Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhao, Haixia, Xiao, Yongshuang, Xiao, Zhizhong, Li, Jun, Xu, Shihong, Jiang, Wei
Format: Artículo científico
Language:en
Published: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40997582/
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1868266149477613568
author Zhao, Haixia
Xiao, Yongshuang
Xiao, Zhizhong
Li, Jun
Xu, Shihong
Jiang, Wei
author_facet Zhao, Haixia
Xiao, Yongshuang
Xiao, Zhizhong
Li, Jun
Xu, Shihong
Jiang, Wei
Zhao, Haixia
Xiao, Yongshuang
Xiao, Zhizhong
Li, Jun
Xu, Shihong
Jiang, Wei
collection PubMed - marine biology
contents Systematic analysis of Wnt family genes reveals the potential role of Wnt4 in driving female differentiation in Spotted knifejaw. Zhao, Haixia Xiao, Yongshuang Xiao, Zhizhong Li, Jun Xu, Shihong Jiang, Wei Animals Female Wnt4 Protein Sex Differentiation Male Phylogeny Fishes Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Wnt family genes encode secreted glycoproteins that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and organ growth. While much research has focused on species with standard chromosomal systems, there is a lack of studies on marine fish species like Spotted knifejaw (Oplegnathus punctatus), which possess a multiple sex chromosome system (XXXX/XXY). We employed a combination of whole-genome scanning of the Wnt family, and qPCR analyses, RNAi knockdown to assess the specific contribution of wnt4 to female sexual development. We identified 16 Wnt genes in the Spotted knifejaw, with OpWnt2, OpWnt3, OpWnt4, OpWnt7, OpWnt8, OpWnt9, and OpWnt10 exhibiting two genotypes in females, while OpWnt4 and OpWnt9 had only one sequence in males. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the Wnt family into three clusters: OpWnt2/OpWnt5, OpWnt1/OpWnt6/OpWnt4, and OpWnt3/OpWnt8/OpWnt10/OpWnt7/OpWnt9/OpWnt11/OpWnt16. All members of the Wnt family contain a Wnt1 domain. Wnt4 showed higher expression in female ovaries (5-40 dph) compared to males and may act upstream of foxl2, which also regulates female differentiation. Chromosomal localization of Opwnt4 was found on female chromosome 3 and male heterozygous chromosome 1. Knockdown of wnt4 upregulated male-biased genes (amh, dmrt1, sox9a) while enhancing female-biased genes (foxl2, cyp19a, cyp19b), indicating that Opwnt4 synergistically regulates female differentiation and antagonizes male pathways. This study provides new insights into wnt4's role in sexual differentiation and lays the foundation for future research on sex chromosome systems in marine fish.
format Artículo científico
id pubmed_40997582
institution PubMed
language en
publishDate 2025
publisher Biochemical and biophysical research communications
record_format pubmed
spellingShingle Systematic analysis of Wnt family genes reveals the potential role of Wnt4 in driving female differentiation in Spotted knifejaw.
Zhao, Haixia
Xiao, Yongshuang
Xiao, Zhizhong
Li, Jun
Xu, Shihong
Jiang, Wei
Animals
Female
Wnt4 Protein
Sex Differentiation
Male
Phylogeny
Fishes
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Systematic analysis of Wnt family genes reveals the potential role of Wnt4 in driving female differentiation in Spotted knifejaw. Zhao, Haixia Xiao, Yongshuang Xiao, Zhizhong Li, Jun Xu, Shihong Jiang, Wei Animals Female Wnt4 Protein Sex Differentiation Male Phylogeny Fishes Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Wnt family genes encode secreted glycoproteins that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and organ growth. While much research has focused on species with standard chromosomal systems, there is a lack of studies on marine fish species like Spotted knifejaw (Oplegnathus punctatus), which possess a multiple sex chromosome system (XXXX/XXY). We employed a combination of whole-genome scanning of the Wnt family, and qPCR analyses, RNAi knockdown to assess the specific contribution of wnt4 to female sexual development. We identified 16 Wnt genes in the Spotted knifejaw, with OpWnt2, OpWnt3, OpWnt4, OpWnt7, OpWnt8, OpWnt9, and OpWnt10 exhibiting two genotypes in females, while OpWnt4 and OpWnt9 had only one sequence in males. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the Wnt family into three clusters: OpWnt2/OpWnt5, OpWnt1/OpWnt6/OpWnt4, and OpWnt3/OpWnt8/OpWnt10/OpWnt7/OpWnt9/OpWnt11/OpWnt16. All members of the Wnt family contain a Wnt1 domain. Wnt4 showed higher expression in female ovaries (5-40 dph) compared to males and may act upstream of foxl2, which also regulates female differentiation. Chromosomal localization of Opwnt4 was found on female chromosome 3 and male heterozygous chromosome 1. Knockdown of wnt4 upregulated male-biased genes (amh, dmrt1, sox9a) while enhancing female-biased genes (foxl2, cyp19a, cyp19b), indicating that Opwnt4 synergistically regulates female differentiation and antagonizes male pathways. This study provides new insights into wnt4's role in sexual differentiation and lays the foundation for future research on sex chromosome systems in marine fish.
title Systematic analysis of Wnt family genes reveals the potential role of Wnt4 in driving female differentiation in Spotted knifejaw.
topic Animals
Female
Wnt4 Protein
Sex Differentiation
Male
Phylogeny
Fishes
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
url https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40997582/