Identification of sex-biased and gonadal developmental miRNAs during critical windows of early gonadal differentiation in the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)

Abstract The Chinese giant salamander (CGS), Andrias davidianus, the largest living amphibian, is of significant conservation importance for its wild populations and serves as a valuable economic species in aquaculture. Given that male CGS are larger than female, understanding the mechanisms behind...

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Main Authors: Shijun Yang, Xinlin Wang, Han Yang, Fan Yan, Lishan Xu, Zhijie Jian, Guangxiang Zhu, Qin Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Genomics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-11419-x
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author Shijun Yang
Xinlin Wang
Han Yang
Fan Yan
Lishan Xu
Zhijie Jian
Guangxiang Zhu
Qin Wang
author_facet Shijun Yang
Xinlin Wang
Han Yang
Fan Yan
Lishan Xu
Zhijie Jian
Guangxiang Zhu
Qin Wang
author_sort Shijun Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The Chinese giant salamander (CGS), Andrias davidianus, the largest living amphibian, is of significant conservation importance for its wild populations and serves as a valuable economic species in aquaculture. Given that male CGS are larger than female, understanding the mechanisms behind gonadal differentiation and development is critical for optimizing production in aquaculture. This study conducted small RNA-seq on male and female gonads during two key differentiation windows in CGS. PCA analysis revealed distinct clustering within groups and clear differentiation between groups. A total of 374 miRNAs were identified, including 162 known and 212 novel miRNAs. Differential expression and enrichment analysis across the two time points identified nine sex-biased miRNAs involved in CGS gonadal differentiation, including let-7b-3p, miR-3529-3p, miR-34c-5p, miR-10-5p, miR-7-5p, and four novel miRNAs, and network of these nine sex-biased miRNAs with their target genes were constructed. Furthermore, our findings suggest that male and female gonadal development processes are likely regulated by distinct miRNAs. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of sex-biased and gonadal development related miRNAs in CGS, offering a theoretical foundation for enhancing CGS aquaculture productivity through targeted sex ratio management.
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spelling doaj-art-5bb26e9048ab4acd8e32d3736dcaf26d2025-08-20T02:56:19ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642025-03-0126111710.1186/s12864-025-11419-xIdentification of sex-biased and gonadal developmental miRNAs during critical windows of early gonadal differentiation in the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)Shijun Yang0Xinlin Wang1Han Yang2Fan Yan3Lishan Xu4Zhijie Jian5Guangxiang Zhu6Qin Wang7College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityAbstract The Chinese giant salamander (CGS), Andrias davidianus, the largest living amphibian, is of significant conservation importance for its wild populations and serves as a valuable economic species in aquaculture. Given that male CGS are larger than female, understanding the mechanisms behind gonadal differentiation and development is critical for optimizing production in aquaculture. This study conducted small RNA-seq on male and female gonads during two key differentiation windows in CGS. PCA analysis revealed distinct clustering within groups and clear differentiation between groups. A total of 374 miRNAs were identified, including 162 known and 212 novel miRNAs. Differential expression and enrichment analysis across the two time points identified nine sex-biased miRNAs involved in CGS gonadal differentiation, including let-7b-3p, miR-3529-3p, miR-34c-5p, miR-10-5p, miR-7-5p, and four novel miRNAs, and network of these nine sex-biased miRNAs with their target genes were constructed. Furthermore, our findings suggest that male and female gonadal development processes are likely regulated by distinct miRNAs. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of sex-biased and gonadal development related miRNAs in CGS, offering a theoretical foundation for enhancing CGS aquaculture productivity through targeted sex ratio management.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-11419-xAndrias davidianusSmall RNA-seqSex-biasedGonadal development
spellingShingle Shijun Yang
Xinlin Wang
Han Yang
Fan Yan
Lishan Xu
Zhijie Jian
Guangxiang Zhu
Qin Wang
Identification of sex-biased and gonadal developmental miRNAs during critical windows of early gonadal differentiation in the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)
BMC Genomics
Andrias davidianus
Small RNA-seq
Sex-biased
Gonadal development
title Identification of sex-biased and gonadal developmental miRNAs during critical windows of early gonadal differentiation in the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)
title_full Identification of sex-biased and gonadal developmental miRNAs during critical windows of early gonadal differentiation in the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)
title_fullStr Identification of sex-biased and gonadal developmental miRNAs during critical windows of early gonadal differentiation in the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)
title_full_unstemmed Identification of sex-biased and gonadal developmental miRNAs during critical windows of early gonadal differentiation in the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)
title_short Identification of sex-biased and gonadal developmental miRNAs during critical windows of early gonadal differentiation in the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)
title_sort identification of sex biased and gonadal developmental mirnas during critical windows of early gonadal differentiation in the chinese giant salamander andrias davidianus
topic Andrias davidianus
Small RNA-seq
Sex-biased
Gonadal development
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-11419-x
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