LPXRFa and its receptor in yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi): Molecular cloning, ontogenetic expression profiles, and stimulatory effects on growth hormone and gonadotropin gene expression

Bin Wang; Yaxing Zhang; Aijun Cui; Yongjiang Xu; Yan Jiang; Liang Wang; Xuezhou Liu

doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113872

LPXRFa and its receptor in yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi): Molecular cloning, ontogenetic expression profiles, and stimulatory effects on growth hormone and gonadotropin gene expression

Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2021 Oct 1:312:113872. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113872. Epub 2021 Jul 26.

Authors

Bin Wang¹, Yaxing Zhang², Aijun Cui², Yongjiang Xu¹, Yan Jiang¹, Liang Wang³, Xuezhou Liu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, China.
² Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
³ Yantai Marine Economic Research Institute, Yantai 264003, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, China. Electronic address: liuxz@ysfri.ac.cn.

PMID: 34324840
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113872

Abstract

Despite its functional significance in mammals and birds, the biological role of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) in reproduction is still far from being fully understood in teleosts. In the current study, we have identified LPXRFa, the piscine ortholog of GnIH, and its cognate receptor (LPXRFa-R) in yellowtail kingfish (YTK), which is considered as a promising species for aquaculture industry worldwide. The YTK cDNA sequence of lpxrfa was 534 base pair (bp) in length and encoded a 178-amino acids (aa) preprohormone. The LPXRFa precursor comprised three putative peptide sequences that included -MPMRF, -MPQRF, or -LPERL motifs at the C-termini, respectively. The YTK lpxrfa-r cDNA sequence was composed of 1265 bp that gave rise to a LPXRFa-R of 420 aa, encompassing the characteristic seven hydrophobic transmembrane domains. In males, both lpxrfa and lpxrfa-r transcripts could be detected at high levels in the brain and testis. In females, a noteworthy expression of lpxrfa was observed in the brain and ovary, while the expression of lpxrfa-r was especially evident only in the brain. To study the ontogeny of LPXRFa system, transcript levels were also investigated during early life stages. Variable expression of the LPXRFa system was observed during all stages of YTK embryogenesis. The highest expression of lpxrfa and lpxrfa-r were noticed at 7 dph and 15 dph, respectively. Furthermore, LPXRFa peptides stimulated growth hormone (gh), luteinizing hormone (lhβ) and follicle-stimulating hormone (fshβ) gene expression from the pituitary. Taken together, our results provide initial evidence for the existence of the LPXRFa system in yellowtail kingfish and suggest its possible involvement at early development and reproductive functions.

Keywords: GnIH; LPXRFa; LPXRFa-R; Ontogenic development; Reproduction; Seriola lalandi.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Cloning, Molecular
Female
Gene Expression
Gonadotropins
Growth Hormone*
Male
Perciformes* / genetics

Substances

Gonadotropins
Growth Hormone