Insulin and gender: An insulin-like gene expressed exclusively in the androgenic gland of the male crayfish

R Manor; S Weil; S Oren; L Glazer; E D Aflalo; Tomer Ventura; V Chalifa-Caspi; M Lapidot; A Sagi

doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2006.09.006

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Insulin and gender: An insulin-like gene expressed exclusively in the androgenic gland of the male crayfish

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Insulin and gender: An insulin-like gene expressed exclusively in the androgenic gland of the male crayfish

R Manor, S Weil, S Oren, L Glazer, E D Aflalo, Tomer Ventura, V Chalifa-Caspi, M Lapidot and A Sagi

General and Comparative Endocrinology, Vol.150(2), pp.326-336

2007

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2006.09.006

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Abstract

Zoology

Physiology

Veterinary Sciences

androgenic gland

cDNA library

cherax quadricarinatus

crayfish

crustacea

decapoda

differential expression

Cq-IAG

insulin-like

suppression subtractive hybridization

Members of the insulin family of hormones are generally not regarded as gender-specific, although there is sporadic evidence for the possible involvement of insulin pathways in sexual differentiation. In crustaceans, sexual differentiation is controlled by the androgenic gland (AG), an organ unique to males. To date, attempts to identify active AG factors in decapods through either classical purification methods or sequence similarity with isopod AG hormones have proven unsuccessful. In the present study, the first subtractive cDNA library from a decapod AG was constructed from the red-claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus. During library screening, an AG-specific gene, expressed exclusively in males even at early stages of maturation and termed Cq-IAG (C. quadricarinatus insulin-like AG factor), was discovered. In situ hybridization of Cq-IAG confirmed the exclusive localization of its expression to the AG. Following cloning and complete sequencing of the gene, its cDNA was found to contain 1445 nucleotides encoding a deduced translation product of 176 amino acids. The proposed protein sequence encompasses Cys residue and putative cleaved peptide patterns whose linear and 3D organization are similar to those of members of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor/relaxin family and their receptor recognition surface. The identification of Cq-IAG is the first report of a pro-insulin-like gene expressed in a decapod crustacean in a gender-specific manner. Its expression in a male-specific endocrine gland controlling sex differentiation supports the notion that insulin may have evolved in the context of regulating sexual differentiation.

Details

Title: Insulin and gender: An insulin-like gene expressed exclusively in the androgenic gland of the male crayfish
Authors: R Manor (Author) - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
S Weil (Author) - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
S Oren (Author) - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
L Glazer (Author) - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
E D Aflalo (Author) - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
Tomer Ventura (Author) - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
V Chalifa-Caspi (Author) - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
M Lapidot (Author) - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
A Sagi (Author) - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
Publication details: General and Comparative Endocrinology, Vol.150(2), pp.326-336
Publisher: Academic Press
Date published: 2007
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2006.09.006
ISSN: 0016-6480
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450403102621
Output Type: Journal article

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