The Function of Heat Shock Transcription Factors in Sex Differentiation in <i>Cynoglossus semilaevis</i>
Chinese tongue sole (<i>Cynoglossus semilaevis</i>) is an important marine fish in China. It has sexual dimorphism. The weight and growth rate of female fish are much greater than those of male fish. However, high temperatures can induce sex reversal in genetic female fish (ZW) to phenot...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Zhijie Li Xuexue Sun Haipeng Yan Lijun Wang Xihong Li Na Wang Min Wei Wenteng Xu |
| author_facet | Zhijie Li Xuexue Sun Haipeng Yan Lijun Wang Xihong Li Na Wang Min Wei Wenteng Xu |
| author_sort | Zhijie Li |
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| description | Chinese tongue sole (<i>Cynoglossus semilaevis</i>) is an important marine fish in China. It has sexual dimorphism. The weight and growth rate of female fish are much greater than those of male fish. However, high temperatures can induce sex reversal in genetic female fish (ZW) to phenotypic male fish; thus, identifying the genetic elements involved in temperature perception will provide the molecular basis for sex control. The heat shock transcription factor (<i>hsf</i>) is known as an important component of temperature sensing and mediates the heat shock response in fish such as <i>Danio rerio</i>; however, its function in <i>C. semilaevis</i> is unclear. In this study, five <i>hsf</i> genes (<i>hsf1</i>, <i>hsf2</i>, <i>hsf4</i>, <i>hsf5a</i>, and <i>hsf5b</i>) were identified in tongue sole and found to be expressed in the gonads at different developmental stages, peaking from 7M to 1Y. Gonadal in situ hybridization revealed that <i>hsf</i> gene signals were mainly localized in germ cells, e.g., sperm in the testis and all-stage oocytes in the ovary. Upon high-temperature stimulation, the expression of the <i>hsf</i> gene in the gonads increased gradually with increasing stimulation time, but different <i>hsf</i> genes presented different response patterns. After the RNA interference of <i>hsf</i> in the testis and ovarian cell lines, a series of sex-related genes, such as <i>foxl2</i> and <i>dmrt1</i>, significantly changed. In vivo RNA interference had an effect on the female gonads and mainly affected <i>neurl3</i> expression. On the basis of these data, we speculate that <i>hsf</i> responds to temperature stimulation and plays an important role in sex differentiation. This study helps elucidate the relationship between temperature sensing and sex differentiation in <i>C. semilaevis</i>. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-66fe1c46abab4d5aa141336d5e1b66c82025-08-20T03:47:48ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-05-011510144310.3390/ani15101443The Function of Heat Shock Transcription Factors in Sex Differentiation in <i>Cynoglossus semilaevis</i>Zhijie Li0Xuexue Sun1Haipeng Yan2Lijun Wang3Xihong Li4Na Wang5Min Wei6Wenteng Xu7School of Marine Science and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaSchool of Marine Science and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaChinese tongue sole (<i>Cynoglossus semilaevis</i>) is an important marine fish in China. It has sexual dimorphism. The weight and growth rate of female fish are much greater than those of male fish. However, high temperatures can induce sex reversal in genetic female fish (ZW) to phenotypic male fish; thus, identifying the genetic elements involved in temperature perception will provide the molecular basis for sex control. The heat shock transcription factor (<i>hsf</i>) is known as an important component of temperature sensing and mediates the heat shock response in fish such as <i>Danio rerio</i>; however, its function in <i>C. semilaevis</i> is unclear. In this study, five <i>hsf</i> genes (<i>hsf1</i>, <i>hsf2</i>, <i>hsf4</i>, <i>hsf5a</i>, and <i>hsf5b</i>) were identified in tongue sole and found to be expressed in the gonads at different developmental stages, peaking from 7M to 1Y. Gonadal in situ hybridization revealed that <i>hsf</i> gene signals were mainly localized in germ cells, e.g., sperm in the testis and all-stage oocytes in the ovary. Upon high-temperature stimulation, the expression of the <i>hsf</i> gene in the gonads increased gradually with increasing stimulation time, but different <i>hsf</i> genes presented different response patterns. After the RNA interference of <i>hsf</i> in the testis and ovarian cell lines, a series of sex-related genes, such as <i>foxl2</i> and <i>dmrt1</i>, significantly changed. In vivo RNA interference had an effect on the female gonads and mainly affected <i>neurl3</i> expression. On the basis of these data, we speculate that <i>hsf</i> responds to temperature stimulation and plays an important role in sex differentiation. This study helps elucidate the relationship between temperature sensing and sex differentiation in <i>C. semilaevis</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1443Chinese tongue sole<i>hsf</i>sex differentiationexpression patternsiRNA knockdown |
| spellingShingle | Zhijie Li Xuexue Sun Haipeng Yan Lijun Wang Xihong Li Na Wang Min Wei Wenteng Xu The Function of Heat Shock Transcription Factors in Sex Differentiation in <i>Cynoglossus semilaevis</i> Animals Chinese tongue sole <i>hsf</i> sex differentiation expression pattern siRNA knockdown |
| title | The Function of Heat Shock Transcription Factors in Sex Differentiation in <i>Cynoglossus semilaevis</i> |
| title_full | The Function of Heat Shock Transcription Factors in Sex Differentiation in <i>Cynoglossus semilaevis</i> |
| title_fullStr | The Function of Heat Shock Transcription Factors in Sex Differentiation in <i>Cynoglossus semilaevis</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Function of Heat Shock Transcription Factors in Sex Differentiation in <i>Cynoglossus semilaevis</i> |
| title_short | The Function of Heat Shock Transcription Factors in Sex Differentiation in <i>Cynoglossus semilaevis</i> |
| title_sort | function of heat shock transcription factors in sex differentiation in i cynoglossus semilaevis i |
| topic | Chinese tongue sole <i>hsf</i> sex differentiation expression pattern siRNA knockdown |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1443 |
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