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Molecular Characterization, Tissue Distribution and Localization of Larimichthys crocea Kif3a and Kif3b and Expression Analysis of Their Genes During Spermiogenesis

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Abstract

KIF3A and KIF3B are two N-terminal motor proteins belonging to the kinesin-II superfamily that play essential roles in spermiogenesis. To understand the roles played by KIF3A/3B during spermatogenesis of large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea, we studied the testis characteristics at different developmental stages of L. crocea, and determined the spatiotemporal expression patterns of kif3a and kif3b during spermiogenesis. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that the overall trends of kif3a/3b mRNA abundance during testis development are similar. From stage II to stage V, kif3a/3b mRNA abundances first increased and then fell after reaching a peak at stage IV. Interestingly, the mRNA abundances of both genes at stage V were higher than those at stages II and III. In addition, it is worth of noting that kif3b mRNA abundance was higher than that of kif3a at all stages. Fluorescence in situ hybridization results revealed that kif3a/3b mRNA abundance dynamics were consistent with the migration of mitochondria, the deformation of nucleus, and the formation of tail. The mRNA hybridization signals of both genes first appeared either around the nuclear periphery or on the side of the nuclei, then appeared at one side of nuclei, and finally were mainly on the tail during spermiogenesis. Our findings contributed to better understanding the molecular mechanisms of spermiogenesis in fish; and suggested that KIF3A and KIF3B may participate in the intracellular transport of mitochondria, nuclear deformation, and the formation of tail during the spermiogenesis in L. crocea.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Dr. Yaru Xu for the in situ hybridization technical assistance and Mr. Youfa Wang for valuable suggestions on picture processing. This work was financially supported by the Scientific and Technical Project of Zhejiang Province (Nos. 2016C02055-7, LY18C190007), the Ningbo Natural Science Foundation (No. 2016A610081), the Scientific and Technical Project of Ningbo (No. 2015C110005), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31602140), the Collaborative Innovation Center for Zhejiang Marine High-efficiency and Healthy Aquaculture, and the K. C. Wong Magna Fund in Ningbo University.

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  1. The Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China

    Danli Mu, Chen Du, Suyan Fu, Jingqian Wang, Congcong Hou, Daojun Tang & Junquan Zhu

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  1. Danli Mu
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  2. Chen Du
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Correspondence to Junquan Zhu.

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Mu, D., Du, C., Fu, S. et al. Molecular Characterization, Tissue Distribution and Localization of Larimichthys crocea Kif3a and Kif3b and Expression Analysis of Their Genes During Spermiogenesis. J. Ocean Univ. China 18, 1451–1469 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-019-3987-2

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