Abstract
The caspase-3 appears to be a key protease in the apoptotic pathway. We identified caspase-3 complementary DNAs from the ovaries of the protandrous cinnamon clownfish (Amphiprion melanopus), and investigated its mRNA and proteins, and activity levels during the sex change (I, mature male; II, male at 90 days after removing of the female; and III, mature female). The nucleotide sequence of the caspase-3 cDNA was 969 base pairs in length with open reading frames encoding peptides of 282 amino acids. The caspase-3 mRNA and protein, and activity levels in stages of the mature gonad are higher than those of the development gonad stage. To understand the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on gonad apoptosis, we examined expression of genes caspase-3 mRNA and activity level in immature cinnamon clownfish gonads after GnRH analogue (GnRHa). The findings support the hypothesis that caspase-3 expression is associated with both testicular and ovarian development, and suggests that it may play a role in the control of ovarian development in cinnamon clownfish. Also, we demonstrate that GnRH agonists stimulate caspase-3 production which can in turn stimulate apoptosis. The present study provides a framework for better understanding of the role of caspase-3 during sex change processes in fish.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy under the ITRC support program supervised by the NIPA (2012-H0301-12-2009).
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Kim, N.N., Lee, J., Habibi, H.R. et al. Molecular cloning and expression of caspase-3 in the protandrous cinnamon clownfish, Amphiprion melanopus, during sex change. Fish Physiol Biochem 39, 417–429 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-012-9709-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-012-9709-y