Biomaterial Database

Transcriptome analysis identifies genes involved in sex determination and development of Xenopus laevis gonads. 2018

Rafal P Piprek, and Milena Damulewicz, and Malgorzata Kloc, and Jacek Z Kubiak

Department of Comparative Anatomy, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: rafal.piprek@uj.edu.pl.

Development of the gonads is a complex process, which starts with a period of undifferentiated, bipotential gonads. During this period the expression of sex-determining genes is initiated. Sex determination is a process triggering differentiation of the gonads into the testis or ovary. Sex determination period is followed by sexual differentiation, i.e. appearance of the first testis- and ovary-specific features. In Xenopus laevis W-linked DM-domain gene (DM-W) had been described as a master determinant of the gonadal female sex. However, the data on the expression and function of other genes participating in gonad development in X. laevis, and in anurans, in general, are very limited. We applied microarray technique to analyze the expression pattern of a subset of X. laevis genes previously identified to be involved in gonad development in several vertebrate species. We also analyzed the localization and the expression level of proteins encoded by these genes in developing X. laevis gonads. These analyses pointed to the set of genes differentially expressed in developing testes and ovaries. Gata4, Sox9, Dmrt1, Amh, Fgf9, Ptgds, Pdgf, Fshr, and Cyp17a1 expression was upregulated in developing testes, while DM-W, Fst, Foxl2, and Cyp19a1 were upregulated in developing ovaries. We discuss the possible roles of these genes in development of X. laevis gonads.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D005260	Female		Females
D006066	Gonads	The gamete-producing glands, OVARY or TESTIS.	Gonad
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014157	Transcription Factors	Endogenous substances, usually proteins, which are effective in the initiation, stimulation, or termination of the genetic transcription process.	Transcription Factor,Factor, Transcription,Factors, Transcription
D014982	Xenopus laevis	The commonest and widest ranging species of the clawed "frog" (Xenopus) in Africa. This species is used extensively in research. There is now a significant population in California derived from escaped laboratory animals.	Platanna,X. laevis,Platannas,X. laevi
D015854	Up-Regulation	A positive regulatory effect on physiological processes at the molecular, cellular, or systemic level. At the molecular level, the major regulatory sites include membrane receptors, genes (GENE EXPRESSION REGULATION), mRNAs (RNA, MESSENGER), and proteins.	Receptor Up-Regulation,Upregulation,Up-Regulation (Physiology),Up Regulation
D059467	Transcriptome	The pattern of GENE EXPRESSION at the level of genetic transcription in a specific organism or under specific circumstances in specific cells.	Transcriptomes,Gene Expression Profiles,Gene Expression Signatures,Transcriptome Profiles,Expression Profile, Gene,Expression Profiles, Gene,Expression Signature, Gene,Expression Signatures, Gene,Gene Expression Profile,Gene Expression Signature,Profile, Gene Expression,Profile, Transcriptome,Profiles, Gene Expression,Profiles, Transcriptome,Signature, Gene Expression,Signatures, Gene Expression,Transcriptome Profile
D018507	Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control of gene action during the developmental stages of an organism.	Developmental Gene Expression Regulation,Embryologic Gene Expression Regulation,Gene Expression Regulation, Embryologic,Regulation of Gene Expression, Developmental,Regulation of Gene Expression, Embryologic,Regulation, Gene Expression, Developmental,Regulation, Gene Expression, Embryologic
D019849	Sex Determination Processes	The mechanisms by which the SEX of an individual's GONADS are fixed.	Sex Determination Genetics,Protandry,Protogyny,Sex Determination Genetic Processes,Sex Determination Process,Determination Process, Sex,Determination Processes, Sex,Genetics, Sex Determination,Process, Sex Determination,Processes, Sex Determination