Novel steroidogenic factor-1 homolog (ff1d) is coexpressed with anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in zebrafish.
ff1d is a novel zebrafish FTZ-F1 gene with sequence characteristics indicating similar basic regulatory mechanisms as the previously characterized ff1 based on the presence of an FTZ-F1 box in the DNA binding domain and an interactive domain (I-Box) and an AF-2 in the ligand binding domain. The highest sequence similarity was found between ff1d and ff1b (NR5A4), a gene previously shown to be a functional homolog to the steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1). The expression pattern of ff1d was comparable to ff1b both in brain and gonads in adults and in the pituitary and interrenal cells in embryos. SF-1 is crucial in mammalian steroidogenesis and in sex determination by regulating the anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH). In fish, AMH has not been described previously. In this study, we cloned a partial zebrafish AMH. AMH was detected in growing oocytes, the ovarian follicular layer and testicular Sertoli cells, similar to the mammalian pattern, suggesting a conserved role between zebrafish and mammalian AMH. Teleosts lack a gene homolog to SRY, which constitute the universal testis-determining factor in mammalian sex determination. Comparison of sequences and expression patterns indicate that ff1d is a new candidate for sex determination and differentiation in a way similar to SF-1, possibly involving AMH.
von Hofsten
J
J
Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Larsson
A
A
Olsson
P E
PE
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C515057:NR5A1 protein, human; C515056:NR5A2 protein, zebrafish; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D013735:Testicular Hormones; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C503714:nr5a1b protein, zebrafish; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone