Characterization of reproduction-specific genes in a marine bivalve mollusc: influence of maturation stage and sex on mRNA expression.
Numerous studies have investigated the reproduction mechanisms in mollusc species at a biochemical and physiological level; few have described these mechanisms at a molecular level, despite great commercial interest in several mollusc species. We investigated genes involved in gonad maturation of the marine scallop Argopecten purpuratus. A cDNA library was made from gonad tissue. After sequence analysis, 418 unique genes were characterized, of these, about 80% were of unknown function. Among the identified sequences, we analyzed the mRNA expression by real-time PCR of 7 genes involved in reproduction mechanisms, either directly: testis-specific serine/threonine-protein kinase (TSSK), vitellogenin (Vg), and spermatogenesis and centriole associated 1 (SCA) or indirectly: calcineurin A (CNA), centrin, RNA-specific adenosine deaminase (ADAR), and cytidine deaminase (CDA). The real-time PCR analyses were conducted on different tissues of mature and immature scallops (testis, ovary, immature gonad, gill, digestive gland and mantle). The genes studied, presented (1) a strong tissue-dependent expression pattern (higher expression in gonad tissues than in all other tissues) and (2) a sex- and maturation-specific expression pattern (except centrin). This is the first time that the expression of specific genes involved in reproduction mechanisms in a marine mollusc has been described at the molecular level.
Boutet
Isabelle
I
Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Place Nicolas Copernic, Plouzané, France. boutet@sb-roscoff.fr
Moraga
Dario
D
Marinovic
Luis
L
Obreque
Johana
J
Chavez-Crooker
Pamela
P
D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000235:genetics; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics; D003564:Cytidine Deaminase / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D015723:Gene Library; D006066:Gonads / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D049897:Pectinidae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000235:genetics*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000235:genetics
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014819:Vitellogenins; C056608:caltractin; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D019703:Calcineurin; C567955:ADARB1 protein, human; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase; D003564:Cytidine Deaminase