title: Vitellogenesis in the red crab, Charybdis feriatus: contributions from small vitellogenin transcripts (CfVg) and farnesoic acid stimulation of CfVg expression.
abstract: During reproductive maturation of the female red crab, Charybdis feriatus, the oocytes rapidly accumulate 110- and 78-kDa major polypeptides. Although the hepatopancreas expresses a high level of vitellogenin (CfVg) mRNA, tissue proteins and secreted proteins of the hepatopancreas consist of only small polypeptides. In addition to the 8.0-kb transcripts, many smaller mRNAs specific to the CfVg gene can be detected. These results suggest that the hepatopancreas also produces smaller CfVg transcripts for small CfVg subunits. Using an RT-PCR cloning approach, a population of the small cDNA clones were isolated. Determining the DNA sequence of these clones revealed that these transcripts were most likely the result of alternative splicing and/or alternative expression of the CfVg gene. In vitro treatment of the hepatopancreas fragments with low levels of farnesoic acid stimulated the expression of CfVg.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. chansm@hkucc.hku.hk
authors.forename: Siu-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Abby S C
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Chi Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Tracy H T
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jerome H L
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Shirley H K
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tiu
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014818:Vitellogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D014819:Vitellogenins; C007702:farnesoic acid