Expression patterns of kiss2 and gpr54-2 in Monopterus albus suggest these genes may play a role in sex reversal in fish.

ABSTRACT: Due to its exceptionally small genome size and protogynous hermaphroditism, Monopterus albus has been proposed as a model for vertebrate sexual development. The Kiss/GPR54 system is a central regulator of sexual development in most vertebrates, but its role in sex reversal remains hypothetical. In contrast to mammals, fishes often possess more than one copy of the kiss and gpr54 genes. Our objectives were to identify all kiss/gpr54 genes in the genome of M. albus and to assess their involvement in sex reversal via their expression patterns (qPCR) in females, males, and intersex specimens. We identified only two genes: kiss2 and gpr54-2. kiss2 expression was extremely high in the gonads of males, intermediate in females, and low in intersex; and reduced in all tissues of intersex. gpr54 exp

SUBMITTER: Yi TL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6768111 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature