Molecular characterization of a novel ovary-specific gene fem-1 homolog from the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense

• Published in: Gene Vol. 575; no. 2; pp. 244 - 252
• Main Authors: Ma, Ke-Yi, Liu, Zhi-Qiang, Lin, Jing-Yun, Li, Jia-Le, Qiu, Gao-Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 10.01.2016
• Subjects: Animals; Ankyrin; Arthropod Proteins - genetics; Arthropod Proteins - metabolism; Caenorhabditis elegans; Cell Cycle Proteins - genetics; Cell Cycle Proteins - metabolism; Crustaceans; fem-1; Female; Macrobrachium nipponense; Ovary; Ovary - growth & development; Palaemonidae - genetics; Palaemonidae - metabolism; Sex Determination Processes - physiology; ORF; RT; DIG; dah; PFA; Macrobrachium nipponense; SDS-PAGE; BSA; Ovary; Crustaceans; TSS; RACE; qPCR; Ankyrin; fem-1; ISH
• ISSN: 0378-1119; 1879-0038
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.08.070

The feminization-1 (fem-1) gene is characterized by one of the most common protein-protein interaction motifs, ankyrin repeat motifs, displays many expression patterns in vertebrates and invertebrates, and plays an essential role in the sex-determination/differentiation pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans. In this study, a fem-1 homolog, designated as Mnfem-1, was first cloned from the oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense. The prawn Mnfem-1 gene consists of six exons and five introns. The full-length cDNA (2603bp) of Mnfem-1 contains an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 622 amino acids. The Mnfem-1 RNA and protein are exclusively expressed in the ovary in adult prawns as revealed by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence analysis, respectively. In situ hybridization results showed that strong positive signals were concentrated at the edge of the previtellogenic and vitellogenic oocyte. During embryogenesis, Mnfem-1 is highly expressed in both unfertilized eggs and embryos at cleavage stage and thereafter dropped to a low level from blastula to zoea, indicating that the Mnfem-1 in early embryos is maternal. After hatching, the Mnfem-1 expression significantly increased in the larvae at length of 2cm, an important stage of sex differentiation. Yeast two hybridization results showed that the Mnfem-1 protein can be potentially interactive with cathepsin L and proteins containing the domains of insulinase, ankyrin or ubiquitin. Our results suggested that Mnfem-1 could have roles in prawn ovarian development and sex determination/differentiation. •The Mnfem-1 cDNA from Macrobrachium nipponense was isolated and characterized.•The Mnfem-1 RNA and protein are exclusively expressed in the ovary.•The Mnfem-1 is highly expressed in both unfertilized eggs and cleavage stage.•After hatching, the Mnfem-1 expression significantly increased.•The Mnfem-1 could have roles in ovarigenesis and sex determination/differentiation.