title: Characterization of a vasa homolog in the brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) and its expression in gonad and germ cells during larval development.
abstract: The vasa gene is specifically expressed in the germ cell lineage, and its expression has been used to study germline development in many organisms, including fishes. In this study, we cloned and characterized vasa as Efu-vasa in the brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus). Efu-vasa contained predicted regions that shared consensus motifs with the vasa family in teleosts, including arginine- and glycine-rich repeats, ATPase motifs, and a DEAD box. Phylogenetic-tree construction using various DEAD-box proteins confirmed that Efu-vasa was clustered in the vasa family. Efu-vasa mRNA was detectable only in gonads, by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) during early gonad development in larvae were characterized by histological examination and in situ hybridization using an Efu-vasa antisense probe. Migrating PGCs were found in larvae at 9-21 days post-hatching, and rapid proliferation of PGCs was initiated in 36 days post-hatching. These findings provide a valuable basis for optimizing the developmental stages for germ cell transplantation in order to produce surrogate broodstock, which may help in the production of larvae of large and endangered grouper species.
authors.affiliation: School of Animal Production Technology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, 111 University Avenue, Muang, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand. surinton@sut.ac.th.
authors.forename: Surintorn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boonanuntanasarn
authors.affiliation: Krabi Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Center, 141 Moo 6, Saithai, Muang, Krabi, 81000, Thailand.
authors.forename: Paiboon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bunlipatanon
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biosciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan.
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ichida
authors.affiliation: School of Animal Production Technology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, 111 University Avenue, Muang, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kirana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoohat
authors.affiliation: Krabi Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Center, 141 Moo 6, Saithai, Muang, Krabi, 81000, Thailand.
authors.forename: Ornkanya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mengyu
authors.affiliation: Krabi Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Center, 141 Moo 6, Saithai, Muang, Krabi, 81000, Thailand.
authors.forename: Samart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Detsathit
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biosciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biosciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan.
authors.forename: Goro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yoshizaki
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002465:Cell Movement; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010473:Perciformes / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D029941:Fish Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases
keywords: Brown-marbled grouper; Epinephelus fuscoguttatus; PGC; Primordial germ cell migration; Vasa; Vasa molecular characterization