Gonadal sex differentiation in protandrous anemone fish, Amphiprion clarkii

To clarify the process of sex differentiation in protandrous anemone fish, histological structure of their gonads was examined from 1 day to 214 days after hatching (dah). Gonadal development was first characterized by differentiation of ovarian tissues at 61 dah, followed by interspersed appearance of testicular tissues in the ovary at 214 dah.     

团头鲂黑素皮质素3型受体基因克隆及表达分析

黑素皮质素3型受体(MC3R)系统与动物摄食行为以及能量调控密切相关。为丰富鱼类MC3R相关基础研究,探索鱼类摄食行为与能量调控机制,本研究克隆了团头鲂(Megalobrama amblycephala)mc3r基因,采用分子生物信息学和相对荧光定量PCR方法分别对氨基酸序列保守结构域、组织表达分布和禁食条件下的表达变化等开展分析研究。结果显示,团头鲂mc3r基因编码区全长984 bp,编码327个氨基酸,与现有报道的MC3R氨基酸序列高度相似,具有典型的7次跨膜结构域。组织表达图谱分析表明,mc3rmRNA在下丘脑、垂体、肝脏和卵巢有相对较高的表达。禁食试验结果显示,下丘脑和垂体中的转录变化与周期性摄食信号相关,其中下丘脑mc3r mRNA在禁食72 h和14 d的表达显著上调(P0.05),垂体mc3r mRNA在禁食72 h和禁食72 h后恢复投喂6 h表达量显著升高(P0.05),而肝脏中mc3r mRNA在禁食48 h和14 d的表达量显著上调(P0.05)。此外,对血液皮质醇和血糖的监测结果显示,两者均在禁食14 d有显著变化,其中皮质醇水平显著高于对照组(P0.05),而血糖水平显著低于对照组(P0.05)。综合本研究结果表明,MC3R在鲤科鱼类中具有高度相似的氨基酸序列和结构域;在组织中的转录表达变化与食物摄取有明显相关性,对调控鱼体摄食行为和能量代谢具有重要作用。     

Ceroid deposition, retinal degeneration and renal calcium oxalate crystals in cultured clownfish, Amphiprion ocellaris*

Abstract. A clinical syndrome characterized by blindness, loss of pigmentation, erratic swimming behaviour and increased mortality is described in cultured clownfish, Amphipnon ocellaris . Histopathological examination of affected fish revealed retinal degeneration, extensive ceroid deposits in visceral and muscle macrophage accumulations, and renal tubular calcium oxalate crystals. The syndrome is discussed in relation to deficiencies of the fat soluble vitamins A and E and lipid peroxidation. Changes in diet correcting these imbalances resulted in a disappearance of the syndrome.     

Molecular cloning of the three gonadotropin subunits and early expression of FSHβ during sex differentiation in the nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

Gonadotropin (GTH)α, FSHβ and LHβ cDNAs were cloned from the Nile tilapia. Northern blot analysis detected a single band for each subunit. Preliminary studies indicate that FSHβ is expressed as early as 0 days after hatching (dah) in the fish pituitaries.     

Molecular cloning of sex hormone-binding globulin cDNA in carp, Cyprinus carpio

Two types of cDNAs encoding carp SHBGs were isolated and characterized. Northern blot analysis showed their mRNAs distributed mainly in liver, and mRNA levels were almost constant during annual reproductive cycle. This result suggests SHBG synthesis is independent of serum steroid concentration.     

中华绒螯蟹Smad3(EsSmad3)的cDNA克隆、序列分析及表达特征

为了研究Smad基因在中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)蜕壳前后肌肉生长过程中的功能,应用RACE技术克隆得到编码中华绒螯蟹Smad3(命名为Es Smad3)的cDNA全长序列2021 bp,包括36 bp的5′非翻译区(5′-UTR)、656 bp的3′非翻译区(3′-UTR)和编码442个氨基酸的开放阅读框。蛋白质结构域分析显示EsSmad3含有MH1和MH2两个特征性保守结构域。多序列比对显示,EsSmad3与人、斑马鱼、黑腹果蝇中的同源蛋白序列一致性分别为0.679、0.691、0.619。应用荧光定量RT-PCR技术分析EsSmad3在性成熟中华绒螯蟹各组织及幼体不同蜕壳时期不同部位肌肉组织中转录水平上表达量的变化。结果显示,Es Smad3在性成熟个体的肝胰腺、眼柄、表皮、卵巢、精巢、心脏、螯足、鳃、三角膜等组织中均有表达,其中眼柄和精巢中表达量较高,心脏和肝胰腺中表达量最低。在幼体不同蜕壳时期的不同部位的肌肉中,Es Smad3表达量变化不同:步行足肌肉组织中EsSmad3 mRNA表达在蜕壳间期高于蜕壳前D_(3–4)期和蜕壳后A~B期,但无显著的统计学差异(P0.05)。螯足肌肉在蜕壳前晚期D_(3–4)期急剧下调(P0.05),蜕壳后A~B期开始表达量显著升高(P0.05),直至蜕皮间期C期。腹部肌肉组织中EsSmad3m RNA水平在蜕皮间期C期显著高于蜕壳后A~B期,这种上调一直持续到蜕壳前晚前期D_(3–4)。上述结果表明,Es Smad3在中华绒螯蟹蜕壳过程中不同部位肌肉组织中的表达模式与蜕皮周期密切相关,推测Es Smad3参与了中华绒螯蟹蜕壳诱导的肌肉萎缩、生长及重建过程。     

Thermal preference,tolerance, and thermal aerobic scope in clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris (Cuvier, 1830) predict its aquaculture potential across tropical regions

The clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris is widely distributed in the coral reef ecosystems of tropical and subtropical regions of the West Indo Pacific, an area that hosts economically valuable species, and, thus, a suitable candidate for warm water aquaculture. This study determined the preferred temperature, critical threshold limits, represented by critical thermal maximum and critical thermal minimum, thermal window width, and aerobic metabolic scope of A. ocellaris clownfish acclimated to 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, and 35 °C. A positive response (P < 0.05) occurred when the preferred temperature significantly increased with increasing acclimation temperature. The preferred temperature obtained graphically was 30.0 °C. Acclimation temperature significantly affected the thermal tolerance which increased with acclimation temperature. The thermal window calculated for A. ocellaris was 301.5 °C2. The thermal metabolic scope obtained in animals acclimated at the interval from 23 to 32 °C (P > 0.05) had a mean value of 4240.8 mg O2 h−1 kg−1 w.w., revealing that A. ocellaris is a eurythermal species with a range of optimal physiological performance that closely matches the environmental conditions where it can be farmed. Therefore, the highest value of the thermal aerobic scopes corresponded to the intervals of the preferred temperature obtained for A. ocellaris. These results may partially explain their worldwide distribution pattern, as well as their aquaculture potential in tropical regions.     

脊尾白虾VgR基因克隆及其在卵巢发育过程中的表达分析

为了解卵黄蛋白原受体(vitellogenin receptor,Vg R)在脊尾白虾卵巢发育中的作用,采用同源克隆和RACE技术,克隆了脊尾白虾Vg R基因全长c DNA序列,用实时荧光定量PCR方法分析了Vg R基因在雌虾不同组织、卵巢发育不同时期的表达特征。结果显示,脊尾白虾Vg R基因全长5892 bp,开放阅读框5661 bp,编码1886个氨基酸。脊尾白虾Vg R具有低密度脂蛋白受体(LDLR)家族典型结构特征,属于LDLR家族,进化上与日本沼虾等甲壳动物Vg R亲缘关系最近,然后与昆虫Vg R分支聚为一支,而与LDLR家族中其他成员亲缘关系较远。脊尾白虾Vg R在各组织中均有表达,但主要在卵巢内表达。随着卵巢的发育,卵巢Vg R表达量逐渐升高,在III期达到最大,与肝胰腺Vg表达量、血液Vg浓度变化趋势相一致;而在卵巢成熟时,卵巢Vg R表达量降到了最低,与肝胰腺Vg表达情况截然相反;排卵后的恢复期,血液中Vg浓度仍维持在较高水平,卵巢Vg R表达量又升至III期水平,同时卵巢Vg表达量也升至最高。由此可见,甲壳动物与昆虫Vg R起源于同一祖先,但在进化上已形成独立一支;脊尾白虾卵巢成熟前,卵巢主要通过Vg R介导作用摄取血液中Vg,以供卵巢快速成熟;卵巢成熟期,肝胰腺呈现补偿性合成Vg,以尽快恢复其营养储备功能;卵巢恢复期,卵巢通过Vg R介导摄入外源Vg和内源合成Vg两种途径,为卵巢二次发育提供营养物质。     

Cloning and characterization of two types of growth hormone receptors in tomato clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus), and their expression under different light spectra and photoperiods

Light is regarded as an important environmental factor which is involved in the regulation of the various physiological processes of fish. Thereinto, the light spectra and photoperiods have been shown the noticeable influences on the growth performance of fish species. In the present study, two types of growth hormone receptors (Afghr1 and Afghr2) were cloned from tomato clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus) using RACE PCR, and the effects of different photoperiods and light spectra on the growth performance as well as the growth-related gene expression of A. frenatus were investigated. The full-length cDNA sequences of Afghr1 and Afghr2 were 2609 and 2673 bp in length, encoding the proteins of 630 and 571 amino acids, respectively. Both receptors were widely expressed in all the tested tissues, and the highest expression was observed in the liver and pituitary, respectively. Furthermore, the experimental clownfish under constant-light photoperiod (24L:0D) exhibited the significantly higher related somatic growth rate and expression levels of Afghr1, Afghr2, gh, and igf-I as well as the lower feed conversion ratio and plasma melatonin level, compared with other photoperiods (16L:8D, 8L:16D, and 2L:22D). Additionally, red light appeared to markedly improve the growth parameters and the expression of growth-related genes comparing with blue, green, and white lights. In summary, the result of the current study highlights the regulatory effects of light spectra and photoperiods on the growth performance of a coral-reef fish, A. frenatus. The constant-light photoperiod (24L:0D) and red light have been shown the best promotion for the growth of A. frenatus and should be considered as the optimal light conditions for its culture.

     

Molecular cloning and expression of salmon pituitary hormones

A cDNA library was prepared from chinook salmon pituitaries. Growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and the β subunit of gonadotropin (GTH) genes were screened using synthetic oligonucleotides as probes. Full size cDNA clones coding for these polypeptide hormones were isolated and characterized. The cDNA sequences for PRL and βGTH have been reported earlier from our laboratories. The cDNA clone for GH contains 1148 bp and codes for a preGH of 210 amino acids. The chinook salmon GH, reported in the present investigation, differs from chum salmon GH in only 1 amino acid, and from coho salmon GH in 5 amino acids. Plasmids containing modified nucleotide sequences coding for GH, PRL and βGTH were constructed individually into an expression vector using the heat-inducible λ pL promotor. Mature PRL, GH and unglycosylated βGTH were expressed in the bacteria at elevated temperature.     

Molecular cloning and gene expression of the riboflavin-binding protein in the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

Tilapia riboflavin-binding protein (RfBP) cDNA was isolated by library screening. Even though it shows only 31～35% similarity to the reported RfBPs, tilapia RfBP is conserved in amino acid residues that are known to be essential for its protein function. The exclusive expression of RfBP in the brain-pituitary-gonadal axis, as revealed by both RT-PCR and Northern blot, suggested a possible role for RfBP in fish reproduction.     

大菱鲆多聚免疫球蛋白受体基因的克隆及表达分析

鱼类多聚免疫球蛋白受体(polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, pIgR)是黏膜免疫系统的关键因子, 能够介导多聚免疫球蛋白向黏液中的转运和分泌。本研究利用同源克隆和cDNA末端快速扩增技术(rapid amplification of cDNA ends, RACE), 首次得到了大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus) pIgR完整的cDNA序列, 全长1 584 bp, 该序列包含一个1 005 bp的开放阅读框及5’和3’UTR, 编码334个氨基酸。同源性比较发现, 大菱鲆pIgR氨基酸序列与牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)、斜带石斑鱼(Epinephelus coioides)、红鳍东方鲀(Takifugu rubripes)的序列相似性分别是74%、74%和59%, 表现出较高的保守性。多序列比对显示, 硬骨鱼pIgR包含两个ILD (Ig-like domain), 分别对应哺乳类的ILD1和ILD5区域。系统进化树分析表明, 大菱鲆pIgR和牙鲆的聚为一支。半定量RT-PCR显示, pIgR在健康大菱鲆各组织中均有表达, 但表达水平不同, 其中在黏膜相关淋巴组织中表达最强。经灭活的鳗弧菌菌液浸泡处理后, 实时荧光定量PCR结果显示, 大菱鲆各组织中pIgR的相对表达量在72 h内均呈现先增加后减少的趋势, 在48 h内均有一个最高值出现, 且黏膜相关淋巴组织中峰值出现较早, 说明pIgR在硬骨鱼类黏膜免疫中发挥了重要作用。

     

三疣梭子蟹甲基转移酶2基因克隆及在胚胎、幼体和性腺发育过程中的表达分析

本研究采用SMART RACE方法克隆了三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)Dnmt2(Pt Dnmt2)基因。该基因c DNA全长为1291 bp,开放阅读框为1203 bp,编码400个氨基酸。结构域分析显示,PtDnmt2基因有典型的C5-DNA甲基化酶结构域。同源分析表明,PtDnmt2氨基酸序列与其他物种有较高的同源性。系统进化分析显示,三疣梭子蟹PtDnmt2氨基酸序列与罗氏沼虾(Macrobrachium rosenbergii)Dnmt2关系最近。qRT-PCR结果显示,PtDnmt2基因在三疣梭子蟹所有组织中均有表达,在卵巢中表达量显著高于其他组织(P0.05)。PtDnmt2基因在胚胎和幼体发育过程中的表达量随发育时期而变化,其在受精卵和多细胞时期无表达,从囊胚期开始出现,随着胚胎的发育表达量逐渐上升。在性腺发育不同时期PtDnmt2基因表达量存在显著差异,其在卵巢II期表达量最高,之后逐渐下降;在精巢中该基因的表达量随着精巢的发育逐渐上升,在IV期达到峰值。本研究结果表明,PtDnmt2基因参与了三疣梭子蟹胚胎、幼体和性腺发育调控。     

长丰鲫c型溶菌酶基因的克隆及其在细菌感染条件下的表达分析

为了解c型溶菌酶基因与长丰鲫(Chang Feng Carassius auratus)的抗菌效应关系,本研究利用同源克隆方法获得长丰鲫c型溶菌酶基因cDNA全长序列。结果显示:c型溶菌酶基因全长698 bp,包括5'端非翻译区60 bp,3'端非翻译区200 bp,开放阅读框438 bp,编码145个氨基酸。长丰鲫c型溶菌酶基因在肾脏组织中表达量最大,在脾脏、肠道、心脏和脑中大量表达,在肝脏和鳃中表达量相对较低,在皮肤和肌肉中几乎不表达。长丰鲫在感染迟钝爱德华氏菌、嗜水气单胞菌和金黄色葡萄球菌后,在肝脏、肾脏、脾脏和鳃等组织中基因表达量均发生显著变化,出现不同程度的上调。感染迟钝爱德华氏菌后,在脾脏中的上调幅度最大,其次为鳃、肝脏和肾脏;感染嗜水气单胞菌后,在脾脏中上调程度最大,其次是鳃;感染金黄色葡萄球菌后,在脾脏中上调幅度最大。在肝脏和肾脏中,经金黄色葡萄球菌刺激后c型溶菌酶基因的上调幅度最高;在脾脏和鳃中,经嗜水气单胞菌感染后c型溶菌酶基因上调幅度最高。三种刺激后,c型溶菌酶基因升高幅度的不同,说明不同刺激使鱼体组织产生的应激反应能力不同。