Open AccessMolecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of Transformer‐2 Gene During Development in Macrobrachium nipponense (de Haan 1849)
Author(s) -
Zhang Yanping,
Fu Hongtuo,
Qiao Hui,
Jin Shubo,
Jiang Sufei,
Xiong Yiwei,
Gong Yongsheng,
Zhang Xianzhong
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of the world aquaculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 0893-8849
DOI - 10.1111/jwas.12039
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , open reading frame , untranslated region , complementary dna , blastula , metamorphosis , embryogenesis , gene expression , gene , homology (biology) , messenger rna , peptide sequence , genetics , larva , gastrulation , botany
The transformer‐2 gene ( tra‐2 ) plays a key role in the sexual differentiation regulatory hierarchy. In this study, tra‐2 gene homologs designated as Mntra‐2 was cloned and characterized from Macrobrachium nipponense . The full‐length cDNA of Mntra‐2 consists of 1724 bp with an open reading frame ( ORF ) encoding 192 amino acids, an 827 bp 5′‐untranslated region ( UTR ) and a 318 bp 3′‐ UTR . The predicated molecular mass of Mntra‐2 was 20.805 kDa with an estimated theoretical isoelectric point of 10.36. The deduced amino acid sequence shares high homology with Penaeus monodon . Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction ( RT ‐q PCR ) analyses demonstrated that the expression levels of Mntra‐2 varied significantly during different developmental stages of embryogenesis, larvae, and post‐larvae and in various adult tissues. During embryogenesis, the expression level of Mntra‐2 was slightly higher at the cleavage stage than at the blastula stage, and reached the highest level at the nauplius stage. During the larvae, the Mntra‐2 expression gradually increased from 1 d larvae post hatch ( L1 ) to L10 and decreased to a lowest level at the end of metamorphosis. During the post‐larvae, the Mntra‐2 expression was higher level at the 5 d after the metamorphosis ( P5 ). RT ‐q PCR showed the Mntra‐2 mRNA was expressed in ovary, testis, muscle, heart, abdominal ganglion, brain, and intestine with the highest level of expression in muscle and intestine. The results indicate that Mntra‐2 is an arthropods tra‐2 homolog and probably plays important roles in embryonic development and sex differentiation of M. nipponense .