Doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 1 (Dmrt1) gene is a widely conserved gene involved in sex determination and differentiation across phyla. To gain insights on Dmrt1 implication for fish gonad cell differentiation and gametogenesis development, its mRNA was isolated from testis and ovary from the Lusitanian toadfish (Halobatrachus didactylus). The cDNA from Dmrt1 was synthesized and cloned, whereas its quantitative and qualitative gene expression, as well as its protein immunolocalization, were analyzed. A main product of 1.38 kb, which encodes a protein of 295 aa, was reported, but other minority Dmrt1 products were also identified by RACE-PCR. This gene is predominantly expressed in testis (about 20 times more than in other organs or tissues), specially in spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids, as well as in somatic Sertoli cells, indicating that Dmrt1 plays an important role in spermatogenesis. Although Dmrt1 transcripts also seem to be involved in oogenesis development, and it cannot be excluded that toadfish Dmrt1 could be functionally involved in other processes not related to sex.
Keywords: APA; DEPC; DNA complementary to RNA; Dmrt1; Expression pattern; IHC; ISH; Immunochemistry; In situ hybridization; ORF; Oogenesis; PBST; RACE; Spermatogenesis; UTR; alternative polyadenylation; base pairs; bp; cDNA; diethyl dicarbonate; immunohistochemistry; in situ hybridization; mRNA; messenger RNA; open reading frame; parts per million; phosphate buffered saline with Tween 20; ppm; qPCR; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; rapid amplification of cDNA ends; untranslated region.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.