title: Sexually dimorphic expression of vasa isoforms in the tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).
abstract: The vasa gene encodes an ATP-dependent RNA helicase of the DEAD box protein family that functions in a broad range of molecular events involving duplex RNA. In most species, the germline specific expression of vasa becomes a molecular marker widely used in the visualization and labeling of primordial germ cells (PGCs) and a tool in surrogate broodstock production through PGC transplantation. The vasa gene from tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) was characterized to promote the development of genetic breeding techniques in this species. Three C. semilaevis vasa transcripts were isolated, namely vas-l, vas-m, and vas-s. Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that C. semilaevis vasa transcripts were prevalently expressed in gonads, with very weak expression of vas-s in other tissues. Embryonic development expression profiles revealed the onset of zygotic transcription of vasa mRNAs and the maternal deposit of the three transcripts. The genetic ZW female juvenile fish was discriminated from genetic ZZ males by a pair of female specific primers. Only the expression of vas-s can be observed in both sexes during early gonadal differentiation. Before PGCs started mitosis, there was sexually dimorphic expression of vas-s with the ovary showing higher levels and downward trend. The results demonstrated the benefits of vasa as a germline specific marker for PGCs during embryonic development and gonadal differentiation. This study lays the groundwork for further application of C. semilaevis PGCs in fish breeding.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (MGB), Ministry of Education, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Zhongkai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (MGB), Ministry of Education, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Jinning
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (MGB), Ministry of Education, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Huayu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (MGB), Ministry of Education, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Xiaomeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (MGB), Ministry of Education, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (MGB), Ministry of Education, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (MGB), Ministry of Education, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Haiyang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (MGB), Ministry of Education, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (MGB), Ministry of Education, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Quanqi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006066:Gonads / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010802:Phylogeny; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D029941:Fish Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases