DNA methylation of pituitary growth hormone is involved in male growth superiority of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).
Growth hormone (GH) and its receptors are critical regulators of somatic growth and metabolism. It has been shown in mammals that the methylation of cytosines within the GH promoter plays a key role in regulating transcripts expression. In the present study, the GH, GHR1 and GHR2 proximal promoters were identified and the methylation levels of these genes in corresponding tissues were assayed. The results suggested that significant arising of GH putative promoter methylation levels in pituitary was observed in females compared with males. However, no such sex-specific changes were found in GHR1 and GHR2 promoters. The GH mRNA expression also was influenced by GH promoter methylation levels in pituitary, which resulted in the higher growth rate of Nile tilapia males. Meanwhile, the methylation levels of GH putative promoter were negatively correlated with growth rate as well as mRNA expression of GH. Furthermore, the methylation of specific E-Box CpG site is also negatively related to the mRNA expression of GH in pituitary. Taken together, our data provide an epigenetic mechanism of explicating the sex duality in phenotypic plasticity of growth rate in male and female of Nile tilapia.
State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Animal Reproduction Institute, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
Huan
H
Zhong
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
Jun
J
Xiao
Faculty of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 200090 China.
Wenzhi
W
Chen
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
Yi
Y
Zhou
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
Zhanyang
Z
Tang
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
Zhongbao
Z
Guo
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
Yongju
Y
Luo
State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Animal Reproduction Institute, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China.
Zhengbao
Z
Lin
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China. Electronic address: ganxicn@126.com.
Xi
X
Gan
State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Animal Reproduction Institute, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China. Electronic address: mingzhang@gxu.edu.cn.
Ming
M
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D023681:Cichlids / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D024721:E-Box Elements; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013006:Growth Hormone
Growth hormone; Growth hormone receptor; Growth rate; Methylation; Oreochromis niloticus