Genetic Determination and Exogenous Influence in Sex Differentiation in Crustacean

The mechanisms of sex determination and the influence of exogenous factors on sex differentiation in crustacean were reviewed in the paper.Most of crustecea have not obviously sex chromosome.Androgenic gland was reported as the most important sex differentiation factors,implanting or cuting AG can change the sexal characterization of larval in crustacean.Although sex differentiation of crustacean is determined by gene,it is affected by exogenous factors such as parasite,photoperiod,temperature or hormone.Most cultured species have different body weight and length between male and female,this can be used in aquaculture to produce all male or female crusteceans to improve the production.

Metastatic low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with sex cord and smooth muscle differentiation: A case report

BACKGROUND Metastatic low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma(LG-ESS) with sex cord-like and smooth muscle-like differentiation is rare. This article reports such a case with multiple recurrences and with extensive pelvic and abdominal metastasis.CASE SUMMARY A 47-year-old female patient was diagnosed with multiple cystic masses in the pelvic cavity by magnetic resonance imaging examination. Based on the postoperative pathological and immunohistochemical analyses of the surgical specimen, she was diagnosed with a metastatic low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with sex cord and smooth muscle differentiation.CONCLUSION LG-ESS is a low-grade malignant tumor with a high recurrence rate and metastasis probability. It is easily misdiagnosed initially. It is essential to distinguish LG-ESS with sex cord-like differentiation from uterine tumour resembling ovarian sex cord tumour.

A Review of Sexual Determination and Differentiation in Crustacean

The prerequisite for monosex culture is to elucidate the molecular mechanism of sex determination and differentiation in crustaceans, as well as to explore the key genes that play a role in this process. Monosex culture technology based on crustacean economic species is of great importance in terms of genetic breeding and economic benefits of aquaculture. As a result, study into the mechanisms of sex determination and differentiation in crustaceans not only contributes to the current absence of basic theories of crustacean sexual mechanism, but also encourages technical innovation in aquaculture to increase overall economic efficiency. This study synthesizes and evaluates available research on sex determination and differentiation in crustaceans, and then provides recommendations for future research objectives and priorities in the field.

Sex Determination and Sexual Organ Differentiation in Flowering Plants

The research in the genetics of sex determination and the differentiation of reproductive organs in flowering plants has long been a topic in recent years. Understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms that control sex determination in flower- ing plants relies on detailed studies of the differentiation of sexual organs. Current theories about sex chromosomes have illuminated the mechanisms of plant sex determination. In addition, recent progress in cloning floral homeotic genes which regulate the identity of the floral organs has generated molecular markers to compare the developmental programs of male, female and hermaphrodite flowers in several species. In this review, the authors focus attention on these recent findings and provide a brief overview of the genetics of plant sex determination and the mechanism of sex determination gene expression and gene programs.

Review of Research on Sex Differentiation in Bitter Gourd(Momordica charantia L.)

Bitter gourd,with its narrow genetic background and rich sexual type,is a preferred material to be used to study the gender differentiation of flower buds of monoecious plants.This article is a review of studies on the gender differentiation of flower buds of bitter gourd,from morphology to cytology,from classical genetics to molecular biology,and the mechanism by which it is regulated.The recent rapid development of whole genome sequencing and high throughput sequencing provides a novel approach to the study of the gender differentiation of flower buds of bitter gourd.The study of the gender differentiation of flower buds of bitter gourd can provide references for the regulation of gender differentiation and molecular breeding of bitter gourd.

A Model of Hormonal and Environmental Involvement in Growth and Sex Differentiation in European Eel (Anguilla Anguilla)

Growth in vertebrates is a complex interaction involving the development of cells, tissues and organs. Hormones regulating growth during maturation are involved mainly in the interaction between the somatic axis and the reproduction of brain-pituitary axes. Based on the results of hormone and gene transcriptions, the secretion and treatment controlling both the somatic axis and the gonadotropic axis were affected, directly or indirectly, by the environment parameter through hormones that were studied in my laboratory. A model was proposed for sex differentiation and gonadal development correlating to the growth of European eel (Anguilla anguilla). A high growth variation is affected by the environment. At a low density of eels, the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) affected the secretion follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) in the pituitary, steroidogenesis and aromatase (CYP19) synthesis, and the 17β-estradiol (E2) from 11-ketotestosterone (Kt-11) causing ovary development. The ovary secretion E2 affecting the ade-nylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), growth hormone (GH) and the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) stimulated rapid growth in females. On the other hand, a high density of eels caused the pituitary gland to secrete FSH at a lower level, and CYP19 was not synthesized in the gonads. The secretion of Kt-11 affected differentiation to testis, which inhibits the somatic axis in reducing growth rate.

Progressive meristem and single-cell transcriptomes reveal the regulatory mechanisms underlying maize inflorescence development and sex differentiation

Maize develops separate ear and tassel inflorescences with initially similar morphology but ultimately different architecture and sexuality.The detailed regulatory mechanisms underlying these changes still remain largely unclear.In this study,through analyzing the time-course meristem transcriptomes and floret single-cell transcriptomes of ear and tassel,we revealed the regulatory dynamics and pathways underlying inflorescence development and sex differentiation.We identified 16 diverse gene clusters with differential spatiotemporal expression patterns and revealed biased regulation of redox,programmed cell death,and hormone signals during meristem differentiation between ear and tassel.Notably,based on their dynamic expression patterns,we revealed the roles of two RNA-binding proteins in regulating inflorescence meristem activity and axillary meristem formation.Moreover,using the transcriptional profiles of 53910 single cells,we uncovered the cellular heterogeneity between ear and tassel florets.We found that multiple signals associatedwith either enhancedcell death or reduced growth are responsiblefortassel pistil suppression,while part of the gibberellic acid signal may act non-cell-autonomously to regulate ear stamen arrest during sex differentiation.We further showed that the pistil-protection gene SILKLESS 1(SK1)functions antagonistically to the known pistil-suppression genes through regulating common molecular pathways,and constructed a regulatory network for pistil-fate determination.Collectively,our study provides a deep understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying inflorescence development and sex differentiation in maize,laying the foundation for identifying new regulators and pathways for maize hybrid breeding and improvement.

Sox2, a key factor in the regulation of pluripotency and neural differentiation

Sex determining region Y-box 2(Sox2), a member of the SoxB1 transcription factor family, is an important transcriptional regulator in pluripotent stem cells(PSCs). Together with octamer-binding transcription factor 4 and Nanog, they co-operatively control gene expression in PSCs and maintain their pluripotency. Furthermore, Sox2 plays an essential role in somatic cell reprogram-ming, reversing the epigenetic configuration of differ-entiated cells back to a pluripotent embryonic state. In addition to its role in regulation of pluripotency, Sox2 is also a critical factor for directing the differentiation of PSCs to neural progenitors and for maintaining the properties of neural progenitor stem cells. Here, we review recent findings concerning the involvement of Sox2 in pluripotency, somatic cell reprogramming and neural differentiation as well as the molecular mecha-nisms underlying these roles.

UBE2I stimulates female gonadal differentiation in chicken(Gallus gallus)embryos

Without known analogous sex-determining factors like SRY(sex determining region Y)in mammals,the chicken(Gallus gallus)sex determination mechanism still remains unclear,which highly restricts the biological research on chicken development and poultry single-sex reproduction.Here we not only characterized a new female-biased gene UBE2I and identified the expression pattern by qRT-PCR,but also described the functional role of UBE2I in the gonadal development of chicken embryos.Results showed that UBE2I exhibited a female-biased expression pattern in the early stage of PGCs(primordial germ cells)in embryonic gonads and robust expression in ovaries of newborn chickens.Most importantly,we successfully developed an effective method to interfere or overexpress UBE2I in chicken embryos through the intravascular injection.The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the sex-related genes(FOXL2,CYP19A1 and HINTW)in females were upregulated(P<0.05)under the overexpression of UBE2I and the sex-related genes(SOX9,DMRT1 and WT1)in females were downregulated(P<0.05)after interfering UBE2I.Furthermore,the change of UBE2I expression was associated with the level of estradiol and its receptors(AR and ESR),which suggests that UBE2I is necessary to initiate the female-specific development in chickens.In conclusion,this work demonstrates that UBE2I is a crucial sex differentiation-related gene in the embryonic development of chickens,which provides insights for further understanding the mechanism of sex determination in chickens.

Identification and Characterization of Long Non-Coding RNAs Involved in Sex-Related Gene Regulation in Kelp Saccharina japonica

Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)regulate a variety of biological processes,including sexual reproduction and differentiation.Saccharina japonica,a commercially important brown alga in China,shows remarkable sexual dimorphism in haploid gametophytes.The sex of Saccharina japonica gametophytes is determined by UV sexual system.However,no results have been reported on the lncRNAs involved in the sex-related gene regulation of S.japonica.This study identified a number of lncRNAs and assessed their expression levels in male and female gametophytes.Among them,a total of 405 lncRNAs and 211 mRNAs showed differential expressions.Furthermore,the functions of target genes of differentially expressed lncRNAs(DELs)differed from those of differentially expressed genes(DEGs),suggesting that lncRNA may interact with other functional proteins,in addition to DEGs,to involve sex regulation in S.japonica.There were 32 and 90 potential cis-regulatory and trans-regulatory interactions between DELsDEGs,respectively.Five of these lncRNAs(LNC_002974,LNC_021059,LNC_038466,LNC_051584,and LNC_027400)interacted with putative male sex determination region(SDR)genes,suggesting that they act as regulators in gametophytes'sex regulation potentially.Findings from this study contribute to our understanding of the roles of lncRNAs in sex differentiation and lay the foundation for functional studies of candidate lncRNAs in the future.

高等植物性别分化的研究进展

植物性别受到遗传、植物激素和环境等多种因素的调控。性染色体和性别决定基因是植物性别发育过程中重要的遗传因素,性别决定基因通过调控植物雌雄器官的发育过程决定植物性别的分化。多种植物激素在植物性别的分化过程中发挥重要的调控作用。此外,一些环境因素同样对植物的性别表现有一定的影响。本文通过遗传因素、植物激素及环境因子等方面对高等植物性别分化的相关研究进行总结,并对未来的研究方向进行了展望。

性激素调控大脑性别分化的研究进展

大脑结构的性别差异控制着不同性别的哺乳动物在成年时期表现出不同的性行为、社会行为以及内分泌调节等,雄性动物出生前后由睾丸产生的高水平雄激素是引起大脑性别分化的关键因素之一。然而,雄激素峰的具体产生和作用机制未完全阐明。近年来许多研究利用啮齿动物为模型,证明了雄激素峰上游被Kisspeptin所调控,下游通过转录水平、蛋白修饰以及免疫细胞等途径影响不同性别的大脑神经元和神经环路的发育。本文围绕雄激素峰上下游调控机制的研究进展进行综述,为家畜和人类逐年上升的繁殖疾病的可能机理研究提供参考。

油柿雌雄花芽同化物和重要元素含量比较分析

探究同化物和重要营养元素对柿属植物性别分化的潜在调控作用,提升柿属植物性别分化的生理调控研究水平,为人工调控柿花性别、解决柿育种中存在的优良雄性种质缺乏的问题提供理论基础。以二倍体油柿为研究对象,在4月中旬花芽性别分化的形态学关键时期(此时花芽中的雌、雄蕊原基选择性败育,是形成单性花的关键阶段),分别比较雌雄异株和雌雄同株的雌、雄花芽间的同化物和重要元素含量差异。结果表明,在油柿的雌雄异株和雌雄同株系统中,雌花芽的果糖、葡萄糖、淀粉含量均显著低于雄花芽;雌花芽的N、K含量均显著低于雄花芽;雌、雄花芽的氨基酸含量虽然差异不显著,但存在雌花芽低于雄花芽的趋势;相比于雌花芽,雄花芽中高表达基因主要富集在淀粉合成、海藻糖代谢、糖酵解、脂类合成、四吡咯等色素和光合作用途径。在雌雄同株中,雌花芽的P含量显著低于雄花芽。相关性分析发现,花芽中不仅果糖、葡萄糖和淀粉间存在极显著正相关性,与N、K含量存在显著正相关性,表明N、K等元素对同化物合成非常重要。基于同化物和重要元素含量的主成分分析和聚类分析,雌雄异株和雌雄同株系统的雌花芽被聚为一类,雄花芽被聚为另一类,表明在两套系统中,花芽性别分化的生理调控机制几乎一致。相比于雌花芽,雄花芽在发育过程中积累了更多的同化物,并有可能消耗了更多的能量,这可能是油柿单株或枝条生长状况不佳时,通过开雄花的方式集中能量在短期内完成生殖任务(仅需开花散粉)的一种策略。研究结果揭示了油柿雌、雄花芽中同化物和重要元素的含量规律,有助于通过控制树体营养来调控柿花性别,从而提高育种效率。

青鳉nup 58的表达及其在性别分化中的潜在作用

核孔复合体是物质穿梭核膜的通道。核孔蛋白能影响核质和胞质间的物质交换,而核质运输具有调控生殖细胞进入雌性或雄性分化途径的能力。性腺体细胞衍生因子(gonadal soma-derived factor,gsdf)能调控青鳉Oryzias latipes雄性生殖细胞,并在有丝分裂最后一轮之前开启或关闭配子发生中起关键作用。通过RT-qPCR实验发现nup 58(nucleoporin 58)在野生型青鳉精巢中的表达高于卵巢。对青鳉性腺转录组数据分析发现,nup 58在gsdf敲除后精巢中的表达会显著升高。免疫荧光实验结果显示,nup 58在配子发生不同阶段的所有生殖细胞中都有表达。我们的研究显示Nup58作为一种核孔蛋白,受gsdf信号的调控,并与雄性生殖细胞的增殖密切相关。由Nup58核孔蛋白协调的核质运输在生殖细胞性别分化中的作用和动态变化值得进一步探讨。

外源激素对植物性别分化的影响

在开花植物中,性别表达是区分雄花和雌花的重要过程.激素可影响植物性别的转变或可塑性,大量的植物激素涉及花性别鉴定基因和发育通路,对植物发育过程中花性别分化具有重要意义.主要综述五种植物激素(如生长素、赤霉素、细胞分裂素、乙烯、脱落酸等)在植物性别分化中的作用.外源生长调节物质还可以通过调节有关酶的活性和内源激素的水平来影响植物性别分化.赤霉素可促进部分植物的雄性表达,生长素、脱落酸、乙烯及细胞分裂素可促进部分植物的雌性表达.为揭示激素对性别分化的影响的分子调控机制奠定了基础.

性发育异常的基因诊断现状和研究进展

性发育异常(DSD)是先天性改变引起的发育异常或变异,表现为性染色体、性腺或性激素性别不典型、不一致。DSD是一类临床表现类似的遗传性疾病,临床误诊率极高。通过基因检测能够明确病因,避免因血清化验、影像检查的局限性导致疾病误诊。本文对性发育的胚胎学和遗传学机制进行了描述,总结了近年来DSD不同疾病中的主要基因组发现,以期为DSD的临床诊断和遗传咨询提供更多参考。

性别决定区Y相关高迁移率族盒蛋白11在中枢神经系统分化、发育与再生中的作用

性别决定区Y相关高迁移率族盒蛋白11(SOX11)最初被认为是支持干细胞神经元分化和神经前体细胞存活的反式作用因子之一。但深入研究发现,SOX11在神经元发育、重塑及再生中都具有转录调节功能,有望成为神经损伤后再生的重要干预靶点。本文综述了SOX11在中枢神经系统中的生理和病理生理功能及其在神经再生中的作用。

Expression of Sex-Related Genes in Chicken Embryos During Male-to-Female Sex Reversal Exposure to Diethylstilbestrol

Sex emerges out of a delicate dance between a variety of promale, anti-male, and possibly profemale genes. To investigate the role that sex-related genes play in sex determination and gonadal differentiation of fowl, we constructed a male-to- female sex-reversal model of chick induced by diethylstilbestrol （DES） at onset of incubation （E0）. The results of semi- quantitative PCR showed that the expression of Sf1, the orphan nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor-1 gene, was put forward from E7d to E5d and up-regulated during E5-7d; the Dmrt1, the double sex and the Mab-3 related to transcription factor 1 gene, was down-regulated during E3-7d. Meanwhile, anti-Müllerian hormone gene （Amh） expressed at a similar level in the genetic females and sex-reversal females before E7d, while no expression products of the three female-specific genes Wpkci, Fet1 and Foxl2 were detected in male-to-female embryos. These findings suggest that the expression of some certain sex-related genes, induced by the exogenous estrogen during period of sex determination and gonadal differentiation, results in the male-to-female sex reversal. Moreover, high activity of Sf1 gene during E5-7d might be related to the profemale process, while low activity of Dmrt1 gene during E3-5d might be anti-male. The expression activity of Amh gene might only contribute to the promale process after E7d, however, it is possibly not an anti-female gene in chick embryos.

Identification and Characterization of Gene SpDMRT99B and Its Sex-Biased Expression Profile in the Mud Crab,Scylla paramamosain

The doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor(DMRT)gene family is conserved from invertebrates to humans.The functions of DMRT are mainly involved in sex development and the formation of many tissues and organs.In this study,a DM(Doublesex/Mab-3-domain gene was identified in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain,and was named SpDMRT99B because of its many similarities to arthropod DMRT99B and phylogenetically close relationship with arthropod DMRT99B.The cDNA of SpDMRT99B gene is 1249 bp in length,encoding 224 amino acids.From 254 bp to 928 bp there is a conserved DM domain.No transmembrane domain was identified.Through multiple amino acid alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis,the closest gene to SpDMRT99B is Eriocheir sinensis DMRT99B,followed by Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Drosophila melanogaster DMRT99B.The expressions of the gene were characterized in different tissues of female and male crabs during early development period of crab individuals,as well as in different development periods of gonads.The results showed that SpDMRT99B gene is significantly highly expressed in testis than in ovary and other tissues.The expression level of SpDMRT99B in testis at different stages is significantly higher than that in ovary,and it is particularly highly expressed in immature testis.In early developmental stages of larvae,the expressions of SpDMRT99B remain at a low level and reach a peak at zoea stage I when the body segments shape up.It is speculated that SpDMRT99B gene might be involved in the gonadal development process and somitogenesis of S.paramamosain.

Sex determination and dif ferentiation in Aurelia sp.1: the absence of temperature dependence

Cnidarians, being regarded as ‘basal' metazoan animals, are considered to have relatively high plasticity in terms of sex reversal. In this study we used an experimental approach to demonstrate sexual diff erentiation and plasticity in benthic polyps and pelagic medusae of A urelia sp.1 maintained at dif ferent temperatures. Results indicated that in A urelia sp.1, sex diff erentiation has been determined at the polyp stage and that all medusae originating from a given polyp are, phenotypically, of the same sex. In addition, the sex of polyps budding from the same clone(either male or female) at dif ferent temperatures appears to be the same as that of the parent. The sex of medusae that had originated from a known-sex polyp was observed to remain the same as that of the parent, irrespective of differences in strobilation or rearing temperatures. These results indicate that the mechanism of sex determination of Aurelia sp.1. is not influenced by prevailing temperature regimes. A comparison of variability in terms of sexual plasticity of A urelia sp.1 with that of Hydrozoa and Anthozoa suggests that species characterized by a free-swimming medusa life stage have a high dispersal potential, which probably results in a lower rate of sex reversal.