PUBLICATION

Transient receptor potential a1b regulates primordial germ cell numbers and sex differentiation in developing zebrafish

Authors
Gong, X., Yan, Q., Chen, L.
ID
ZDB-PUB-241127-12
Date
2024
Source
Journal of Fish Biology : (Journal)
Registered Authors
Chen, Liangbiao
Keywords
PGC proliferation, Trpa1b, gene knockout, sex differentiation, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Zebrafish Proteins*/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins*/metabolism
  • Sex Ratio
  • Female
  • Zebrafish*/genetics
  • Animals
  • Sex Differentiation*/genetics
  • TRPA1 Cation Channel/genetics
  • TRPA1 Cation Channel/metabolism
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • Germ Cells*
  • Male
PubMed
39587668 Full text @ J. Fish Biol.
Abstract
Temperature is a leading environmental factor determining the sex ratio of some animal populations, such as fish, amphibians, and reptiles. However, the underlying mechanism by which temperature affects gender is still poorly understood. Transient receptor potential a1b (Trpa1b) belongs to the ion channel family of transient receptor potentials and exhibits dual thermosensitivity to heat and cold. In this study, we have unveiled a novel function of the trpa1b gene. Zebrafish generated through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 with Trpa1b-null manifest a male-biased sex ratio. The quantity of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in zebrafish is closely linked to gender determination and gonadal development. Yet the role of the trpa1b gene in zebrafish reproductive development remains unexplored in the literature. Our investigation revealed a significant reduction in PGCs in Trpa1b mutant zebrafish compared to their wild-type counterparts 24-h postfertilization (hpf). Transcriptome sequencing of tissues near the reproductive crest of embryos at 1.25 days postfertilization (dpf) revealed differential changes in PGC-related marker genes and genes related to sperm cell development and differentiation. The relative expression of ddx4 and sycp3 genes was significantly downregulated, whereas amh was significantly upregulated at 20 dpf in trpa1b-/- zebrafish. The results of this study provide valuable insights and references for studying the molecular mechanism of sex determination in zebrafish. Undoubtedly, these results will further enhance our understanding of gender differentiation and gonadal development in fish and other vertebrates.
Genes / Markers
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping