title: Identification and characterization of the sex-determiner transformer-2 homologue in Chinese shrimp, Fenneropenaeus chinensis.
abstract: The transformer-2 gene, encoding a protein (Tra-2) which directs sex-specifically alternative splicing of doublesex (dsx) pre-mRNA in combination with the transformer (Tra) protein, has been proved to play important roles on sex differentiation and sex development in Drosophila melanogaster. In the present study, a tra-2 homologue (FcTra-2) was cloned and characterized in the Chinese shrimp, Fenneropenaeus chinensis. A FcTra-2 genomic DNA sequence with a length of 8,871 bp was obtained and verified to consist of 7 exons and 6 introns. Three alternatively spliced mRNA transcripts, designated as FcTra-2a, FcTra-2b and FcTra-2c, were isolated and characterized. Sequence analysis showed that FcTra-2 included a RNA recognition motif and a linker region, which shared high sequence identities with Tra-2 from other species and 2 arginine/serine rich regions. Further studies were performed on the isoform FcTra-2c, since it exhibited a significantly higher expression level in ovary than in other tissues. In early developmental stages of the shrimp, FcTra-2c was detected to suddenly increase its expression level at the mysis stage. In juvenile stage, FcTra-2c displayed a significantly higher expression level in female Chinese shrimp than in males. These data indicated that FcTra-2 might be involved in female sex determination in Chinese shrimp.
authors: Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, PR China.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Li
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Wen
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Xiang
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D023061:Gene Order / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D010802:Phylogeny; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D019849:Sex Determination Processes / Q000235:genetics*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; C066174:tra2 protein, Drosophila