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Circular RNA expression profiles and CircSnd1-miR-135b/c-foxl2 axis analysis in gonadal differentiation of protogynous hermaphroditic ricefield eel Monopterus albus

Authors :
Zhi He
Zhijun Ma
Deying Yang
Qiqi Chen
Zhide He
Jiaxiang Hu
Faqiang Deng
Qian Zhang
Jiayang He
Lijuan Ye
Hongjun Chen
Liang He
Xiaoli Huang
Wei Luo
Shiyong Yang
Xiaobin Gu
Mingwang Zhang
Taiming Yan
Source :
BMC Genomics, Vol 23, Iss 1, Pp 1-17 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
BMC, 2022.

Abstract

Abstract Background The expression and biological functions of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in reproductive organs have been extensively reported. However, it is still unclear whether circRNAs are involved in sex change. To this end, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed in gonads at 5 sexual stages (ovary, early intersexual stage gonad, middle intersexual stage gonad, late intersexual stage gonad, and testis) of ricefield eel, and the expression profiles and potential functions of circRNAs were studied. Results Seven hundred twenty-one circRNAs were identified, and the expression levels of 10 circRNAs were verified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT–PCR) and found to be in accordance with the RNA-seq data, suggesting that the RNA-seq data were reliable. Then, the sequence length, category, sequence composition and the relationship between the parent genes of the circRNAs were explored. A total of 147 circRNAs were differentially expressed in the sex change process, and GO and KEGG analyses revealed that some differentially expressed (such as novel_circ_0000659, novel_circ_0004005 and novel_circ_0005865) circRNAs were closely involved in sex change. Furthermore, expression pattern analysis demonstrated that both circSnd1 and foxl2 were downregulated in the process of sex change, which was contrary to mal-miR-135b. Finally, dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation showed that circSnd1 and foxl2 can combine with mal-miR-135b and mal-miR-135c. These data revealed that circSnd1 regulates foxl2 expression in the sex change of ricefield eel by acting as a sponge of mal-miR-135b/c. Conclusion Our results are the first to demonstrate that circRNAs have potential effects on sex change in ricefield eel; and circSnd1 could regulate foxl2 expression in the sex change of ricefield eel by acting as a sponge of mal-miR-135b/c. These data will be useful for enhancing our understanding of sequential hermaphroditism and sex change in ricefield eel or other teleosts.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14712164
Volume :
23
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
BMC Genomics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.2384d2f7967d46b8ada9b28f7dbf984e
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-022-08783-3