Multi-genome comparisons reveal gain-and-loss evolution of anti-Mullerian hormone receptor type 2 as a candidate master sex-determining gene in Percidae.

Background: The Percidae family comprises many fish species of major importance for aquaculture and fisheries. Based on three new chromosome-scale assemblies in Perca fluviatilis, Perca schrenkii, and Sander vitreus along with additional percid fish reference genomes, we provide an evolutionary and comparative genomic analysis of their sex-determination systems.

Results: We explored the fate of a duplicated anti-Mullerian hormone receptor type-2 gene (amhr2bY), previously suggested to be the master sex-determining (MSD) gene in P.

Multi-genome comparisons reveal gain-and-loss evolution of the gene, an old master sex determining gene, in Percidae.

The Percidae family comprises many fish species of major importance for aquaculture and fisheries. Based on three new chromosome-scale assemblies in , and along with additional percid fish reference genomes, we provide an evolutionary and comparative genomic analysis of their sex-determination systems. We explored the fate of a duplicated anti-Mullerian hormone receptor type-2 gene (), previously suggested to be the master sex determining (MSD) gene in .

Corticosteroid plasma kinetics and gonadal receptor gene expression during the reproductive cycle in female Eurasian Perch: Investigation of the roles of corticosteroids in vitellogenesis.

To improve the quality of reproduction in Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis L., which is a promising candidate for Eurasian freshwater aquaculture that is currently cultivated in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), investigating the hormones that mediate and affect reproduction in this species is indispensable. The literature defines a group of four major corticosteroids (11-deoxycorticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, corticosterone and cortisol) that might mediate critical stages of reproduction in female perch.

Domestication may affect the maternal mRNA profile in unfertilized eggs, potentially impacting the embryonic development of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis).

Domestication is an evolutionary process during which we expect populations to progressively adapt to an environment controlled by humans. It is accompanied by genetic and presumably epigenetic changes potentially leading to modifications in the transcriptomic profile in various tissues. Reproduction is a key function often affected by this process in numerous species, regardless of the mechanism.

An alternative developmental table to describe non-model fish species embryogenesis: application to the description of the Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis L. 1758) development.

Background: Fish correspond to the most diversified phylum among vertebrates with a large variety of species. Even if general features are distinguishable during the embryogenesis, several differences in term of timing, organ implementation or step progression always occur between species. Moreover, the developmental timing of wild non-model fish often presents variability within a species.

Müllerian inhibiting substance in the caudate amphibian Pleurodeles waltl.

Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS, also known as anti-Müllerian hormone), is a key factor of male sex differentiation in vertebrates. In amniotes, it is responsible for Müllerian duct regression in male embryos. In fish, despite the absence of Müllerian ducts, MIS is produced and controls germ cell proliferation during gonad differentiation.

Temporal and spatial SOX9 expression patterns in the course of gonad development of the caudate amphibian Pleurodeles waltl.

The SOX family of transcription factors is thought to regulate gene expression in a wide variety of developmental processes. Namely, SOX9 expression is conserved in vertebrate sex determination or differentiation. Nevertheless, information about caudate amphibians is lacking.

Differential RNA-binding activity of the hnRNP G protein correlated with the sex genotype in the amphibian oocyte.

A proteomic approach has enabled the identification of an orthologue of the splicing factor hnRNP G in the amphibians Xenopus tropicalis, Ambystoma mexicanum, Notophthalmus viridescens and Pleurodeles walt, which shows a specific RNA-binding affinity similar to that of the human hnRN G protein. Three isoforms of this protein with a differential binding affinity for a specific RNA probe were identified in the P. walt oocyte.

Evidence for a conserved role of retinoic acid in urodele amphibian meiosis onset.

Pleurodeles waltl is a urodele amphibian displaying a ZZ/ZW genetic mode of sex determination. Gonad differentiation can later be modulated by hormone treatment. To investigate germ cell differentiation, we analyzed the expression of the meiosis marker PwDmc1 and show that germ cells enter meiosis in late larval life in females, and 2 months after metamorphosis in males.

Lifelong testicular differentiation in Pleurodeles waltl (Amphibia, Caudata).

Background: In numerous Caudata, the testis is known to differentiate new lobes at adulthood, leading to a multiple testis. The Iberian ribbed newt Pleurodeles waltl has been studied extensively as a model for sex determination and differentiation. However, the evolution of its testis after metamorphosis is poorly documented.

Female-enriched expression of ERalpha during gonad differentiation of the urodele amphibian Pleurodeles waltl.

In the amphibian Pleurodeles waltl, estradiol treatment of genetically male larvae (ZZ) induces male-to-female sex reversal whereas heat treatment of genetically female larvae (ZW) inhibits estradiol synthesis and leads to female-to-male sex reversal. No data are available on estrogen receptors in this species. In the present study, we have isolated a unique full-length pwERalpha cDNA and its 5'-flanking region whose promoter activity was confirmed by transfection assays.

Freemartin in the amphibian Pleurodeles waltl: parabiosis between individuals from opposite sex triggers both germ and somatic cells alterations during female gonad development.

Wild type embryos of the newt Pleurodeles waltl were used to realize parabiosis, a useful model to study the effect of endogenous circulating hormones on gonad development. The genotypic sex of each parabiont (ZZ male or ZW female) was determined early from the analysis of the sex chromosome borne marker peptidase-1. In ZZ/ZZ and ZW/ZW associations, gonads develop according to genetic sex.

Analysis of the effects of different alcohols on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

Alcohol consumption is known to be an increased risk factor for breast cancer, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. We have recently shown that the exposure of MCF-7 breast cancer cells to 0.1% ethanol enhanced their proliferation and increased their content in both estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) and aromatase.

Cerebral and gonadal aromatase expressions are differently affected during sex differentiation of Pleurodeles waltl.

In vertebrates, sex is determined essentially by two means, genetic factors located on sex chromosomes and epigenetic factors such as temperature experienced by the individual during development. Steroids, especially estrogens, are clearly involved in gonadal differentiation in non-mammalian vertebrates. In this regard, the expression of the estrogen-producing enzyme, aromatase, has been shown to be temperature-sensitive in species where temperature can reverse sex differentiation, especially in our model, the amphibian Pleurodeles waltl.

Expression of aromatase and steroidogenic factor 1 in the lung of the urodele amphibian Pleurodeles waltl.

We report here the results of the analysis of aromatase and steroidogenic factor 1 (Sf1) expression in adult lung of the urodele amphibian Pleurodeles waltl. Using RT-PCR experiments, we show the expression of the estrogen-synthesizing enzyme, aromatase, in this organ. In the lung, no significant difference between males and females was observed in the level of aromatase mRNAs.

Ethanol stimulates proliferation, ERalpha and aromatase expression in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

It is well documented that alcohol is associated with an increased risk factor for breast carcinogenesis although the underlying mechanisms are not clearly understood. It has been reported that in vitro, the culture of estrogen receptor (ER) expressing breast cancer cells in ethanol containing medium was associated with an increase in the proliferation rate, in the ERalpha content as well as in ER transcriptional activity. Since these changes are not observed in ER negative breast cancer cells, and since alcohol intake has been associated to an increased level of circulating estrogens, we have postulated that aromatase expression could be increased following ethanol exposure.