Alternative splicing and differential expression of P450c17 (CYP17) in gonads during sex transformation in the rice field eel

Several mechanisms were used in determination of the development of the male or female of vertebrates. The genes for determination of sequential hermaphrodite sex are unknown. Here, we reported cloning, alternative splicing, and expression patterns of the CYP17 gene of the rice field eel, a teleost fish with a characteristic of nature sex reversal. The CYP17 gene of the rice field eel was clustered into the CYP17 gene group of all the other vertebrates, especially into the fish subgroup. Four isoforms of the CYP17 were generated in gonads by alternative splicing and polyadenylation. Alternative splicing events of all these isoforms occurred in 3(') regions, which encoded three different sizes (517, 512, and 159aa) of proteins. RT-PCR results indicate specific expression in gonads of these isoforms. Northern blot analysis shows that expression patterns of the CYP17 (dominantly expressed in testis, less in ovary, and the least in ovotestis) are consistent with the sex reversal process of the rice field eel. In situ hybridization further shows its specific expression in germinal lamellae, the gonadal epithelium of the gonads. These findings indicate that CYP17 is differentially regulated in a sex- and developmentally specific manner, suggesting that the CYP17 potentially has important roles in gonad differentiation during sex reversal of the rice field eel.     

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (Uch-L1) correlates with gonadal transformation in the rice field eel

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is crucial for a variety of biological processes, including spermatogenesis. Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (Uch-L1) is thought to associate with monoubiquitin to control ubiquitin levels. Here, we report the identification of Uch-L1 cDNA from the testis of the rice field eel, a natural sex reversal vertebrate, by using cDNA microarray analysis. Uch-L1 encodes a protein of 220 amino acids that shows high homology to Uch-L1 of vertebrates, especially fish species. Both mRNA and protein are mainly expressed in testis, ovotestis and ovary, as well as in the brain. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed differential expression of Uch-L1 in three kinds of gonads. In the ovary, expression of Uch-L1 was observed mainly in the developing ovary and slightly in the mature ovary. In ovotestis during the intersex stage, Uch-L1 was expressed in the male gonad epithelium and degraded ovary. In testis, expression was observed in developing germ cells, including spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Furthermore, Uch-L1 was upregulated during gonadal transformation, especially from the beginning of the intersex stage onwards. Native-PAGE showed that Uch-L1 underwent dimerization and oligomerization in gonads, and that the relative level of dimerization/oligomerization decreased during gonadal transformation. Simultaneously, ubiquitin polypeptide expression was upregulated during this process. These results suggest that Uch-L1, via the ubiquitin-proteasome system, may play an important role not only in gametogenesis, but also in the gonadal transformation process in the rice field eel.     

Identification and predominant expression of annexin A2 in epithelial-type cells of the rice field eel

Annexin is the largest family of genes encoding eukaryotic calcium-binding proteins that do not contain the EF hand motif. Annexin A2 has a common annexin core domain, consisting of four so-called annexin repeats, and each of these repeats has about 70 amino acids in length. Here we report identification of annexin A2 from rice field eel by degenerate PCR and RACE techniques. Three-dimensional structure prediction shows that it has similar annexin repeat architecture. Phylogenetic analysis shows that this gene fits with the annexin A2 clade of vertebrates. Subcellular co-localization and co-immunoprecipitation indicated annexin A2 interacted with its ligand S100A10, confirming characteristics of the rice field eel annexin A2. RT-PCR and Western blot results indicate annexin A2 expressed ubiquitously in adult tissues. Immunofluorescence analysis shows obvious immunoreactivity in the nuclear membrane of developing oocytes and base membrane of mature oocytes in ovary and ovotestis. After the gonad differentiates into testis, annexin A2 protein expressed in the site of seminal vesicles epithelium in testis. The results provided a clue to the potential role of annexin A2 in the gonadal differentiation from ovary, via ovotestis to testis of the rice field eel.     

黄鳝β-actin基因的克隆及其在鱼类中的系统发生分析

β-actin是actin家族的一员,在维持细胞结构,细胞内运动,细胞分裂等细胞生理活动方面发挥着重要的作用。克隆的黄鳝β-actin基因的cDNA全长1860bp,编码375个氨基酸,在脊椎动物中不同物种的β-actin基因之间的序列同源性超过了98％。RT-PCR表明克隆的黄鳝β-actin基因在睾丸、卵巢、心、肝、脾、脑等组织中广谱表达。基于目前已知的全部鱼类β-actin cds,构建了进化树。星形辐射的树型结构一致支持将鱼类β-actin基因划分为4类。到目前为止,所有的鱼都没有发现拥有全部4个β-actin基因。这暗示伴随着鱼类的辐射式进化历程,可能发生了种系特异性的β-actin的丢失。     

Characterization of Androgen Receptor Structure and Nucleocytoplasmic Shuttling of the Rice Field Eel

Androgen receptor (AR) plays a critical role in prostate cancer and male sexual differentiation. We have identified AR from a primitive vertebrate with a sex reversal characteristic, the rice field eel. AR of this species (eAR) is distinct from human AR, especially in the ligand binding domain (LBD), and its expression in gonads shows an increasing tendency during gonadal transformation from ovary via ovotestis to testis. eAR has a restricted androgen-dependent transactivation function after a nuclear translocation upon dihydrotestosterone exposure. A functional nuclear localization signal was further identified in the DNA binding domain and hinge region. Although nuclear export is CRM1-independent, eAR has a novel nuclear export signal, which is negatively charged, indicating that a nuclear export pathway may be mediated by electrostatic interaction. Further, our studies have identified critical sequences for ligand binding in the C terminus. A structure of three α-helices in the LBD has been conserved from eels to humans during vertebrate evolution, despite a distinct amino acid sequence. Mutation analysis confirmed that the LBD is essential for dihydrotestosterone-induced nuclear import of eAR and following transactivation function in the nucleus. In addition, eAR interacts with both Sox9a1 and Sox9a2, and their interaction regulates transactivation of eAR. Our data suggest that the primitive species conserves and especially acquires key novel domains, the nuclear export signal and LBD, for the eAR function in spite of a rapid sequence evolution.     

Testicular type Sox9 is not involved in sex determination but might be in the development of testicular structures in the medaka, Oryzias latipes

Testicular type Sox9 is the most upstream conserved gene in the sex determining cascade among vertebrate. However, in medaka, only one Sox9 gene was identified as expressed in the ovary; no other Sox9 gene was reported expressed in the testis. We explored the medaka genome and cloned a novel testicular type Sox9 cDNA. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that both our isolated Sox9 and the already reportedly cloned medaka Sox9 belongs zebrafish Sox9a branch. Therefore, we named our gene Sox9a2. Unexpectedly, Sox9a2 mRNA was expressed in somatic cells surrounding germ cells at similar high levels in both sexes during early gonadal sex differentiation. However, at the initial stage of testicular tubules development, the expression of Sox9a2 was maintained only in XY gonads, and was remarkably reduced in XX gonads. These results suggest that Sox9a2 is not involved in early sex determination and differentiation, but is involved in the later development of testicular tubules in medaka.     

Cloning and Characterization of a Rice Field Eel vasa-Like Gene cDNA and Its Expression in Gonads During Natural Sex Transformation

The vasa (vas)-related gene encodes an RNA helicase protein member of the DEAD-box family and plays key roles in germ-cell formation in higher metazoans. Using degenerate PCR and RACE, we cloned the vasa gene of the rice field eel (Monopterus albus), which is homologous to the Drosophila vasa gene. We named it ma-vas (Monopterus albus vas). Ma-vas encodes a protein of 618 amino acids, which contains all of the known characteristics of vasa homologs. RT-PCR analysis revealed that ma-vas was exclusively expressed in the gonads of the female, intersex, and male. During gonadal natural sex reversal, ma-vas is expressed in oocytes at all stages of oogenesis, in degenerating oocytes of ovotestis, and in spermatogonia and spermatocytes at early stages. The vasa positive signal was also observed in the peripheral layer of late ovary. It was not found, however, in that layer of the testis. Alkaline phosphatase (AKP) staining on the ovary and testis also indicated that some cells had differentiational potential in the peripheral layer of the ovary, suggesting that spermatogonia might arise from cells with AKP and vasa-positive staining in the peripheral layer of the female gonad.     

Genetic mechanisms underlying male sex determination in mammals

Genetic control of gonadal development proceeds through either the male or female molecular pathways, driving bipotential gonadal anlage differentiation into a testis or ovary. Antagonistic interactions between the 2 pathways determine the gonadal sex. Essentially sex determination is the enhancement of one of the 2 pathways according to genetic sex. Initially, Sry with other factors upregulatesSox9 expression in XY individuals. Afterwards the expression ofSox9 is maintained by a positive feedback loop withFgf9 and prostaglandin D₂ as well as by autoregulative ability of Sox9. If these factors reach high concentrations, then Sox9 and/or Fgf9 may inhibit the female pathway. Surprisingly, splicing, nuclear transport, and extramatrix proteins may be involved in sex determination. The male sex determination pathway switches on the expression of genes driving Sertoli cell differentiation. Sertoli cells orchestrate testicular differentiation. In the absence of Sry, the predomination of the female pathway results in the realization of a robust genetic program that drives ovarian differentiation.     

Transformation of the rete ovarii into a rete testis and the epoophoron into an epididymis after experimental sex reversal in Gallus domesticus]

Transformation of the rete ovarii into a rete testis and of the epoophoron into an epididymis after experimental sex reversal in Gallus domesticus is described. After castration of female chicks, the medulla of the left ovary and/or the right gonadal rudiment develop into a testoid or an ovotestis. From general view, this is observed as sex reversal. In case of formation of a testoid, the epoophoron develops into an epididymis and the rete ovarii develops into a rete testis which consists of intra- and extratesticular and intracapsular parts. Thus, a luminated duct system is developed which allows the transport of semen. In case of formation of an ovotestis, the discontinuously side-by-side located parts of the rete ovarii and of the epoophoron are maintained.     

Functional analysis of Sox8 and Sox9 during sex determination in the mouse

Sex determination in mammals directs an initially bipotential gonad to differentiate into either a testis or an ovary. This decision is triggered by the expression of the sex-determining gene Sry, which leads to the activation of male-specific genes including the HMG-box containing gene Sox9. From transgenic studies in mice it is clear that Sox9 is sufficient to induce testis formation. However, there is no direct confirmation for an essential role for Sox9 in testis determination. The studies presented here are the first experimental proof for an essential role for Sox9 in mediating a switch from the ovarian pathway to the testicular pathway. Using conditional gene targeting, we show that homozygous deletion of Sox9 in XY gonads interferes with sex cord development and the activation of the male-specific markers Mis and P450scc, and leads to the expression of the female-specific markers Bmp2 and follistatin. Moreover, using a tissue specific knock-out approach, we show that Sox9 is involved in Sertoli cell differentiation, the activation of Mis and Sox8, and the inactivation of Sry. Finally, double knock-out analyses suggest that Sox8 reinforces Sox9 function in testis differentiation of mice.     

Homozygous inactivation of Sox9 causes complete XY sex reversal in mice

In the presence of the Y-chromosomal gene Sry, the bipotential mouse gonads develop as testes rather than as ovaries. The autosomal gene Sox9, a likely and possibly direct Sry target, can induce testis development in the absence of Sry. Sox9 is thus sufficient but not necessarily essential for testis induction. Mutational inactivation of one allele of SOX9/Sox9 causes sex reversal in humans but not in mice. Because Sox9(-/-) embryos die around Embryonic Day 11.5 (E11.5) at the onset of testicular morphogenesis, differentiation of the mutant XY gonad can be analyzed only ex vivo in organ culture. We have therefore conditionally inactivated both Sox9 alleles in the gonadal anlagen using the CRE/loxP recombination system, whereby CRE recombinase is under control of the cytokeratin 19 promoter. Analysis of resulting Sox9(-/-) XY gonads up to E15.5 reveals immediate, complete sex reversal, as shown by expression of the early ovary-specific markers Wnt4 and Foxl2 and by lack of testis cord and Leydig cell formation. Sry expression in mutant XY gonads indicates that downregulation of Wnt4 and Foxl2 is dependent on Sox9 rather than on Sry. Our results provide in vivo proof that, in contrast to the situation in humans, complete XY sex reversal in mice requires inactivation of both Sox9 alleles and that Sox9 is essential for testogenesis in mice.