Cite this paper:
LUO Danli, LIU Yuan, HUI Min, SONG Chengwen, LIU Hourong, CUI Zhaoxia. Molecular characterization and expression profiles of four transformer-2 isoforms in the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis[J]. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2017, 35(4): 782-791

Molecular characterization and expression profiles of four transformer-2 isoforms in the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis

LUO Danli1,4, LIU Yuan1, HUI Min1, SONG Chengwen1,4, LIU Hourong1,4, CUI Zhaoxia1,2,3
1 Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China;
2 Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China;
3 National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Ecological Mariculture, Qingdao 266071, China;
4 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Abstract:
The transformer-2 (tra-2) gene plays a key role in the regulatory hierarchy of sexual differentiation in somatic tissues and in the germline of Drosophila melanogaster. In this study, sequences and expression profiles of tra-2 in the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis were characterized. Four tra-2 isoforms, designated as Estra-2a, Estra-2b, Estra-2c, and Estra-2d, were isolated. They all contained an RNA-recognition motif (RRM) and a linker region, which shared high similarity with other reported tra-2s. Sequence analysis revealed that Estra-2a, Estra-2b and Estra-2c are encoded by the same genomic locus and are generated by alternative splicing of the pre-mRNA. Compared with the other three isoforms, Estra-2d lacks the RS2 domain. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that all four isoforms were highly expressed in the fertilized egg, and in the 2-4 cell and blastula stages compared with larval stages (P≤0.01), suggesting their maternal origin in early embryonic developmental stages. Notably, Estra-2a was highly expressed in male somatic tissues, while Estra-2c was significantly highly expressed in the ovary. These results suggest that Estra-2c is involved in sexual differentiation of the Chinese mitten crab. Our findings provide basic information for further functional studies of the tra-2 gene/protein in this species.
Key words:    Eriocheir sinensis|transformer-2 genes|embryonic stage|larval stage|sex-determination   
Received: 2016-03-12   Revised: 2016-05-03
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