title: Molecular cloning and expression of caspase-3 in the protandrous cinnamon clownfish, Amphiprion melanopus, during sex change.
abstract: The caspase-3 appears to be a key protease in the apoptotic pathway. We identified caspase-3 complementary DNAs from the ovaries of the protandrous cinnamon clownfish (Amphiprion melanopus), and investigated its mRNA and proteins, and activity levels during the sex change (I, mature male; II, male at 90 days after removing of the female; and III, mature female). The nucleotide sequence of the caspase-3 cDNA was 969 base pairs in length with open reading frames encoding peptides of 282 amino acids. The caspase-3 mRNA and protein, and activity levels in stages of the mature gonad are higher than those of the development gonad stage. To understand the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on gonad apoptosis, we examined expression of genes caspase-3 mRNA and activity level in immature cinnamon clownfish gonads after GnRH analogue (GnRHa). The findings support the hypothesis that caspase-3 expression is associated with both testicular and ovarian development, and suggests that it may play a role in the control of ovarian development in cinnamon clownfish. Also, we demonstrate that GnRH agonists stimulate caspase-3 production which can in turn stimulate apoptosis. The present study provides a framework for better understanding of the role of caspase-3 during sex change processes in fish.
authors.affiliation: Division of Marine Environment and Bioscience, Korea Maritime University, Busan 606-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Na Na
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jehee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hamid R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Habibi
authors.forename: Cheol Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D006652:Histological Techniques; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D010473:Perciformes / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D019849:Sex Determination Processes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D053148:Caspase 3