Molecular Biology Reports

, Volume 39, Issue 4, pp 3863–3870 | Cite as

Molecular characterization of growth differentiation factor 9 and its spatio-temporal expression pattern in gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

  • Zhiwei Liu
  • Aqin Chen
  • Zhigang Yang
  • Hua Wei
  • Xiangjun Leng
Article
First Online:
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Accepted:

Abstract

Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) is a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily with a key role in regulating follicle development. In this study, the GDF9 full-length genomic DNA and cDNA were isolated and characterized from the gibel carp ovary using rapid-amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and LD-PCR. The full-length genomic DNA and cDNA sequences of GDF9 are 3979 and 2044 bp which code 428 amino acid residues with a specific RKKR protease cleavage site of TGF-β superfamily. Sequence analysis showed that gibel carp was similar to zebrafish and other fish species. Spatio-temporal expression analysis using real-time quantitative PCR revealed that GDF9 mRNA was largely expressed in ovary and testis. GDF9 is mainly present at stage I follicles indicating its important role in early follicles development. The same result was obtained in immunohistochemistry localization of GDF9 protein. Within the follicle, the follicle layer cells were barely expressed whereas GDF9 mRNA was mostly expressed in the oocytes. Supplemented with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in isolated follicles, the expression of GDF9 mRNA was increased firstly and then decreased. The results of this study indicated that GDF9 gene played a role in fish during development of follicles, especially in the early stage follicles.

Keywords

Carassius auratus gibelio GDF9 Gene expression Human chorionic gonadotropin Immunohistochemistry Ovary 
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Notes

Acknowledgment

We gratefully acknowledge the Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (NO.S30701), innovation program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (11YZ151) and the innovation research group developing project in the universities of Shanghai (nutrition, feed and environment of animal aquaculture).

Supplementary material

11033_2011_1165_MOESM1_ESM.doc (1.6 mb)
Supplementary material 1 (DOC 1655 kb)

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Zhiwei Liu
    • 1
  • Aqin Chen
    • 1
  • Zhigang Yang
    • 1
  • Hua Wei
    • 1
  • Xiangjun Leng
    • 1
  1. 1.Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, College of Fisheries and Life ScienceShanghai Ocean UniversityShanghaiPeople’s Republic of China

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