Identification and Sexually Dimorphic Expression of a FoxL2-like Gene in Mud Crab (Scylla paramamosain): Potential Roles in Male Differentiation and Development
Monosex breeding technology has received enormous attention for the Scylla paramamosain , an economic crustacean species with distinctive sexual dimorphism. However, the molecular mechanism of gonadal development and sexual differentiation still remain inconclusive. In this study, we reported the cl...
Saved in:
Published in | Thalassas : revista de ciencias del mar Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 131 - 140 |
---|---|
Main Authors | , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Cham
Springer International Publishing
01.04.2021
Springer Nature B.V |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
Cover
Loading…
Summary: | Monosex breeding technology has received enormous attention for the
Scylla paramamosain
, an economic crustacean species with distinctive sexual dimorphism. However, the molecular mechanism of gonadal development and sexual differentiation still remain inconclusive. In this study, we reported the cloning, characterization of a
FoxL2-like
gene with male-biased expression in the mud crab (
SpFoxL2)
. The
SpFoxL2
encoded a putative forkhead-box protein with 352 amino acids. Phylogenetic tree revealed the
S
p
FoxL2
was clustered with the invertebrates
FoxL2
homologues, most closed to
E. sinensis
. By quantitative real-time PCR, it was shown that the
SpFoxL2
was expressed in intestine, ovary and testis, with the highest expression level in testis. During gonadal development, the expression level of
SpFoxL2
in ovary was lower than that in testis at all stages. The expression level of
SpFoxL2
constantly declined from stage I to stage V in ovary. While, there is a rising tendency from stage I to stage IV in testis. Notably, this male-biased expression pattern could be detected as early as the juvenile crab stage I (CI stage) before morphological sexual differentiation in the mud crab. By fluorescence in-situ hybridization,
SpFoxL2
mRNA was found located in both somatic and germ cells in gonads. In testis, it was most strongly localized in the meiosis germ cells (spermatocytes). While in ovary, the signal became weaker in the meiosis germ cells (oocytes). The results imply that the
SpFoxl2
may play an important role in male differentiation and development, laying a foundation for future research on sexual differentiation of the species. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 0212-5919 2366-1674 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s41208-020-00249-1 |