Mechanisms of sex differentiation and sex reversal in hermaphrodite fish as revealed by the Epinephelus coioides genome. (19th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Shuisheng; Li, Wanshun; Jiang, Shoujia; Jing, Yi; Xiao, Ling; Yu, Yangyang; Liu, Yun; Li, Yanhong; Wang, Dengdong; Li, Jiang; Peng, Cheng; Chen, Jiaxing; Lu, Danqi; Wu, Bin; Guang, Xuanmin; Ma, Junping; You, Xinxin; Yang, Yuqing; Liu, Su; Fang, Xiaodong; Gao, Qiang; Shi, Qiong; Lin, Haoran; Schartl, Manfred; Yue, Zhen; Zhang, Yong
• Is Part Of: Molecular ecology resources. Volume 23:Number 4(2023)
• Page Start: 920
• Page End: 932
• Publication Date: 2023-01-19
• Subjects: chromosome‐level genome assembly -- Epinephelus coioides -- sex differentiation -- sex reversal -- socially controlled sex change -- transcriptomics; Molecular ecology -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13753
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-098X

Abstract

Abstract: Most grouper species are functional protogynous hermaphrodites, but the genetic basis and the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of this unique reproductive strategy remain enigmatic. In this study, we report a high‐quality chromosome‐level genome assembly of the representative orange‐spotted grouper ( Epinephelus coioides ). No duplication or deletion of sex differentiation‐related genes was found in the genome, suggesting that sex development in this grouper may be related to changes in regulatory sequences or environmental factors. Transcriptomic analyses showed that aromatase and retinoic acid are probably critical to promoting ovarian fate determination, and follicle‐stimulating hormone triggers the female‐to‐male sex change. Socially controlled sex‐change studies revealed that, in sex‐changing fish, the brain's response to the social environment may be mediated by activation of the phototransduction cascade and the melatonin synthesis pathway. In summary, our genomic and experimental results provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of sex differentiation and sex change in the protogynous groupers.