Abstract
In crustaceans, the male sexual differentiation and maintenance are specially regulated by androgenic gland (AG). However, little is known about the genes involved in the regulation process. RNA-Seq was performed on AG with ejaculatory duct (AG_ED) and ejaculatory duct (ED) as control in Eriocheir sinensis, one of the most important economic and fishery crabs with typically sex dimorphism. A total of 925 unigenes were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the expression of nine genes randomly selected was confirmed by qRT-PCR. 667 unigenes were up-regulated in AG_ED, being supposed to be AG preferential genes. Among them, the full length of insulin-like androgenic gland factor (IAG) cDNA named as Es-IAG was obtained as a logo gene of AG, which together with the genes insulin-like receptor (INR), and single insulin binding domain protein (SIBD), might constitute the sex regulation pathway. Several sex related genes were identified, and their function will have to be investigated. Also, the identification of juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase 1 (JHEH1), ecdysteroid 22-hydroxylase (DIB) and ecdysone receptor (ECR) preliminarily clarified the molecular regulation mechanism of eyestalk-AG-testis axis, which plays important roles in molting and reproduction. The results will enhance our understanding for the molecular basis of the AG involved in male sex regulation in crabs.
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