棉铃虫雌雄性腺转录组的比较分析

【目的】棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera(Hübner)是我国重要的农业害虫,生殖力强是其发生为害的内在生物学基础,而已知的与棉铃虫生殖相关的基因信息相对较少,本研究旨在筛选棉铃虫性腺发育的相关基因。【方法】通过高通量测序技术对棉铃虫成虫的卵巢和精巢进行转录组测序。【结果】共获得100 603条unigenes,平均长度为666.05 bp,其中N50为1 114 bp。经同源性比对,52 071条unigenes获得注释信息,其中注释到Nr数据库的序列最多。通过比较转录组分析发现,在棉铃虫精巢和卵巢中存在7 714个差异表达的基因（Differentially expressed genes,DEGs）,其中3 288个DEGs表达水平在卵巢中上调,4 426个DEGs在精巢中上调。差异基因富集结果涉及到生殖系统发育的相关通路有mTOR信号通路、卵母细胞减数分裂、促性腺激素释放激素信号通路和胰岛素信号通路等。同时筛选得到部分与性腺发育相关的基因,包括vitellogenin(Vg)、vitellogeninreceptor(Vg R)、chorion-relatedgene、testis-specific serine/threonine-protein kinase和spermatogenesis-associated protein等。选取其中12个DEGs用实时荧光定量检测其表达量,结果表明RT-qPCR与RNA-Seq的结果一致。【结论】本研究获得了棉铃虫雌雄性腺的转录组数据及主要性腺发育相关基因,将有助于丰富棉铃虫繁殖相关的基因资源,为进一步研究棉铃虫生殖调控机理提供基础数据。     

中国大鲵幼体的性别分子鉴定与性腺形态

为探明中国大鲵(Andrias davidianus)雌雄幼体的性腺发育特征,确定适合的性别分子鉴定方法,对15尾5月龄和17尾17月龄养殖个体进行形态测量、解剖观察、性腺组织切片及PCR扩增雌性特异DNA片段。结果发现,引物adf225和adf340的扩增效果好,判定5月龄个体8雌7雄;17月龄个体8雌9雄,与依据性腺形态结构区分的结果一致。体视显微镜下5月龄幼体中肾腹侧有两条半透明细条状的原始生殖嵴;组织切片显示生殖细胞形态分化不明显。17月龄卵巢波浪状弯曲,有颗粒感,精巢呈光滑的白条状,形态分化明显;组织切片显示,卵巢分化出体积较大的卵母细胞,同时保留原始卵泡,精巢分化出生精小叶和精原细胞、支持细胞。外形测量显示,5月龄与17月龄性二型不明显,不能根据外形判断性别。本研究确定了大鲵幼体性别分子鉴定的最佳引物,可用于养殖过程中雌雄选配,以节约资源。     

基于高通量转录组测序的草鱼雌雄性腺差异表达基因分析

草鱼雌性个体生长优势明显高于雄性,挖掘精巢和卵巢差异表达的功能基因对草鱼生殖调控具有重要的价值及应用前景。采用Illumina HiSep 2500转录组测序技术分别对12月龄的3尾雌性草鱼和3尾雄性草鱼的性腺组织的mRNA进行测序分析,精巢和卵巢共得到8 363个差异表达基因。与卵巢相比,精巢上调基因6 446个(77%),下调基因1 917个(23%),差异明显。将上述差异基因在Nr、GO和KEGG数据库进行比对,获得48种Go功能注释分类和313条KEGG代谢通路。分析发现,Go功能分类中"绑定"功能富集差异基因的数量最多,占总数的15.8%;KEGG代谢通路中"信号转导"通路富集差异基因的数量最多,占总数的10.2%。结合转录本数据,挑选与草鱼性腺发育相关的关键差异基因Dmrt1、amh、foxl2、cyp19a1a进行分析,研究显示,与卵巢相比,Dmrt1和amh基因在草鱼精巢中极显著高表达(p0.01);与精巢相比,cyp19a1a和foxl2基因在草鱼卵巢中显著高表达(p0.05),与转录组数据分析结论一致,说明Dmrt1和amh基因与早期草鱼精巢发育调控相关,cyp19a1a和foxl2基因与早期草鱼卵巢发育调控相关。本实验为进一步了解草鱼性别基因的调控机理提供数据依据。     

脊椎动物性别决定和分化的分子机制研究进展

哺乳类性别决定是多种转录因子和生长因子相继表达和相互调控的结果。SRY的表达启动雄性通路并诱导下游雄性特异基因SOX9、AMH等的表达。FOXL2在雌性未分化性腺表达,WNT-4和DAX1也在雌性性别决定或分化时期表达,表明雌性通路也是受特定基因调控的,而并非“默认通路”。鸟类的性别也是由遗传基因决定的,EFT1(雌性)和DMRT1(雄性)可能是性别决定候选基因。爬行类为温度性别决定的典型,温度可能通过调节雌激素水平和控制性别特异遗传基因表达决定性别。大部分两栖类性别受环境因素影响,但发现DMRT1和DAX1可能与其精巢发育有关。鱼类性别决定和分化方式差异很大,多种因素(遗传基因、环境因素、类固醇激素等)参与了这一过程。从青Q鳉Y染色体定位克隆的DMY,被认为是第一个非哺乳类脊椎动物雄性性别决定基因。所有这些表明脊椎动物性别决定和分化机制是多样化的。     

萍乡肉红鲫的性腺发育研究

萍乡肉红鲫(Pingxiang red-transparent crucian carp,Carassius auratus L.)是在江西省萍乡地区分布的天然三倍体鲫突变体经人工选育后获得的遗传性状基本稳定的后代,具有两性生殖和雌核生殖两种生殖方式.研究以F5代萍乡肉红鲫为材料,自孵化后每满1个月开始取性腺,观察了其卵巢1周年性成熟和精巢的发育过程,结果表明萍乡肉红鲫的性腺为1年成熟类型.卵巢发育进程町以分为6个时期,卵母细胞发育相应可分为6个时相.统计了卵巢成熟系数周年变化,体重为95 g左右的雌性萍乡肉红鲫,其成熟卵巢的成熟系数约为(11.73±2.8)%,成熟的卵母细胞内充满卵黄,相对怀卵量为(3018±310)粒/g.萍乡肉红鲫精巢属于小叶型,在精小叶中可观察到不同发育阶段的生殖细胞.由精原细胞分裂而来的仞级精母细胞经分裂增殖,产生次级精母细胞并最终发育成为精子.萍乡肉红鲫的精巢发育程序与普通鲫鱼和鲤鱼相似,卵巢和精巢的发育过程基本同步,孵化后50日龄内性腺分化不明显,到70日龄左右开始出现雌雄分化,3月龄发育为第1期,4-5月龄发育为第2期,6-7月龄发育至第3期,7-10月龄可见第4期卵巢,1年即可成熟产卵,精巢可排出精液.结果表明,该鲫鱼突变体的性腺发育与普通二倍体鲤(鲫)鱼的性腺发育方式类似.     

青鳉(Oryzias latipes)smad3的克隆与表达分析

鱼类性染色体的原始性导致性别决定基因的多样性.高等动物中的单个基因,在鱼类中因为基因组复制而产生多个同源基因,呈遗传多样性.TGF-β家族在硬骨鱼性别决定和性别分化的过程中发挥关键作用.smad3是性腺体细胞衍生因子(gsdf)的下游基因,可将TGF-β信号从细胞表面传递至细胞核.本研究从青鳉精巢和卵巢组织cDNA中克隆了smad3a、smad3b基因的CDS全长序列.蛋白序列的同源性比对和系统发生分析显示,smad3在高等脊椎动物中只有一种,而在鱼类却有两种.RT和定量PCR分析结果显示,smad3在多组织中普遍表达,在精巢中表达高于卵巢.青鳉smad3a和smad3b的表达同性腺分化紧密关联,提示其在性腺雌雄性分化和发育中可能具有重要作用.     

泥鳅性腺发生和分化的组织学研究

通过人工繁殖技术获得泥鳅幼体,采用石蜡显微切片技术对幼体性腺发生和分化的组织学特征进行了系统观察.结果表明泥鳅性腺发生于出膜后12 d,40日龄卵巢开始分化,至55日龄卵巢分化完全;精巢于出膜后55 d左右开始分化,100 d左右分化完全.卵巢分化早于精巢.从性腺分化开始,将要发育为卵巢的性腺还表现为体积快速增大,向体腔中间靠拢,横截面变宽;而将要发育为精巢的性腺则呈两端尖中间稍突的梭形,增生并不明显.这些特征可能与雌雄性腺的发育及生殖细胞的分化速度有关,可以作为泥鳅性腺早期分化的形态特征.     

Rspo1对雌性脊椎动物性别分化的功能

长期以来雌性脊椎动物的性别分化被认为是一个“默认”的程序.但是近些年研究发现,Rspo1基因的突变或缺失可导致哺乳动物XX型个体性反转为雄性.Rspo1在鱼类、两栖爬行类、鸟类和哺乳类动物性腺发育的不同阶段表达,其表达在雌雄个体性别分化时期有差异,是潜在的性别调控基因.Rspo1在性别发育早期可通过Wnt/β-catenin信号通路调控性腺分化相关因子的表达,影响原始生殖细胞分裂增殖、细胞周期和生长发育,参与调控性腺中体细胞的分化.本文总结了近年来Rspo1在脊椎动物中的表达调控及其在雌性性别决定方面功能的研究进展.     

Rspo1在雌性脊椎动物性别分化中的功能

长期以来雌性脊椎动物的性别分化被认为是一个"默认"的程序.但是近些年研究发现,Rspo1基因的突变或缺失可导致哺乳动物XX型个体性反转为雄性.Rspo1在鱼类、两栖爬行类、鸟类和哺乳类动物性腺发育的不同阶段表达,其表达在雌雄个体性别分化时期有差异,是潜在的性别调控基因.Rspo1在性别发育早期可通过Wnt/β-catenin信号通路调控性腺分化相关因子的表达,影响原始生殖细胞分裂增殖、细胞周期和生长发育,参与调控性腺中体细胞的分化.本文总结了近年来Rspo1在脊椎动物中的表达调控及其在雌性性别决定方面功能的研究进展.     

史氏鲟Sox9基因cDNA的克隆及在早期发育过程不同组织中的表达

利用RT-PCR和RACE的方法从史氏鲟(Acipenser schrenchii)中克隆了Sox9基因cDNA的部分序列(1140bp)。组织特异性表达分析表明Sox9基因在1^ ～3^ 年龄史氏鲟的大脑、心脏、肝脏、眼睛、胰脏、肾脏、精巢和卵巢等8种组织中均有表达,只是表达量随发育阶段和组织的不同而稍有差异。刚孵出1日龄的史氏鲟鱼苗中Sox9微量表达,而孵出15日龄的鱼苗中表达量上升。1^ ～3^ 年龄的史氏鲟精巢和卵巢中Sox9基因均表达,说明Sox9基因在史氏鲟性别分化过程中所起的作用不明显。Sox9基因在史氏鲟不同发育时期的8种组织中广泛表达,这可能与Sox9基因在脊椎动物软骨分化过程中的功能保守性有关。     

A Transcriptome-Wide Screen for mRNAs Enriched in Fetal Leydig Cells: CRHR1 Agonism Stimulates Rat and Mouse Fetal Testis Steroidogenesis

Fetal testis steroidogenesis plays an important role in the reproductive development of the male fetus. While regulators of certain aspects of steroidogenesis are known, the initial driver of steroidogenesis in the human and rodent fetal testis is unclear. Through comparative analysis of rodent fetal testis microarray datasets, 54 candidate fetal Leydig cell-specific genes were identified. Fetal mouse testis interstitial expression of a subset of these genes with unknown expression (Crhr1, Gramd1b, Itih5, Vgll3, and Vsnl1) was verified by whole-mount in situ hybridization. Among the candidate fetal Leydig cell-specific factors, three receptors (CRHR1, PRLR, and PROKR2) were tested for a steroidogenic function using ex vivo fetal testes treated with receptor agonists (CRH, PRL, and PROK2). While PRL and PROK2 had no effect, CRH, at low (approximately 1 to 10) nM concentration, increased expression of the steroidogenic genes Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1, Scarb1, and Star in GD15 mouse and GD17 rat testes, and in conjunction, testosterone production was increased. Exposure of GD15 fetal mouse testis to a specific CRHR1 antagonist blunted the CRH-induced steroidogenic gene expression and testosterone responses. Similar to ex vivo rodent fetal testes, ≥10 nM CRH exposure of MA-10 Leydig cells increased steroidogenic pathway mRNA and progesterone levels, showing CRH can enhance steroidogenesis by directly targeting Leydig cells. Crh mRNA expression was observed in rodent fetal hypothalamus, and CRH peptide was detected in rodent amniotic fluid. Together, these data provide a resource for discovering factors controlling fetal Leydig cell biology and suggest that CRHR1 activation by CRH stimulates rat and mouse fetal Leydig cell steroidogenesis in vivo.     

Gene expression profiling of preovulatory follicle in the buffalo cow: effects of increased IGF-I concentration on periovulatory events

The preovulatory follicle in response to gonadotropin surge undergoes dramatic biochemical, and morphological changes orchestrated by expression changes in hundreds of genes. Employing well characterized bovine preovulatory follicle model, granulosa cells (GCs) and follicle wall were collected from the preovulatory follicle before, 1, 10 and 22 h post peak LH surge. Microarray analysis performed on GCs revealed that 450 and 111 genes were differentially expressed at 1 and 22 h post peak LH surge, respectively. For validation, qPCR and immunocytochemistry analyses were carried out for some of the differentially expressed genes. Expression analysis of many of these genes showed distinct expression patterns in GCs and the follicle wall. To study molecular functions and genetic networks, microarray data was analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis which revealed majority of the differentially expressed genes to cluster within processes like steroidogenesis, cell survival and cell differentiation. In the ovarian follicle, IGF-I is established to be an important regulator of the above mentioned molecular functions. Thus, further experiments were conducted to verify the effects of increased intrafollicular IGF-I levels on the expression of genes associated with the above mentioned processes. For this purpose, buffalo cows were administered with exogenous bGH to transiently increase circulating and intrafollicular concentrations of IGF-I. The results indicated that increased intrafollicular concentrations of IGF-I caused changes in expression of genes associated with steroidogenesis (StAR, SRF) and apoptosis (BCL-2, FKHR, PAWR). These results taken together suggest that onset of gonadotropin surge triggers activation of various biological pathways and that the effects of growth factors and peptides on gonadotropin actions could be examined during preovulatory follicle development.     

Regulation of the genes for insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I and II and their receptors by steroids and gonadotropins in the ovary

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) I and II are two single-chain polypeptide hormones that are structurally related to each other and to proinsulin. Among the large number of growth factors involved in ovarian physiology, IGF-I and IGF-II are considered to be important progression factors for ovarian follicular development. To explore the ovarian expression of IGF-I, IGF-II and their receptor genes, a solution hybridization/RNase protection assay, was used. IGF-I mRNA was seen in the granulosa cells, and IGF-II mRNA in the theca-interstitial compartment. To study the hormonal regulation of the IGF-I and IGF-II gene, immature (21-day-old) hypohysectomized rats were treated with FSH (10 μg/day),GH (150 μg/day) and diethylstilbestrol (DES subcutaneous implant/5 days). Estrogen differentially regulated ovarian IGF-I and IGF-II gene expression. In concert with GH, estrogen up-regulated ovarian IGF-I mRNA, but significantly decreased hepatic IGF-I gene expression. Both IGF receptors (type I and type II) as well as the insulin receptor gene, were expressed in both ovarian cells. The expression of the type IIGF receptor gene (but not the type II IGF gene) was up-regulated by FSH and estrogen in vivo. In conclusion, these studies may serve to better understand the auto paracrine role of IGF, and their receptors in the pathophysiology of follicle recruitment, oocyte maturation and potentially embryo development.     

基于转录组的瑶药半枫荷根和叶的差异分析

为了探究半枫荷(Semiliquidambar cathayensis)根和叶的基因表达差异和关键活性成分合成通路中关键基因的表达规律,本研究对半枫荷的根和叶进行转录组测序和生物信息分析。59378个差异表达基因归类到在GO分类的3个大类中,主要与生物学过程有关(50.59%)。626个差异表达基因注释KOG数据库的24个分类中。81个差异表达基因参与苯丙烷类化合物的生物合成,110个差异表达基因参与黄酮类化合物的生物合成,211个差异表达基因参与萜类化合物的生物合成。本研究获得了半枫荷根和叶的转录组信息特征,为今后半枫荷基因功能鉴定、次生代谢途径解析及调控机制的研究提供依据。