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Zhu D, Feng T, Mo N, Han R, Lu W, Cui Z. Eriocheir sinensis feminization-1c ( Fem-1c) and Its Predicted miRNAs Involved in Sexual Development and Regulation. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1813. [PMID: 37889731 PMCID: PMC10251896 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Feminization-1c (Fem-1c) is important for sex differentiation in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. In our previous study, the basic molecular characteristics of the Fem-1c gene (EsFem-1c) in Eriocheir sinensis (Henri Milne Edwards, 1854) were cloned to determine the relationship with sex differentiation. In this study, the genomic sequence of EsFem-1c contained five exons and four introns, with an exceptionally long 3'UTR sequence. The qRT-PCR results of EsFem-1c demonstrated lower tissue expression in the androgenic gland of the intersex crab than the normal male crab, implying that EsFem-1c plays a role in crab AG development. RNA interference experiments and morphological observations of juvenile and mature crabs indicated that EsFem-1c influences sexual development in E. sinensis. A dual-luciferase reporter assay disclosed that tcf-miR-315-5p effectively inhibits the translation of the EsFem-1c gene, influencing male development. An intriguing finding was that miRNA tcf-miR-307 could increase EsFem-1c expression by binding to the alternative splicing region with a length of 248 bp (ASR-248) in the 3'UTR sequence. The present research contributes to a better understanding of the molecular regulation mechanism of EsFem-1c and provides a resource for future studies of the miRNA-mediated regulation of sexual development and regulation in E. sinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Zhu
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (D.Z.)
| | - Tianyi Feng
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (D.Z.)
| | - Nan Mo
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (D.Z.)
| | - Rui Han
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (D.Z.)
| | - Wentao Lu
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (D.Z.)
| | - Zhaoxia Cui
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (D.Z.)
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
- DECAPODA Biology Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (Lianyungang), Lianyungang 222000, China
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Zheng J, Chen L, Jia Y, Chi M, Li F, Cheng S, Liu S, Liu Y, Gu Z. Genomic structure, expression, and functional characterization of the Fem-1 gene family in the redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2022; 316:113961. [PMID: 34861280 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Fem-1 (Feminization-1) gene, encoding an intracellular protein with conserved ankyrin repeat motifs, has been proven to play a key role in sex differentiation in Caenorhabditis elegans. In the present study, three members of the Fem-1 gene family (designating Fem-1A, Fem-1B, and Fem-1C, respectively) were cloned and characterized in the redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus. Sequence analysis showed that all three Fem-1 genes contained the highly conserved ankyrin repeat motifs with variant repeat numbers, which shared similarity with other reported crustaceans. In addition, a phylogenetic tree revealed that the Fem-1 proteins from C. quadricarinatus were clustered with the crustacean Fem-1 homologs, and had the closest evolutionary relationship with Eriocheir sinensis. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results demonstrated that Fem-1B exhibited a significant higher expression abundance in the ovary than in other tissues. In addition, a regular mRNA expression pattern of the Fem-1B gene appeared in the reproductive cycle of ovarian development. Furthermore, RNA interference experiments were employed to investigate the role of Fem-1B in ovarian development. Moreover, knockdown of Fem-1B by RNAi decreased the expression of VTG in the ovaries and hepatopancreas. In summary, this study pointed out that Fem-1B was involved in the sex differentiation process through regulating VTG expression in C. quadricarinatus, and provided new insights into the role of Fem-1B in ovary development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Leran Chen
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongyi Jia
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Meili Chi
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Fei Li
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Shun Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Shili Liu
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Yinuo Liu
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Zhimin Gu
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.
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Huang R, Li J, Fu Y, Deng Y. Downregulation of FEM1C enhances metastasis and proliferation in colorectal cancer. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1391. [PMID: 34733943 PMCID: PMC8506547 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-4244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background Feminization-1 (FEM-1) is considered a substrate recognition subunit of CUL2-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes, which refers to sex determination by modulating TRA-1 stability in C. elegans. The function of mammalian orthologous gene of FEM-1 remains to be elucidated. Methods The expression of FEM1C in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells was interfered by small interference RNA (siRNA) transfection, and Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay and transwell assay were performed. In order to estimate the function on metastasis, stable knockdown FEM1C cells were used to established liver and lung metastasis models. In addition, the expression of FEM1C in normal tissues, adenomas and tumor tissues were analyzed, and the relationship between FEM1C expression level and prognosis was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. Results Here, we report that the elimination of FEM1C, one of the members of FEM-1, significantly promoted the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells in vitro and promoted liver and lung metastases in vivo. It also showed that the removal of FEM1C improved the proliferation ability of CRC cells. In particular, the cell shape changed from epithelial to fibroblast-like morphology. The tight cell monolayer was transformed into a dispersed distribution. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that FEM1C is down-regulated in tissues of CRC compared to normal tissues, and the high expression of FEM1C positively correlates with a good prognosis in patients with CRC. GSEA analysis showed that EMT signatures was enriched in FEM1C knockdown groups. Conclusions Down-regulation of FEM1C promotes proliferation and metastasis, and FEM1C may be a tumor suppressor in the development of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runqing Huang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianxia Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Fu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanhong Deng
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Galindo-Torres P, Ventura-López C, Llera-Herrera R, Ibarra AM. A natural antisense transcript of the fem-1 gene was found expressed in female gonads during the characterization, expression profile, and cellular localization of the fem-1 gene in Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei. Gene 2019; 706:19-31. [PMID: 31028869 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.04.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The fem-1 gene in Caenorhabditis elegans is involved in sex differentiation; it is specifically required for all aspects of male development. In this study, the full-length cDNA of the fem-1 (Pvfem-1) gene was isolated from the Pacific whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei. The Pvfem-1 transcript is 3778 nt long and encodes a putative protein (PvFEM-1) of 638 amino acids that presented eight ankyrin repeats. The translated protein showed a significant (P < 0.05) structural similitude by superposition with C. elegans FEM-1 protein. Pvfem-1 expression was evaluated by qPCR and in situ hybridization (ISH) during embryogenesis, larval development, and gonads of both genders in subadult and adult life stages. Pvfem-1 was found expressed in brain, intestine, hepatopancreas, and in the gonads of both genders in subadults and adults when quantified by RT-qPCR. A significant finding was the discovery of a natural antisense transcript (NAT) of Pvfem-1 by ISH. It was present in the oocyte nucleus of subadult female shrimp gonads but was not seen within oocytes from adult females, although it was detected in follicular cells, suggesting a possible post-transcriptional regulation of Pvfem-1 in female gonad. Conversely, in males, no NAT was observed, and Pvfem-1 was found expressed in spermatogonia of both, subadult and adult shrimps indicating a function in male sexual differentiation and gametes generation. This study represents the first step for future functional analysis that is expected to contribute to clarifying the role of Pvfem-1 in sex differentiation and determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Galindo-Torres
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Ave. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23096 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
| | - Claudia Ventura-López
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Ave. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23096 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - Raúl Llera-Herrera
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Ave. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23096 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - Ana M Ibarra
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Ave. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23096 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
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Chen Y, Liu Y, Gong Q, Lai J, Song M, Du J, Deng X. Gonadal transcriptome sequencing of the critically endangered Acipenser dabryanus to discover candidate sex-related genes. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5389. [PMID: 30065900 PMCID: PMC6065465 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Acipenser dabryanus, an endemic Chinese species, has been listed as a first-class protected animal in China. Sturgeons are among the oldest and most primitive group of existing fish in the world and occupy a special place in the evolutionary history of fish. Thus, a study of the reproduction and sex differentiation of sturgeon will be of great value for fish as well as the whole vertebrate group. Methods In this study, we conducted comparative analysis of the testes and ovaries transcriptomes of A. dabryanus to screen for sex-differentiation and sexual development-related genes. Results The transcriptome sequencing of six cDNA libraries generated 265 million clean reads, encompassing 79 Gb of sequences. The N50 and mean length of the identified 91,375 unigenes were 1,718 and 989 bp, respectively. A total of 6,306, 9,961, 13,170, 15,484, and 23,588 unigenes were annotated in the clusters of orthologous groups, gene ontology categories, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway, euKaryotic orthologous groups, and NCBI non-redundant protein databases, respectively. A total of 5,396 differentially expressed genes were found between the two sexes, with 1,938 predicted to be up-regulated in ovaries and 3,458 in testes. A total of 73 candidate genes known to be involved in sex differentiation and sexual development were searched in the transcriptome of A. dabryanus of which 52 showed significant similarity. We highlighted six genes that are differentially expressed between the two sexes and may play important roles in sex differentiation and gonad maintenance. In addition, 24,271 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 550,519 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected. Discussion This work represents the first transcriptome study comparing the ovary and testis in A. dabryanus. The putative differentially expressed genes between the gonads provide an important source of information for further study of the sex-differentiation related genes and the sex-differentiation mechanism in sturgeons. The SSRs or SNPs identified in this study will be helpful in the discovery of sex-related markers in A. dabryanus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeyu Chen
- The Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, The Fishery Institute, Chengdu, China
| | - Ya Liu
- The Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, The Fishery Institute, Chengdu, China
| | - Quan Gong
- The Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, The Fishery Institute, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiansheng Lai
- The Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, The Fishery Institute, Chengdu, China
| | - Mingjiang Song
- The Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, The Fishery Institute, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun Du
- The Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, The Fishery Institute, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaochuan Deng
- The Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, The Fishery Institute, Chengdu, China
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Wang Y, Wu C, Guo P, Wang G, Li J. Molecular characterization and expression of the feminization-1c ( fem-1c ) in the freshwater mussel ( Hyriopsis cumingii ). AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aaf.2017.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Transcriptome analysis of male and female mature gonads of Japanese scallop Patinopecten yessonsis. Genes Genomics 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s13258-016-0449-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Ma KY, Liu ZQ, Lin JY, Li JL, Qiu GF. Molecular characterization of a novel ovary-specific gene fem-1 homolog from the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense. Gene 2015; 575:244-52. [PMID: 26367327 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.08.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 08/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The feminization-1 (fem-1) gene is characterized by one of the most common protein-protein interaction motifs, ankyrin repeat motifs, displays many expression patterns in vertebrates and invertebrates, and plays an essential role in the sex-determination/differentiation pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans. In this study, a fem-1 homolog, designated as Mnfem-1, was first cloned from the oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense. The prawn Mnfem-1 gene consists of six exons and five introns. The full-length cDNA (2603bp) of Mnfem-1 contains an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 622 amino acids. The Mnfem-1 RNA and protein are exclusively expressed in the ovary in adult prawns as revealed by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence analysis, respectively. In situ hybridization results showed that strong positive signals were concentrated at the edge of the previtellogenic and vitellogenic oocyte. During embryogenesis, Mnfem-1 is highly expressed in both unfertilized eggs and embryos at cleavage stage and thereafter dropped to a low level from blastula to zoea, indicating that the Mnfem-1 in early embryos is maternal. After hatching, the Mnfem-1 expression significantly increased in the larvae at length of 2cm, an important stage of sex differentiation. Yeast two hybridization results showed that the Mnfem-1 protein can be potentially interactive with cathepsin L and proteins containing the domains of insulinase, ankyrin or ubiquitin. Our results suggested that Mnfem-1 could have roles in prawn ovarian development and sex determination/differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Yi Ma
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Certificated by Ministry of Agriculture, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Certificated by Ministry of Agriculture, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China
| | - Jing-Yun Lin
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Certificated by Ministry of Agriculture, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China
| | - Jia-Le Li
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Certificated by Ministry of Agriculture, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China; E-Institute of Shanghai Universities, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China.
| | - Gao-Feng Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Certificated by Ministry of Agriculture, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China; E-Institute of Shanghai Universities, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China.
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Molecular characterization and expression profile of three Fem-1 genes in Eriocheir sinensis provide a new insight into crab sex-determining mechanism. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2015; 189:6-14. [PMID: 26188322 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2015.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2015] [Revised: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The FEM-1 protein of Caenorhabditis elegans plays a crucial role in the nematode sex-determination pathway. Here, we reported the characterization of three members of Fem-1 gene family in Eriocheir sinensis (designated EsFem-1a, EsFem-1b, and EsFem-1c), which were homologs of the nematode FEM-1 protein. The amino acid sequences of EsFem-1a, EsFem-1b, and EsFem-1c contained eight, nine, and eight ankyrin repeats, respectively. None of the ankyrin repeats had its own specific signature, and the evolution of ankyrin repeat was not completely independent. The predicted three-dimensional structure of EsFem-1 proteins exhibited highly similar superhelical conformation, especially the N-terminal six contiguous ankyrin repeats, which provided a binding surface for the protein-protein interaction. Phylogenetic tree based on the amino acid sequences revealed that EsFem-1a, EsFem-1b, and EsFem-1c were divided into three obvious separated clades. EsFem-1 genes were highly expressed in fertilized egg, 2-4 cell and blastula stage comparing with larval stage (P<0.01), which suggested they might be maternal genes. They also showed a certain degree of sexually dimorphic expression in some tissues. Notably, the highest expression of EsFem-1a was in the hepatopancreas, with EsFem-1b in testes and EsFem-1c in muscle (P<0.05), which indicated their potential role in a broad array of tissues. In addition, the genes initially involved in sex differentiation were not limited to those specifically expressed in the developing gonad. Taken together, these results suggested that EsFem-1 might function in crab early sex determination and late gonad development. The identification of Fem-1 gene family in E. sinensis provides a new insight into crab sex-determination mechanism.
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Teaniniuraitemoana V, Huvet A, Levy P, Klopp C, Lhuillier E, Gaertner-Mazouni N, Gueguen Y, Le Moullac G. Gonad transcriptome analysis of pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera: identification of potential sex differentiation and sex determining genes. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:491. [PMID: 24942841 PMCID: PMC4082630 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Black pearl farming is based on culture of the blacklip pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera (Mollusca, lophotrochozoa), a protandrous hermaphrodite species. At first maturation, all individuals are males. The female sex appears progressively from two years old, which represents a limitation for broodstock conditioning for aquaculture production. In marine mollusks displaying hermaphroditic features, data on sexual determinism and differentiation, including the molecular sex determining cascade, are scarce. To increase genomic resources and identify the molecular mechanisms whereby gene expression may act in the sexual dimorphism of P. margaritifera, we performed gonad transcriptome analysis. RESULTS The gonad transcriptome of P. margaritifera was sequenced from several gonadic samples of males and females at different development stages, using a Next-Generation-Sequencing method and RNAseq technology. After Illumina sequencing, assembly and annotation, we obtained 70,147 contigs of which 62.2% shared homologies with existing protein sequences, and 9% showed functional annotation with Gene Ontology terms. Differential expression analysis identified 1,993 differentially expressed contigs between the different categories of gonads. Clustering methods of samples revealed that the sex explained most of the variation in gonad gene expression. K-means clustering of differentially expressed contigs showed 815 and 574 contigs were more expressed in male and female gonads, respectively. The analysis of these contigs revealed the presence of known specific genes coding for proteins involved in sex determinism and/or differentiation, such as dmrt and fem-1 like for males, or foxl2 and vitellogenin for females. The specific gene expression profiles of pmarg-fem1-like, pmarg-dmrt and pmarg-foxl2 in different reproductive stages (undetermined, sexual inversion and regression) suggest that these three genes are potentially involved in the sperm-oocyte switch in P. margaritifera. CONCLUSIONS The study provides a new transcriptomic tool to study reproduction in hermaphroditic marine mollusks. It identifies sex differentiation and potential sex determining genes in P. margaritifera, a protandrous hermaphrodite species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gilles Le Moullac
- Ifremer, UMR 241 EIO, Labex CORAIL, BP 7004, 98719 Taravao, Tahiti, Polynésie Française.
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Gilder AS, Chen YB, Jackson RJ, Jiang J, Maher JF. Fem1b promotes ubiquitylation and suppresses transcriptional activity of Gli1. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013; 440:431-6. [PMID: 24076122 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.09.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 09/17/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian Fem1b gene encodes a homolog of FEM-1, a protein in the sex-determination pathway of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Fem1b and FEM-1 proteins each contain a VHL-box motif that mediates their interaction with certain E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes. In C. elegans, FEM-1 negatively regulates the transcription factor TRA-1, and functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate recognition subunit to target TRA-1 for ubiquitylation. TRA-1 is homologous to the mammalian Gli1 protein, a transcription factor that mediates Hedgehog signaling as well as having Hedgehog-independent functions. Whether the interaction between nematode FEM-1 and TRA-1 proteins is conserved, between corresponding mammalian homologs, has not been reported. Herein, we show that Fem1b interacts with Gli1 within cells, and directly binds Gli1. Fem1b also promotes ubiquitylation of Gli1, suppresses transcriptional activation by Gli1, and attenuates an oncogenic Gli1 autoregulatory loop in cancer cells, all dependent on the VHL-box of Fem1b. These findings have implications for understanding the cellular functions of Fem1b, and the regulation of Gli1 oncoprotein activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S Gilder
- Cancer Institute and Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, United States
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Sun TP, Shieh SY. Human FEM1B is required for Rad9 recruitment and CHK1 activation in response to replication stress. Oncogene 2009; 28:1971-81. [DOI: 10.1038/onc.2009.58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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13
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Itoh Y, Kampf K, Arnold AP. Disruption of FEM1C-W gene in zebra finch: evolutionary insights on avian ZW genes. Chromosoma 2009; 118:323-34. [PMID: 19139913 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-008-0199-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2008] [Revised: 12/08/2008] [Accepted: 12/09/2008] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Sex chromosome genes control sex determination and differentiation, but the mechanisms of sex determination in birds are unknown. In this study, we analyzed the gene FEM1C which is highly conserved from Caenorhabditis elegans to higher vertebrates and interacts with the sex determining pathway in C. elegans. We found that FEM1C is located on the Z and W chromosome of zebra finches and probably other Passerine birds, but shows only Z linkage in other avian orders. In the zebra finch, FEM1C-W is degraded because of a point mutation and possibly because of loss of the first exon containing the start methionine. Thus, FEM1C-W appears to have degenerated or been lost from most bird species. FEM1C-Z is expressed in a cytoplasmic location in zebra finch fibroblast cells, as in C. elegans. FEM1C represents an interesting example of evolutionary degradation of a W chromosome gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichiro Itoh
- Department of Physiological Science, University of California, UCLA 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Room 4117, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA.
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Wang X, Desai N, Hu YP, Price SM, Abate-Shen C, Shen MM. Mouse Fem1b interacts with the Nkx3.1 homeoprotein and is required for proper male secondary sexual development. Dev Dyn 2008; 237:2963-72. [PMID: 18816836 PMCID: PMC2779857 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies of epithelial cell growth and differentiation in the prostate gland have identified the homeodomain protein Nkx3.1 as a central regulator of prostate development and carcinogenesis. To understand the molecular mechanisms of Nkx3.1 function, we have used yeast two-hybrid analysis to identify Nkx3.1 interacting proteins, and have isolated Fem1b, a mammalian homolog of the C. elegans sex-determining gene Fem-1. In mice, the Fem1b and Nkx3.1 genes encode proteins that interact in glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation assays, and are co-expressed in the prostate and testis of neonatal mice. Null mutants for Fem1b generated by gene targeting display defects in prostate ductal morphogenesis and secretory protein expression, similar to phenotypes found in Nkx3.1 mutants. We propose that Fem1b may have a conserved role in the generation of sexual dimorphism through its interaction with Nkx3.1 in the developing prostate gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wang
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics & Development, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032
| | - Nishita Desai
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Ya-Ping Hu
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Sandy M. Price
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Cory Abate-Shen
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- Department of Urology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032
| | - Michael M. Shen
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics & Development, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032
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15
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Goodarzi MO, Maher JF, Cui J, Guo X, Taylor KD, Azziz R. FEM1A and FEM1B: novel candidate genes for polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod 2008; 23:2842-9. [PMID: 18757445 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/den324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human homologs (FEM1A, FEM1B, FEM1C) of nematode sex determination genes are candidate genes for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We previously identified a FEM1A mutation (H500Y) in a woman with PCOS; FEM1B has been implicated in insulin secretion. METHODS Women with and without PCOS (287 cases, 187 controls) were genotyped for H500Y and six FEM1A single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), five FEM1B SNPs and five FEM1C SNPs. SNPs and haplotypes were determined and tested for association with PCOS and component phenotypes. RESULTS No subject carried the FEM1A H500Y mutation. FEM1A SNPs rs8111933 (P = 0.001) and rs12460989 (P = 0.046) were associated with an increased likelihood of PCOS whereas FEM1A SNP rs1044386 was associated with a reduced probability of PCOS (P = 0.013). FEM1B SNP rs10152450 and a linked SNP were associated with a reduced likelihood of PCOS (P = 0.005), and lower homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) for beta-cell function (HOMA-%B, P = 0.011) and lower HOMA for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, P = 0.018). FEM1B SNP rs12909277 was associated with lower HOMA-%B (P = 0.008) and lower HOMA-IR (P = 0.037). Haplotype associations were consistent with SNP results, and also revealed association of FEM1B haplotype TGAGG with increased HOMA-%B (P = 0.007) and HOMA-IR (P = 0.024). FEM1C variants were not associated with PCOS. CONCLUSIONS This study presents evidence suggesting a role for FEM1A and FEM1B in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Only FEM1B variants were associated with insulin-related traits in PCOS women, consistent with prior evidence linking this gene to insulin secretion. Replication of these associations and mechanistic studies will be necessary to establish the role of these genes in PCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- M O Goodarzi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
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16
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Ventura-Holman T, Hahn H, Subauste JS, Maher JF. The Fem1a gene is downregulated in Rhabdomyosarcoma. Tumour Biol 2005; 26:294-9. [PMID: 16254458 DOI: 10.1159/000089261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2005] [Accepted: 05/13/2005] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue neoplasm of children, and those metastatic at presentation have a poor prognosis. RMS development is related to defective skeletal muscle differentiation, involving a variety of cell signaling and transcriptional control pathways, including aberrant hedgehog signaling. Here we evaluate Fem1a, a gene highly expressed in skeletal muscle, as a candidate for involvement in RMS. Fem1a is a homolog of fem-1, which controls cell fate decisions in the sex determination pathway of Caenorhabditis elegans, a pathway with homology to mammalian hedgehog signaling. We show that Fem1a expression is activated during myocyte differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts, and this expression is largely confined to the terminally differentiating pool, not to the satellite-cell-like quiescent reserve cell pool. We find that the human homolog, FEM1A, is downregulated in all of 8 different human RMS cell lines, including those derived from embryonal and alveolar RMS. Using mouse genetic models of RMS development, we further show that Fem1a is consistently downregulated in primary RMS from Ptch1+/- mice, from p53-/- mice, from p53+/-; Ptch1+/- mice, and from HGF/SF-Ink4a/Arf-/- mice. Therefore, Fem1a downregulation may be involved in, and/or a marker of, an early cell fate defect fundamental to RMS pathogenesis.
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17
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Lu D, Ventura-Holman T, Li J, McMurray RW, Subauste JS, Maher JF. Abnormal glucose homeostasis and pancreatic islet function in mice with inactivation of the Fem1b gene. Mol Cell Biol 2005; 25:6570-7. [PMID: 16024793 PMCID: PMC1190348 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.25.15.6570-6577.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disorder of glucose homeostasis involving complex gene and environmental interactions that are incompletely understood. Mammalian homologs of nematode sex determination genes have recently been implicated in glucose homeostasis and type 2 diabetes mellitus. These are the Hedgehog receptor Patched and Calpain-10, which have homology to the nematode tra-2 and tra-3 sex determination genes, respectively. Here, we have developed Fem1b knockout (Fem1b-KO) mice, with targeted inactivation of Fem1b, a homolog of the nematode fem-1 sex determination gene. We show that the Fem1b-KO mice display abnormal glucose tolerance and that this is due predominantly to defective glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Arginine-stimulated insulin secretion is also affected. The Fem1b gene is expressed in pancreatic islets, within both beta cells and non-beta cells, and is highly expressed in INS-1E cells, a pancreatic beta-cell line. In conclusion, these data implicate Fem1b in pancreatic islet function and insulin secretion, strengthening evidence that a genetic pathway homologous to nematode sex determination may be involved in glucose homeostasis and suggesting novel genes and processes as potential candidates in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyin Lu
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center-Research Svc. (151), 1500 E. Woodrow Wilson Blvd., Jackson, MS 39216, USA
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18
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Oyhenart J, Benichou S, Raich N. Putative Homeodomain Transcription Factor 1 Interacts with the Feminization Factor Homolog Fem1b in Male Germ Cells1. Biol Reprod 2005; 72:780-7. [PMID: 15601915 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.104.035964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The Phtf1 gene encodes a membrane protein abundantly expressed in male germinal cells. Using a two-hybrid screening procedure we have identified FEM1B, an ortholog of the C. elegans feminization factor 1 (FEM-1), as a binding partner for PHTF1. We studied FEM1B expression in the rodent testis and found that Fem1b mRNA is present at high levels during meiosis and after, during spermiogenesis, in a similar manner to Phtf1 mRNA. Accordingly, Western blot and immunofluorescence revealed the presence of PHTF1 and FEM1B in the same cell types, and by coimmunoprecipitation we demonstrated the association between these proteins. We characterized some aspects of this interaction and showed that the ANK domain of FEM1B is necessary for the interaction with the amino extremity of PHTF1. Next, we found that FEM1B can bind several intracellular organelles and demonstrated that PHTF1 would recruit FEM1B to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Previous in vitro experiments had suggested that the human FEM1B was involved in apoptosis. After comparing expression profiles of FEM1B and PHTF1 with apoptotic events occurring in the normal seminiferous tubules, we suggest that neither FEM1B nor PHTF1 are directly implicated in apoptosis in this tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Oyhenart
- INSERM U.567 CNRS-UMR 8104, Département d'Hématologie, Maternité de Port-Royal
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Wadhwa R, Yaguchi T, Kaur K, Suyama E, Kawasaki H, Taira K, Kaul SC. Use of a Randomized Hybrid Ribozyme Library for Identification of Genes Involved in Muscle Differentiation. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:51622-9. [PMID: 15448151 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m407428200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We have employed the hybrid hammerhead ribozyme-based gene discovery system for identification of genes functionally involved in muscle differentiation using in vitro myoblast differentiation assay. The major muscle regulatory genes (MyoD1, Mylk, myosin, myogenin, and Myf5) were identified endorsing the validity of this method. Other gene targets included tumor suppressors and cell cycle regulators (p19ARF and p21WAF1), FGFR-4, fibronectin, Prkg2, Pdk4, fem, and six novel proteins. Functional involvement of three of the identified targets in myoblast differentiation was confirmed by their specific knockdown using ribozymes and siRNA. Besides demonstrating a simple and an effective method of isolation of gene functions involved in muscle differentiation, we report for the first time that overexpression of Fem, a member of the sex-determining family of proteins, caused accelerated myotube formation, and its targeting deferred myoblast differentiation. This functional gene screening is not only helpful in understanding the molecular pathways of muscle differentiation but also to design molecular strategies for myopathologic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renu Wadhwa
- Gene Function Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8562, Japan
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