Transcriptome analysis for identifying possible causes of post-reproductive death of Sepia esculenta based on brain tissue.

Background: The subpeduncle lobe/olfactory lobe-optic gland axis is called the endocrine regulation center of cephalopods. However, little is known about the mechanism of the subpeduncle lobe/olfactory lobe-optic gland axis regulate the sexual maturation and post-reproductive death of Sepia esculenta Hoyle.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to provide basic information for revealing the mechanism of the subpeduncle lobe/olfactory lobe-optic axis regulating the rapid post-reproductive death of S.

The co-existence of two growth hormone receptors and their differential expression profiles between female and male tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).

Growth hormone receptor (Ghr) is a single-transmembrane pass protein which is important in initiating the ability of growth hormone (Gh) to regulate development and somatic growth in vertebrates. In this study, molecular cloning, expression analysis of two different ghr genes (ghr1 and ghr2) in the tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) was conducted. As a result, the ghr1 and ghr2 cDNA sequences are 2364 bp and 3125 bp, each of which encodes a transmembrane protein of 633 and 561 amino acids (aa), respectively.

Molecular characterization and expression of a novel big defensin (Sb-BDef1) from ark shell, Scapharca broughtonii.

Big defensins, endogenous cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with antimicrobial activity and immunomodulatory property, play crucial roles in host defense against various microbial pathogens. A novel big defensin (Sb-BDef1) of ark shell Scapharca broughtonii was identified by expressed sequence tag (EST) and RACE techniques. The Sb-BDef1 cDNA contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 336-bp encoding a polypeptide of 111 amino acids with a putative signal peptide of 21 amino acid residues, followed by a putative propeptide of 11 residues and a putative mature peptide of 79 residues.

Development and characterization of EST-SSR markers from Scapharca broughtonii and their transferability in Scapharca subcrenata and Tegillarca granosa.

Twenty-five novel EST-derived simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers were developed in the ark shell Scapharca broughtonii. Polymorphisms of these EST-SSR markers were evaluated in 48 wild individuals collected from Shidao, Shandong Province, China. A total of 202 alleles were detected at 25 loci.

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of major histocompatibility complex class IIB gene of the Whitespotted bambooshark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum).

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays an important role in the immune response to antigenic peptides in vertebrates. In this study, the full length of MHC IIB cDNA was isolated from the Whitespotted bambooshark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) by homology cloning, and the rapid amplification of cDNA ends polymerase chain reaction. As a result, the MHC IIB cDNA is 1,407 bp, which contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 831 bp encoding a protein of 276 amino acids.

[Effects of macro-jellyfish abundance dynamics on fishery resource structure in the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent waters].

Based on the bottom trawl survey data in May 2007 and May and June 2008, this paper analyzed the effects of the abundance dynamics of macro-jellyfish on the species composition, distribution, and abundance of fishery resource in the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent waters. From May 2007 to June 2008, the average catch per haul and the top catch per haul of macro-jellyfish increased, up to 222.2 kg x h(-1) and 1800 kg x h(-1) in June 2008, respectively.

Genomic structure, polymorphism and expression analysis of the growth hormone (GH) gene in female and male Half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).

Growth hormone (GH) is a polypeptide which is an important regulator of development and somatic growth in teleosts, and may be associated with the mechanisms which drive sexual growth dimorphism in the Half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). In this study, the full length gh cDNA was cloned from C. semilaevis by homology cloning and the rapid amplification of cDNA ends polymerase chain reaction (RACE-PCR).

Molecular cloning, expression analysis of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) gene and IGF-I serum concentration in female and male Tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a polypeptide hormone that regulates growth during all stages of development in vertebrates. To examine the mechanisms of the sexual growth dimorphism in the Tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis), molecular cloning, expression analysis of IGF-I gene and IGF-I serum concentration analysis were performed. As a result, the IGF-I cDNA sequence is 911 bp, which contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 564 bp encoding a protein of 187 amino acids.

Permanent genetic resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 October 2010-30 November 2010.

This article documents the addition of 277 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Ascochyta rabiei, Cambarellus chapalanus, Chionodraco hamatus, Coptis omeiensis, Cynoscion nebulosus, Daphnia magna, Gerbillus nigeriae, Isurus oxyrinchus, Lates calcarifer, Metacarcinus magister, Oplegnathus fasciatus, Pachycondyla verenae, Phaethon lepturus, Pimelodus grosskopfii, Rotylenchulus reniformis, Scomberomorus niphonius, Sepia esculenta, Terapon jarbua, Teratosphaeria cryptica and Thunnus obesus. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Austropotamobius italicus, Cambarellus montezumae, Cambarellus puer, Cambarellus shufeldtii, Cambarellus texanus, Chionodraco myersi, Chionodraco rastrospinosus, Coptis chinensis, Coptis chinensis var.

Artificial gynogenesis and sex determination in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).

Half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) is an important cultured marine fish as well as a promising model fish for the study of sex determination mechanisms. In the present study, a protocol for artificial gynogenesis of half-smooth tongue sole was developed in order to identify the sex determination mechanism and to generate all-female stock. The optimal UV-irradiation dose for genetically inactivating sea perch spermatozoa was determined to be > or =30 mJ/cm(2).

Isolation of female-specific AFLP markers and molecular identification of genetic sex in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).

The sex-specific molecular marker is a useful gene resource for studying sex- determining mechanisms and controlling fish sex. Artificially produced male and female half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) were used to screen sex-specific amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLPs) molecular markers. The phenotypic sex of 28 tongue soles was determined by histological sectioning of gonads.

Late Pleistocene divergence and subsequent population expansion of two closely related fish species, Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) and Australian anchovy (Engraulis australis).

Climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene ice ages produced great changes in species' geographical distribution and abundance, which could be expected to have genetic consequences. Living in the temperate upwelling zones of the northwestern Pacific, Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) might have been affected by these severe climatic oscillations. To investigate the effects of Pleistocene climatic changes on the evolution in Japanese anchovy, fragments of 522 bp at the 5' end of mitochondrial DNA control region were sequenced for 241 individuals from 13 localities and 37 individuals of Australian anchovy.