title: Molecular characterization and expression analysis of an insulin-like gene from the androgenic gland of the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense.
abstract: The androgenic gland (AG), a male-specific endocrine organ in crustacean, is responsible for the maintenance of male characteristics and gender differentiation. In this study, an AG-specific gene, the Macrobrachium nipponesne insulin-like androgenic gland factor (MnIAG) was isolated from a transcriptome library of M. nipponesne and its full-length cDNA sequences were obtained by RACE method. The cDNA was 1,547 bp in length and encoded a precursor protein of 175 amino acids. The deduced precursor protein consisted of a signal peptide, B chain, C peptide and an A chain, which exhibited the same structural organization as that of previously identified insulin-like androgenic gland in crustacean. The mature peptide of the MnIAG owned two additional conserved cysteine residues, which were also found in the Palaemonidae species reported. Results of the tissue distribution and in situ hybridization showed the MnIAG expressed exclusively in androgenic gland. The quantitative RT-PCR results demonstrated that the MnIAG transcript was present at blastula stage and later developmental stages with low levels, which suggested that the primordial cells of the AG might form at these stages.
authors: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Certificated by Ministry of Agriculture, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
authors: Ke-Yi
authors: KY
authors: Ma
authors: Jing-Yun
authors: JY
authors: Lin
authors: Shi-Zhao
authors: SZ
authors: Guo
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Jia-Le
authors: JL
authors: Li
authors: Gao-Feng
authors: GF
authors: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D042341:Gonadal Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D007328:Insulin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D033541:Palaemonidae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D042341:Gonadal Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones