title: Molecular characterization and expression profiles of GATA6 in tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).
abstract: GATA-binding protein 6 (GATA6), a transcription factor of the GATA family, plays an important role in gonadal cell proliferation, differentiation, and endoderm development. In this study, the full-length coding sequence of tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) GATA6 was identified. The sequence consisted of 1494 nucleotides encoding a peptide of 497 amino acids, which included two conserved zinc finger domains. Phylogenetic, gene structure, and synteny analysis showed that C. semilaevis GATA6 was homologous to teleost and tetrapod GATA6. C. semilaevis GATA6 mRNA exhibited high expression in heart, intestine, liver, kidney, and gonad. Embryonic development expression profiles revealed that GATA6 is involved in morphogenesis because its expression increased at the blastula stage. The in situ hybridization results showed strong GATA6 signals in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and Sertoli cells of the testis. The signals were also detected in the oogonia and oocytes of the ovary. The expression of C. semilaevis GATA6 was sexually dimorphic, and the methylation pattern in the promoter region varied among males, females, and pseudomales. These results suggested that GATA6 might influence the gonad development and reproduction of C. semilaevis. This study provides the groundwork for further development of breeding techniques in C. semilaevis.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, 266003, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Jinxiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, 266003, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, 266003, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, 266003, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, 266003, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Quanqi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, 266003, Qingdao, Shandong, China. Electronic address: wangxubo@ouc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xubo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001947:Breeding; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D021381:Protein Transport; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029941:Fish Proteins; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Cynoglossus semilaevis; Dimorphic expression; GATA6; Gonad development; Methylation