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Characterization of the transcription factor Sox3 regulating the gonadal development of pearlscale angelfish (Centropyge vrolikii)

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Abstract

As a member of the Sox gene family, Sox3 plays a vital role in gonadal development and gametogenesis. Nevertheless, the exact expression pattern of this gene in fish is still unknown. Here, we identified the Sox3 gene of Centropyge vrolikii, namely, Cv-Sox3. The Cv-Sox3 mRNA expression in the ovary and testis was detected by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, and the mRNA expression level of Cv-Sox3 in the ovary in the resting stage was significantly higher than that in other tissues. The phylogenetic tree and alignment of multiple sequences were constructed to analyze the evolutionary relationships of Cv-Sox3. Cv-Sox3 was relatively conserved in the evolution of teleost fish, indicating the importance and similarity of its function. The in situ hybridization results demonstrate that Cv-Sox3 was present in the follicle cells and cytoplasm of oocytes in the ovary of different stages, and the positive signals occurred in germ cells of the testis. After interfering with Cv-Sox3, the growth rate of ovarian cells in culture became slow, and the expression of ovary-bias-related genes Cyp19a and Foxl2 significantly increased. Meanwhile, the expression of testis-bias-related genes Dmrt1, Sox9, Cyp11a, Amh, and Sox8 significantly decreased. These results suggest that Cv-Sox3 gene might be expressed in the germ cells of male and female gonads during gonadal development. This study provides a precise expression pattern of Cv-Sox3 and demonstrates that Cv-Sox3 might play a significant role in the reproductive regulation of C. vrolikii.

Graphical abstract

In this study, Sox3 of C. vrolikii (Cv-Sox3) was cloned to understand the expression pattern in the gonadal development, which is expressed in germ cells, involved in the process of gonadal development. The results demonstrated that Cv-Sox3 may play a significant role in the reproductive regulation of C. vrolikii.

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Abbreviations

C. vrolikii :

Centropyge vrolikii

Cv- Sox3 :

Sox3 Gene of C.vrolikii

RT-PCR:

Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

qRT-PCR:

Quantitative RT-PCR

O-2:

Perinucleolus follicle

O-4:

Vitellogenic follicle

T:

Testis

PFA:

Paraformaldehyde

HD:

Homeodomain

Mm:

Molecular mass

pI:

Isoelectric point

N-J method:

Neighbor-joining method

ISH:

In situ Hybridization

FBS:

Fetal bovine serum

EGF:

Epidermal Growth Factor

HGF:

Hepatocyte Growth Factor

β-FGF:

Fibroblast Growth Factor

CMC:

Carboxy Methyl Cellulose

N-AG:

N-acetyl-D-( +)-glucosamine

2-Me:

2-Mercaptoethanol

OC-2:

Oocytes at stage II

OC-4:

Oocytes at stage IV

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to Prof. Shu-hong Wang, Fisheries College, Jimei University (Xiamen), for providing the fish for this study. Thanks to Prof. Jian-guang Qin, Flinders University (Australia), for polishing and revising the English of this manuscript.

Funding

This research was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province (2021J01824) and the Ornamental Aquarium Engineering Research Centre in University of Fujian Province; the Fujian Provincial Department of Education (JAT190350); and the Innovation Training program for College students of Fujian Province (202110390039; 202110390043).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Yan Feng, Zhao-wei Zhong, Yan Xu, Lu-lu Ao, Zhen Yang, Yi-lei Wang & Yong-hua Jiang

  2. National Demonstration Center for Experimental Aquatic Science and Technology Education, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Yan Feng, Zhao-wei Zhong, Yan Xu, Lu-lu Ao, Zhen Yang, Yi-lei Wang & Yong-hua Jiang

  3. College of Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, Fujian, China

    Ze-yu Zhang

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  1. Yan Feng
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Contributions

Yan Feng and Zhao-wei Zhong are in charge of sampling, research proposal, experiment execution, bioinformatics analysis, and article preparation. Yan Xu, Ze-yu Zhang, Lu-lu Ao, and Zhen Yang are in responsibility of the sampling, cell interference experiment, and quantitative analysis. Yong-hua Jiang and Yi-lei Wang are in responsibility of conceptualization, formal analysis, writing — review and editing, and funding acquisition. The final manuscript was reviewed and approved by all writers.

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Correspondence to Yi-lei Wang or Yong-hua Jiang.

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The sample collection and experimental protocols were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the Fisheries College of Jimei University (Animal Ethics No. 1067). All animal handling and methods were performed according to the relevant guidelines.

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Highlights

• The functional domains of Cv-Sox3 were highly conserved among teleosts.

• The Cv-Sox3 was significantly expressed in the gonads and located in the germ cells.

• The expression level of Cv-Sox3 in the ovary was significantly higher than that in the testis.

• The expression of sex-related genes was regulated in different degrees after interfering with Cv-Sox3.

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Feng, Y., Zhong, Zw., Xu, Y. et al. Characterization of the transcription factor Sox3 regulating the gonadal development of pearlscale angelfish (Centropyge vrolikii). Fish Physiol Biochem 48, 1193–1207 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-022-01110-3

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