Journal article
Transcriptomic analyses reveal novel genes with sexually dimorphic expression in the Zebrafish gonad and brain
PloS one, Vol.3(3)
2008
Abstract
Background
Our knowledge on zebrafish reproduction is very limited. We generated a gonad-derived cDNA microarray from zebrafish and used it to analyze large-scale gene expression profiles in adult gonads and other organs.
Methodology/Principal Findings
We have identified 116638 gonad-derived zebrafish expressed sequence tags (ESTs), 21% of which were isolated in our lab. Following in silico normalization, we constructed a gonad-derived microarray comprising 6370 unique, full-length cDNAs from differentiating and adult gonads. Labeled targets from adult gonad, brain, kidney and ‘rest-of-body’ from both sexes were hybridized onto the microarray. Our analyses revealed 1366, 881 and 656 differentially expressed transcripts (34.7% novel) that showed highest expression in ovary, testis and both gonads respectively. Hierarchical clustering showed correlation of the two gonadal transcriptomes and their similarities to those of the brains. In addition, we have identified 276 genes showing sexually dimorphic expression both between the brains and between the gonads. By in situ hybridization, we showed that the gonadal transcripts with the strongest array signal intensities were germline-expressed. We found that five members of the GTP-binding septin gene family, from which only one member (septin 4) has previously been implicated in reproduction in mice, were all strongly expressed in the gonads.
Conclusions/Significance
We have generated a gonad-derived zebrafish cDNA microarray and demonstrated its usefulness in identifying genes with sexually dimorphic co-expression in both the gonads and the brains. We have also provided the first evidence of large-scale differential gene expression between female and male brains of a teleost. Our microarray would be useful for studying gonad development, differentiation and function not only in zebrafish but also in related teleosts via cross-species hybridizations. Since several genes have been shown to play similar roles in gonadogenesis in zebrafish and other vertebrates, our array may even provide information on genetic disorders affecting gonadal phenotypes and fertility in mammals.
Details
- Title
- Transcriptomic analyses reveal novel genes with sexually dimorphic expression in the Zebrafish gonad and brain
- Authors/Creators
- M. Cai (Author/Creator) - Temasek Life Sciences LaboratoryR. Sreenivasan (Author/Creator) - Temasek Life Sciences LaboratoryR. Bartfai (Author/Creator) - Temasek Life Sciences LaboratoryX. Wang (Author/Creator) - National University of SingaporeA. Christoffels (Author/Creator)L. Orbán (Author/Creator) - Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory
- Publication Details
- PloS one, Vol.3(3)
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Identifiers
- 991005544212607891
- Copyright
- © 2008 Sreenivasan et al.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.2 Marine Biology
- 3.2.1123 Fish Reproductive Biology
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- ESI research areas
- Molecular Biology & Genetics