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Molecular cloning, expression pattern analysis, and in situ hybridization of a Transformer-2 gene in the oriental freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense (de Haan, 1849)

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Abstract

In this study, we isolated a full-length cDNA sequence from Macrobrachium nipponense and investigated its gene function. We named the gene Mntra-2a because of high similarities and close evolutionary divergence with arthropod tra-2. The full-length cDNA of Mntra-2a was 1293 bp, consisting of a 212 bp 5′ UTR, a 268 bp 3′ UTR, and an ORF of 813 bp encoding 270 amino acids. It contained an RNA recognition motif and a linker region. Real-time PCR analysis showed that Mntra-2a was highly expressed in the gonads of both males and females. Further in situ hybridization analysis showed that Mntra-2a was mainly located in oocytes and spermatocytes. During embryogenesis, Mntra-2a expression was higher in the cleavage and nauplius stages. During the ovarian reproductive cycle, Mntra-2a expression reached a peak at OvaryV and decreased to the lowest level at OvaryIV. These results indicated that Mntra-2a probably played important roles in embryonic development and early gonad development in M. nipponense. Our results provide basic information for further functional studies of tra-2 in M. nipponense.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from the Jiangsu Agricultural Industry Technology System (JFRS-02); the National Key R&D Progrom of China (2018YFD0901303); National Natural Science Foundation of China (31572617); New varieties creation Major Project in Jiangsu province (PZCZ201745); China Agriculture Research System-48 (CARS-48); Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund CAFS (2017JBFZ05); and Science and Technology Development Fund of Wuxi (CLE02N1514).

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  1. Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, People’s Republic of China

    Yabing Wang & Hongtuo Fu

  2. Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, People’s Republic of China

    Shubo Jin, Hongtuo Fu, Hui Qiao, Shengming Sun, Wenyi Zhang, Sufei Jiang, Yongsheng Gong, Yiwei Xiong & Yan Wu

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  1. Yabing Wang
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Correspondence to Hongtuo Fu.

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Wang, Y., Jin, S., Fu, H. et al. Molecular cloning, expression pattern analysis, and in situ hybridization of a Transformer-2 gene in the oriental freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense (de Haan, 1849). 3 Biotech 9, 205 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-019-1737-1

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