title: Molecular characterization and developmental expression of vitellogenin in the oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense and the effects of RNA interference and eyestalk ablation on ovarian maturation.
abstract: Vitellogenin (Vg) is the precursor of yolk protein, which functions as a nutritive resource that is important for embryonic growth and gonad development. In this study, the cDNA encoding the Vg gene from the oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense was cloned using expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis and the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approach. The transcript encoded 2536 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 286.810 kDa. Quantitative real-time PCR indicated high expression of Mn-Vg in the female ovary, hemocytes, and hepatopancreas. As ovaries developed, the expression level of Mn-Vg increased in both the hepatopancreas and ovary. In the hepatopancreas, the expression level rose more slowly at the early stage of vitellogenesis and reached the peak more rapidly compared to the expression pattern in ovary. The observed changes in Mn-Vg expression level at different development stages suggest the role of nutrient source in embryonic and larval development. Eyestalk ablation caused the Mn-Vg expression level to increase significantly compared to eyestalk-intact groups during the ovary development stages. Ablation accelerated ovary maturation by removing hormone inhibition of Mn-Vg in the hepatopancreas and ovary. In adult females, Mn-Vg dsRNA injection resulted in decreased expression of Mn-Vg in both the hepatopancreas and ovary, and two injection treatment dramatically delayed ovary maturation. Vg RNA interference down-regulated the vitellogenin receptor (VgR) expression level in the ovary, which illustrates the close relationship between Vg and VgR in the process of vitellogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, PR China.
authors.forename: Hongkun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, PR China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, PR China; Weifang University of Science and Technology, Shouguang 262700, China.
authors.forename: Fajun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, PR China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, PR China. Electronic address: fuht@ffrc.cn.
authors.forename: Hongtuo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, PR China.
authors.forename: Shengming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenyi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, PR China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, PR China.
authors.forename: Shubo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, PR China.
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, PR China.
authors.forename: Sufei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, PR China.
authors.forename: Yiwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D043143:Hepatopancreas / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D033541:Palaemonidae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012733:Sex Differentiation; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004527:Egg Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014819:Vitellogenins; C030474:vitellogenin receptor
keywords: Eyestalk ablation; Macrobrachium nipponense; RNA interference; Vitellogenin