gonadal cyp19a1a and body coloration during that time suggests that avt may play a role during the process of sex reversal and spawning of the gilthead seabream.     

Differences in free amino acid composition between testis and ovary of sea urchin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anthocidaris crassispina</Emphasis> during gonadal development

ABSTRACT:   For the purpose of clarifying the differences of taste components between the testis and ovary of the sea urchin Anthocidaris crassispina , variations in free amino acid composition in gonadal extract during gonadal development were investigated using chemical and histopathological methods. Sea urchins were collected at Iki Island, Nagasaki, Japan between 30 April and 5 June 2003, and maturation stages and the free amino acid compositions were determined. The sweet amino acids threonine (Thr), glycine (Gly), and alanine (Ala), the umami amino acid glutamic acid (Glu), and the bitter amino acids lysine (Lys) and arginine (Arg) were the main constituents accounting for more than 80% of total free amino acids. In the testis and ovary, Gly levels were the highest among them and increased with gonadal development. The other free amino acids consisted mainly of bitter amino acids and either showed no variation or decreased with gonadal development. These variations in free amino acid composition were observed more clearly in the ovary than the testis. These findings indicate the possibility of differences in the flavor of sea urchin gonad by sex and gonadal development stages.