title: Charactering the ZFAND3 gene mapped in the sex-determining locus in hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis spp.).
abstract: Zinc finger AN1-type domain 3 (ZFAND3) is essential for spermatogenesis in mice. However, its function in teleosts remains unclear. In this study, we characterized the ZFAND3 gene (termed as OsZFAND3) in an important food fish, tilapia. The OsZFAND3 cDNA sequence is 1,050 bp in length, containing an ORF of 615 bp, which encodes a putative peptide of 204 amino acid residues. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the OsZFAND3 transcripts were exclusively expressed in the testis and ovary. In situ hybridization showed that the high expression of OsZFAND3 transcripts was predominantly localized in the spermatocyte and spermatid. These results suggest that OsZFAND3 is involved in male germ cell maturation. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in the introns of OsZFAND3. The OsZFAND3 gene was mapped in the sex-determining locus on linkage group 1 (LG1). The three SNPs in the OsZFAND3 gene were strictly associated with sex phenotype, suggesting that the OsZFAND3 gene is tightly linked to the sex-determining locus. Our study provides new insights into the functions of the OsZFAND3 gene in tilapia and a foundation for further detailed analysis of the OsZFAND3 gene in sex determination and differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Population Genetics and Breeding Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: Keyi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Molecular Population Genetics and Breeding Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: Minghui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Molecular Population Genetics and Breeding Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Molecular Population Genetics and Breeding Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: Baoqing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Molecular Population Genetics and Breeding Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Molecular Population Genetics and Breeding Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604, Republic of Singapore.|Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Republic of Singapore.|School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: Gen Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Yue
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D019849:Sex Determination Processes / Q000235:genetics*; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000254:growth & development; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development; D017210:Tilapia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics*