Roles of GATA6 during Gonadal Development in Japanese Flounder: Gonadogenesis, Regulation of Gender-Related Genes, Estrogen Formation and Gonadal Function Maintenance.

Zan Li,Quanqi Zhang,Yan Sun,Xiumei Liu,Jinxiang Liu,Yuezhong Liu,Mengxun Wang,Xubo Wang

doi:10.3390/ijms18010160

Zan Li, Quanqi Zhang + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18010160

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Abstract

GATA-binding protein 6 (GATA6), a highly-conserved transcription factor of the GATA family plays an important role in gonadal cell proliferation, differentiation and endoderm development. In this study, the full-length cDNA of GATA6 of Paralichthys olivaceus (Japanese flounder) was obtained. Phylogenetic, gene structure and synteny analyses demonstrated that GATA6 of P. olivaceus is homologous to that of teleosts and tetrapods. The P. olivaceus GATA6 transcript showed higher expression in testis than in ovary, demonstrating a sexually dimorphic gene expression. During embryonic development, the expression of P. olivaceus GATA6 increased at the blastula stage, demonstrating that GATA6 is involved in morphogenesis. Results of in situ hybridization showed that GATA6 signals were detected in Sertoli cells, oogonia and oocytes. Moreover, 17α methyl testosterone, a male hormone, could moderately upregulate P. olivaceus GATA6 and downregulate P. olivaceus aromatase CYP19A1 in testis cells. These results suggest that GATA6 may play an important role in gonadal development in P. olivaceus. This study provides valuable information on the function of P. olivaceus GATA6, laying the foundation for further development of breeding techniques in this species.

Highlights

GATA-binding proteins (GATA1-GATA-binding protein 6 (GATA6)) are a family of zinc finger transcription factors that regulate the expression of target genes by binding to a common sequence, namely WGATAR
We report on the full-length cDNA sequence and genomic organization of P. olivaceus GATA6
The semi-RT-PCR result shows that P. olivaceus GATA6 mRNA is detected in heart, liver, intestines and gonads, which all originate from the mesoderm and endoderm

Summary

Introduction

GATA-binding proteins (GATA1-GATA6) are a family of zinc finger transcription factors that regulate the expression of target genes by binding to a common sequence, namely WGATAR. GATA transcription factors play essential roles in the developmental control of cell fate, proliferation and differentiation, organ morphogenesis and tissue-specific gene expression. These proteins, which were identified in vertebrates and invertebrates, are evolutionarily conserved [1,2,3]. GATA1/2/3 are mainly found in hematopoietic cell lineages They are essential in the differentiation of erythroids and megakaryocytes, the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and the development of T lymphocytes [4]. GATA4/5/6 are found in the organs of mesodermal and endodermal origin, such as heart, gut and gonads [5,6,7,8]

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