Shaojun Liu

Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China

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Publications (40)90.89 Total impact

  • Article: Comparative analysis of intermuscular bones in fish of different ploidies.
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    ABSTRACT: We documented the number, morphology, and distribution of intermuscular bones in five fishes of different ploidy: Carassius auratus (Abbr.WCC, 2n=100), Carassius auratus variety PengZe (Abbr.PZCC, 3n=150), improved triploid crucian carp (Abbr.ITCC, 3n=150), improved red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var., Abbr.IRCC, ♀, 2n=100), and improved allotetraploids (Abbr.G×AT, ♂, 4n=200). The number of intermuscular bones in WCC, PZCC, and G×AT ranged from 78 to 83 ([Formula: see text]=81), 80 to 86 ([Formula: see text]=84), and 77 to 84 ([Formula: see text]=82), respectively. The numbers in ITCC and IRCC were significantly lower, ranging from 77 to 82 ([Formula: see text]=79) and 58 to 77 ([Formula: see text]=71), respectively. The average number of intermuscular bones in each sarcomere, ranked in order from highest to lowest, was 0.721 (WCC), 0.673 (PZCC), 0.653 (G×AT), 0.633 (ITCC), and 0.608 (IRCC). There was no difference between ITCC and G×AT or between G×AT and PZCC. However, the average number of intermuscular bones in the sarcomeres of ITCC, WCC, and PZCC differed significantly, as did that of IRCC and the four other kinds of fish. The intermuscular bone of these five fishes was divided into seven shape categories, non-forked (), one-end-unequal-bi-fork (), one-end-equal-bi-fork (Y), one-end-multi-fork, two-end-bi-fork, two-end-multi-fork, and tree-branch types. Generally, the morphological complexity was higher in the anterior intermuscular bones than in the posterior body. The number of intermuscular bones was similar but not equal between the left and right sides of the body. ITCC had significantly fewer intermuscular bones than either WCC or PZCC, making it of greater commercial value. Additionally, IRCC and ITCC had fewer intermuscular bones than WCC. Our observations are significant in both fish bone developmental biology and genetic breeding.
    Science China. Life sciences 04/2013; 56(4):341-50. · 2.02 Impact Factor
  • Article: DNA Methylation Analysis of Allotetraploid Hybrids of Red Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus red var.) and Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).
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    ABSTRACT: Hybridization and polyploidization may lead to divergence in adaptation and boost speciation in angiosperms and some lower animals. Epigenetic change plays a significant role in the formation and adaptation of polyploidy. Studies of the effects of methylation on genomic recombination and gene expression in allopolyploid plants have achieved good progress. However, relevant advances in polyploid animals have been relatively slower. In the present study, we used the bisexual, fertile, genetically stable allotetraploid generated by hybridization of red var. and L. to investigate cytosine methylation level using methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) analysis. We observed 38.31% of the methylation changes in the allotetraploid compared with the parents at 355 randomly selected CCGG sites. In terms of methylation status, these results indicate that the level of methylation modification in the allotetraploid may have increased relative to that in the parents. We also found that the major methylation changes were hypermethylation on some genomic fragments and genes related to metabolism or cell cycle regulation. These results provide circumstantial evidence that DNA methylation might be related to the gene expression and phenotype variation in allotetraploid hybrids. Our study partly fulfils the need for epigenetic research in polyploid animals, and provides evidence for the epigenetic regulation of allopolyploids.
    PLoS ONE 01/2013; 8(2):e56409. · 4.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Elevated expressions of GH/IGF axis genes in triploid crucian carp.
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    ABSTRACT: Growth hormone (GH), growth hormone receptor (GHR) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) are pivotal signaling factors of the GH/IGF axis, which plays a crucial role in regulating growth in vertebrates. In this study, GH, GHR and IGF-1 cDNAs were cloned from triploid and tetraploid crucian carp. In addition, mRNA expression levels were characterized in diploid red crucian carp, triploids and tetraploids. Reverse transcriptase PCR indicated that GH genes were only expressed in the pituitary, while GHR and IGF-1 were widely expressed in all tested tissues. Real-time PCR study of different seasonal profiles showed that triploids had significantly higher expression of the studied genes during both the prespawning and the spawning season. Although different temperatures (22, 26 and 30°C) showed no significant effects on GH, GHR and IGF-1 mRNA expression in either diploids or triploids, triploids had higher expression levels than diploids at each temperature. After 1 week of fasting, the expression of all studied genes was reduced in both diploids and triploids, while the expressions levels were higher in triploids than in diploids. These results suggest that the elevated expression of GH/IGF axis genes in triploids plays a crucial role in the faster growth rate of triploids.
    General and Comparative Endocrinology 06/2012; 178(2):291-300. · 3.27 Impact Factor
  • Article: Characterization and dietary regulation of glutamate dehydrogenase in different ploidy fishes.
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    ABSTRACT: Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) plays a crucial role in amino acid deamination and has been used as an inductor of nutrients metabolism. In this study, we cloned and analyzed the GDH cDNAs in diploids (red crucian carp), triploids and tetraploids and characterized their expression profiles upon dietary treatments. Results showed a high sequence similarity of GDH among the three kinds of ploidy fishes and other vertebrates. Expression analysis revealed that GDH exhibited a distinct spatial pattern of expression in different types of fishes. The triploids and tetraploids had higher levels of expression than diploids in heart, liver, gill, muscle, fore-gut and mid-gut. The GDH expression was also developmentally regulated with a stronger expression around blastula stage. The maternal GDH transcripts were first detected from eggs and their expression dropped down from the gastrula stage to heart beat stage. Adult triploids showed the highest levels of GDH expression in liver during breeding season which may contribute to the good appetite and fast growth. In addition, triploids exhibited high growth rates and excess GDH expression compared with other two types of fishes. The liver GDH enzyme activities were also higher in triploids than red crucian carp and tetraploids. Moreover, GDH expression is regulated by dietary protein levels. Fish fed with either high or low protein diets showed higher levels of GDH expression. In summary, our results demonstrated for the first time that the different ploidy fishes had different patterns of GDH mRNA expression during development, breeding and non-breeding seasons, and as well dietary effects from different protein levels in diet. These data indicate that abundant GDH expression may play an important role in growth rates in triploids.
    Amino Acids 05/2012; · 3.25 Impact Factor
  • Article: Differential expression of Gnrh2, Gthβ, and Gthr genes in sterile triploids and fertile tetraploids
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    ABSTRACT: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), gonadotropin hormone (GTH), and gonadotropin hormone receptor (GTHR) are the pivotal signal molecules of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis, which plays a crucial role in regulating gonadal development in vertebrate. In this study, we comparatively analyze the expression characteristics of Gnrh2, Gthβ, and Gthr in red crucian carp diploids, triploids, and allotetraploids. The expression patterns of these genes are similar in the three fish ploidy types: the Gnrh2 gene is expressed in midbrains, pituitaries, and gonads; the Gthβ gene is expressed in pituitaries; the Gthr gene is mainly expressed in gonads. These results indicate that the three genes participate in the regulation of gonadal development. By real-time polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization, we find that, among these three fish ploidy types, the expression level of Gthr in the gonads of triploids is lower than those of diploids and tetraploids; this weakens the combination of GTHR with GTH released from the pituitary and leads to the sterility of triploids, since the gonad cannot produce enough sex steroids. In addition, the low expression of Gthr in triploids may affect the down-regulation of Gthβ, which then affects the down-regulation of Gnrh2; hence, the expression levels of Gnrh2 and Gthβ genes in triploids are the highest after the breeding season. In conclusion, the differential expression of Gnrh2, Gthβ, and Gthr in triploids and tetraploids is related to their sterility and bisexual fertility, respectively.
    Cell and Tissue Research 04/2012; 338(1):151-159. · 3.11 Impact Factor
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    Article: Rapid growth and sterility of growth hormone gene transgenic triploid carp
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    ABSTRACT: Triploid carp (100%) with 150 (3n=150) chromosomes were obtained by crossing the females of improved tetraploid hybrids (♀, 4n=200) of red crucian carp (♀)×common carp (♂) with the males of diploid yellow river carp (♂, 2n=100). The crosses yielded transgenic triploid carp (positive triploid fish, 44.2% of the progeny) and non-transgenic triploid carp (negative triploid fish). Histological examination of the gonads of 24-month-old positive triploid fish suggested they were sterile and the fish were not able to produce mature gametes during the breeding season. Morphologically, both the positive and negative triploid fish were similar. They had a spindle-shaped, laterally compressed, steel grey body with two pairs of barbells. Most of the quantifiable traits of the triploid carp were intermediate between those of the two parents. The positive and negative triploid fish were raised in the same pond for 2 years. The mean body weight of the positive triploid fish was 2.3 times higher than the negative triploid fish. The weight of the largest positive triploid fish was 2.91 times higher than that of the largest negative triploid fish. Thus, we produced fast-growing transgenic triploid carp that have a reduced ecological risk because of their inability to mate and produce progeny. Keywordstransgene–carp–diploid–triploid–improved tetraploid hybrids of red crucian carp×common carp–sterility–ecological safety
    Chinese Science Bulletin 04/2012; 56(16):1679-1684. · 1.32 Impact Factor
  • Article: Evolutionary analysis of allotetraploid hybrids of red crucian carp × common carp, based on ISSR, AFLP molecular markers and cloning of cyclins genes
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    ABSTRACT: The allotetraploid hybrids of red crucian carp × common carp are the first reported artificially cultured polyploid fish with bisexual fertility and stable inheritance in vertebrate. Using ISSR and AFLP markers and the cyclins genes, the genomes and cyclin gene sequence changes were analyzed between the allotetraploid hybrids and their parents. The results indicated that the allotetraploids inherited many genetic characteristics from their parents and the genetic characteristics were stable after 15 generations. However, the allotetraploids had a closer genetic relationship with their original female parents and represented a bias toward the maternal progenitor. DNA fingerprinting analysis showed that the allotetraploids had undergone sequences deletion from their original parents and that the deleted sequences were mostly from the male parent’s genome. Some non-parental bands were found in the allotetraploid hybrids. Sequences analysis of the cyclin A1 and B1 genes showed nonsynonymous substitutions of single nucleotides in codons that were different from their original parents, leading to non-parental amino acid loci. We speculate that the non-additivity in the allotetraploids, compared with their progenitors, could be an adjustment to the genomic shock from heterozygosity and polyploidy, allowing maintenance of genetic stability.
    Chinese Science Bulletin 04/2012; 54(16):2849-2861. · 1.32 Impact Factor
  • Article: Polyploid organisms.
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    ABSTRACT: Polyploids are organisms with three or more complete chromosome sets. Polyploidization is widespread in plants and animals, and is an important mechanism of speciation. Genome sequencing and related molecular systematics and bioinformatics studies on plants and animals in recent years support the view that species have been shaped by whole genome duplication during evolution. The stability of polyploids depends on rapid genome recombination and changes in gene expression after formation. The formation of polyploids and subsequent diploidization are important aspects in long-term evolution. Polyploids can be formed in various ways. Among them, hybrid organisms formed by distant hybridization could produce unreduced gametes and thus generate offspring with doubled chromosomes, which is a fast, efficient method of polyploidization. The formation of fertile polyploids not only promoted the interflow of genetic materials among species and enriched the species diversity, but also laid the foundation for polyploidy breeding. The study of polyploids has both important theoretical significance and valuable applications. The production and application of polyploidy breeding have brought remarkable economic and social benefits.
    Science China. Life sciences 04/2012; 55(4):301-11. · 2.02 Impact Factor
  • Article: Human chorionic gonadotropin suppresses expression of Piwis in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) ovaries.
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    ABSTRACT: Piwi proteins are required for germline maintenance and gonad development. In this study, the cDNAs encoding Piwil1 and Piwil2 were cloned and sequenced from the common carp. The full-length cDNA of Piwil1 and Piwil2 were 3114 and 3421bp, encoding 858 and 1034 amino acids including PAZ domain and PIWI domain, respectively. In addition, the Piwil1 and Piwil2 proteins shared high homology with other teleosts. Reverse transcriptase PCR revealed that the Piwi mRNAs were exclusively expressed in adult testes and ovaries. Using real-time PCR, expression study of different developmental profiles showed that Piwil1 and Piwil2 were down-regulated during pre-ovulation. Further, human chorionic gonadotropin treatment in ovaries (in vivo) and in cultured ovaries cells (in vitro) resulted in down-regulation of Piwi RNAs. These results suggest that the decreased expression which was regulated by hormone plays a crucial role during ovarian differentiation and development.
    General and Comparative Endocrinology 02/2012; 176(2):126-31. · 3.27 Impact Factor
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    Article: Organization and variation analysis of 5S rDNA in different ploidy-level hybrids of red crucian carp × topmouth culter.
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    ABSTRACT: Through distant crossing, diploid, triploid and tetraploid hybrids of red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var., RCC♀, Cyprininae, 2n = 100) × topmouth culter (Erythroculter ilishaeformis Bleeker, TC♂, Cultrinae, 2n = 48) were successfully produced. Diploid hybrids possessed 74 chromosomes with one set from RCC and one set from TC; triploid hybrids harbored 124 chromosomes with two sets from RCC and one set from TC; tetraploid hybrids had 148 chromosomes with two sets from RCC and two sets from TC. The 5S rDNA of the three different ploidy-level hybrids and their parents were sequenced and analyzed. There were three monomeric 5S rDNA classes (designated class I: 203 bp; class II: 340 bp; and class III: 477 bp) in RCC and two monomeric 5S rDNA classes (designated class IV: 188 bp, and class V: 286 bp) in TC. In the hybrid offspring, diploid hybrids inherited three 5S rDNA classes from their female parent (RCC) and only class IV from their male parent (TC). Triploid hybrids inherited class II and class III from their female parent (RCC) and class IV from their male parent (TC). Tetraploid hybrids gained class II and class III from their female parent (RCC), and generated a new 5S rDNA sequence (designated class I-N). The specific paternal 5S rDNA sequence of class V was not found in the hybrid offspring. Sequence analysis of 5S rDNA revealed the influence of hybridization and polyploidization on the organization and variation of 5S rDNA in fish. This is the first report on the coexistence in vertebrates of viable diploid, triploid and tetraploid hybrids produced by crossing parents with different chromosome numbers, and these new hybrids are novel specimens for studying the genomic variation in the first generation of interspecific hybrids, which has significance for evolution and fish genetics.
    PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(6):e38976. · 4.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Pod1 is involved in the sexual differentiation and gonadal development of the Nile tilapia.
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    ABSTRACT: Pod1 is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors that have been implicated in the regulation of sexual differentiation and gonadal development in mammals. However, to date, little is known about the role of Pod1 in nonmammalian vertebrate gonadogenesis. We cloned and characterized the Pod1 gene from tilapia. The tilapia Pod1 gene contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 525 nucleotides which potentially codes for a protein with 174 amino acids. Sequence alignment revealed that the deduced tilapia protein sequence shared high homology (79.5% to 90.5%) with the Pod1 sequences of other vertebrates. The tissue distribution of Pod1 revealed by RT-PCR showed that it had varied expression patterns in adult tilapia. In situ hybridization was performed to examine the temporal and spatial expression patterns of Pod1 during tilapia sexual differentiation and gonadal development. In the undifferentiated gonad, Pod1 was expressed in the somatic cells of both sexes. Subsequently, Pod1 expression in tilapia persisted in differentiated juvenile and adult ovary and testis. Our data indicate for the first time that Pod1 is not only necessary for the onset of sexual differentiation, but also plays an important role in gonadal development in the teleost.
    Science China. Life sciences 11/2011; 54(11):1005-10. · 2.02 Impact Factor
  • Article: Black carp growth hormone gene transgenic allotetraploid hybrids of Carassius auratus red var. (♀)×Cyprinus carpio (♂).
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    ABSTRACT: Ecological safety is a major consideration in the commercialization of transgenic fish. Development of sterile transgenic triploid fish through hybridization of transgenic tetraploid fish and transgenic diploid fish is a feasible way to solve this problem. The "all-fish" transgene, pbcAbcGHc, containing the black carp β-actin gene promoter and the open reading frame (ORF) of the black carp growth hormone (GH) gene was constructed and introduced into fertilized eggs of allotetraploid fish through microinjection. Contrast cultivation results showed that the growth rate of 150 day-old P(0) black carp GH gene transgenic allotetraploid fish was much higher than that of controls. Sixty 150 day-old transgenic allotetraploid fish were assayed by PCR for transgene integration and 90% of fish were positive for the transgene. The transgene was detected in 13 of 20 sperm samples from male transgenic allotetraploid fish. RT-PCR detected transcription of the exogenous black carp GH gene in the muscle, liver, kidney and ovaries of the largest transgenic allotetraploid fish. This study has developed P(0) black carp GH gene transgenic allotetraploid fish with a highly increased growth rate, which provides a solid foundation for the establishment of a pure line of transgenic allotetraploid fish and for the large scale production of sterile transgenic triploid fish.
    Science China. Life sciences 08/2011; 54(9):822-7. · 2.02 Impact Factor
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    Article: Coexistence of diploid, triploid and tetraploid crucian carp (Carassius auratus) in natural waters.
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    ABSTRACT: Crucian carp (abbreviated CC) belongs to the genus of Carassius within the family of Cyprinidae. It has been one of the most important freshwater species for Chinese aquaculture and is especially abundant in the Dongting water system of Hunan province. CC used to be considered as all diploid forms. However, coexistence of diploid (abbreviated 2nCC), triploid (abbreviated 3nCC) and tetraploid crucian carp (abbreviated 4nCC) population of the Dongting water system was first found by our recently researches. We examined the ploidy level and compared biological characteristics in different ploidy CC. In reproductive mode, 2nCC was bisexual generative and 4nCC generated all-female offspring by gynogenesis. However, 3nCC generated progenies in two different ways. 3nCC produced bisexual triploid offspring fertilized with 3nCC spermatozoa, while it produced all-female triploid offspring by gynogenesis when its ova were activated by heterogenous spermatozoa. The complete mitochondrial DNA of three different ploidy fishes was sequenced and analyzed, suggesting no significant differences. Interestingly, microchromosomes were found only in 3nCC, which were concluded to be the result of hybridization. Allogenetic DNA fragments of Sox genes were obtained in 3nCC and 4nCC, which were absent in 2nCC. Phylogenetics analysis based on Sox4 gene indicated 3nCC and 4nCC formed a separate group from 2nCC. In summary, this is the first report of the co-existence of three types of different ploidy crucian carps in natural waters in China. It was proved that the coexistence of different ploidy CC was reproductively maintained. We further hypothesized that 3nCC and 4nCC were allopolyploids that resulted from hybridization. The different ploidy CC population we obtained in this study possesses great significance for the study of polyploidization and the evolution of vertebrates.
    BMC Genetics 01/2011; 12(1):20. · 2.47 Impact Factor
  • Article: Induced gynogenesis in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) using irradiated sperm of allotetraploid hybrids.
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    ABSTRACT: Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) eggs were activated by UV-irradiated diploid sperm of allotetraploid hybrids derived from red crucian carp (♀) × common carp (♂) and then duplicated by cold shock in 4-6°C water for 10-12 min. Different cold shock initiation times resulted in two types of diploid gynogenetic grass carp: meiotic gynogenetic (meiG) and mitotic gynogenetic (mitG). Over a 5-year period, a total of 17,170 meiG and 1,080 mitG fry were produced and 6,862 meiG and 372 mitG grass carp survived. The gynogenetic fish were confirmed by morphological characteristics, chromosome examination, and microsatellite DNA analysis. The morphological traits of the gynogenetic grass carp were similar to those of wild diploid grass carp. Normal gynogenetic fish were identified as diploid with 48 chromosomes by chromosomal metaphases examination, while nonviable abnormal embryos were detected as haploid with 24 chromosomes. Microsatellite DNA analysis indicated that after one generation of gynogenesis, the genetic purity of meiG and mitG grass carp was significantly increased over that of wild grass carp. In addition, both meiG and mitG grass carp groups were 100% female, and 88% of these showed normal ovary development. Thus, the sex determination mechanism in female grass carp was homogamety. The ability to establish pure all-female groups of meiG and mitG grass carp should be a valuable contribution to both fish genetics and grass carp breeding.
    Marine Biotechnology 01/2011; 13(5):1017-26. · 3.43 Impact Factor
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    Article: Massive production of all-female diploids and triploids in the crucian carp.
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    ABSTRACT: In many species of aquaculture importance, all-female and sterile populations possess superior productivity due to faster growth and a relatively homogenous size of individuals. However, the production of all-female and sterile fish in a large scale for aquaculture is a challenge in practice, because treatments necessary for gynogenesis induction usually cause massive embryonic and larval mortality, and the number of induced gynogens is too small for their direct use in aquaculture. Here we report the massive production of all-female triploid crucian carp by combining artificial gynogenesis, sex reversal and diploid-tetraploid hybridization. Previously, we have obtained an allotetraploid carp population (4n = 200) by hybridization between red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var; ♀) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio; ♂). We induced all-female diploid gynogens of the Japanese crucian carp (Carassius cuvieri; 2n = 100). We also generated male diploid gynogens of the same species treated gynogenetic fry with 17-α-methyltestosterone, leading to the production of sex-revered gynogenetic males. Finally, these males were used to cross with the female diploid Japanese crucian carp gynogens and the allotetraploid females, resulting in the production of fertile all-female diploid Japanese crucian carp (2n=100) and sterile all-female triploid hybrids (3n = 150), respectively. Therefore, diploid crucian carp gynogenetic females and sex-reversed male together with an allotetraploid line provide an opportunity to produce all-female triploid populations in a large scale to meet demands in aquaculture industry.
    International journal of biological sciences 01/2011; 7(4):487-95. · 2.70 Impact Factor
  • Article: Analysis of 5S rDNA organization and variation in polyploid hybrids from crosses of different fish subfamilies.
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    ABSTRACT: In this article, sequence analysis of the coding region (5S) and adjacent nontranscribed spacer (NTS) were conducted in red crucian carp (RCC), blunt snout bream (BSB), and their polyploid offspring. Three monomeric 5S rDNA classes (designated class I: 203 bp; class II: 340 bp; and class III: 477 bp) of RCC were characterized by distinct NTS types (designated NTS-I, II, and III for the 83, 220, and 357 bp monomers, respectively). In BSB, only one monomeric 5S rDNA was observed (designated class IV: 188 bp), which was characterized by one NTS type (designated NTS-IV: 68 bp). In the polyploid offspring, the tetraploid (4nRB) hybrids partially inherited 5S rDNA classes from their female parent (RCC); however, they also possessed a unique 5S rDNA sequence (designated class I-L: 203 bp) with a novel NTS sequence (designated NTS-I-L: 83 bp). The characteristic paternal 5S rDNA sequences (class IV) were not observed. The 5S rDNA of triploid (3nRB) hybrids was completely inherited from the parental species, and generally preserved the parental 5S rDNA structural organization. These results first revealed the influence of polyploidy on the organization and evolution of the multigene family of 5S rDNA of fish, and are also useful in clarifying aspects of vertebrate genome evolution.
    Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B Molecular and Developmental Evolution 07/2010; 314(5):403-11. · 2.42 Impact Factor
  • Article: Isolation and expression analyses of the Sox9a gene in triploid crucian carp.
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    ABSTRACT: To investigate the evolutional significance of Sox9 in fish, we isolated and characterized Sox9a cDNA and genomic clones in triploid crucian carp. The cDNA encoded a protein of 457 amino acids with an HMG box and showed more than 60% amino acid sequence identity with known vertebrate Sox9 proteins. Triploid crucian carp and vertebrate Sox9s showed similar gene structure, and two introns in the coding region were located at conserved positions. On the basis of the amino acid sequences, Sox9a can be categorized into the same subgroup of Sox-E proteins as Sox8, 9, and 10. Interestingly, the expression of triploid crucian carp Sox9a was predominantly observed not in the ovary but in the testis by Northern blot and RT-PCR analysis. The expression analysis of Sox9a suggested that it may seldom contribute to the formation of normal functions of spermatozoa, but it may play an important role in the development of testicular tubules. Besides the testicular expression, Sox9a was also shown to be expressed in many other tissues including the brain, kidney, and heart of triploid crucian carp, indicating that Sox9 may have unique functions in some specific tissues during development.
    Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 06/2010; 36(2):125-33. · 1.53 Impact Factor
  • Article: Distant hybridization leads to different ploidy fishes.
    ShaoJun Liu
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    ABSTRACT: Distant hybridization makes it possible to transfer the genome of one species to another, which results in changes in phenotypes and genotypes of the progenies. This study shows that distant hybridization or the combination of this method with gynogenesis or androgenesis lead to different ploidy fishes with genetic variation, including fertile tetraploid hybrids, sterile triploid hybrids, fertile diploid hybrids, fertile diploid gynogenetic fish, and their derived progenies. The formations of the different ploidy fishes depend on the genetic relationship between the parents. In this study, several types of distant hybridization, including red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var.) (2n=100, abbreviated as RCC) (female) x common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) (2n=100, abbreviated as CC) (male), and RCC (2n=100) (female) x blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) (2n=48, abbreviated as BSB) (male) are described. In the distant hybridization of RCC (female) x CC (male), bisexual fertile F(3)-F(18) allotetraploid hybrids (4n=200, abbreviated as 4nAT) were formed. The diploid hybrid eggs and diploid sperm generated by the females and males of 4nAT developed into diploid gynogenetic hybrids and diploid androgenetic hybrids, respectively, by gynogenesis and androgenesis, without treatment for doubling the chromosome. Improved tetraploid hybrids and improved diploid fishes with genetic variation were derived from the gynogenetic hybrid line. The improved diploid fishes included the high-body RCC and high-body goldfish. The formation of the tetraploid hybrids was related to the occurrence of unreduced gametes generated from the diploid hybrids, which involved in premeiotic endoreduplication, endomitosis, or fusion of germ cells. The sterile triploid hybrids (3n=150) were produced on a large scale by crossing the males of tetraploid hybrids with females of diploid fish (2n=100). In another distant hybridization of RCC (female) x BSB (male), different ploidy fishes were obtained, including diploid bisexual fertile natural gynogenetic fish (2n=100), sterile triploid hybrids (3n=124), and bisexual fertile tetraploid hybrids (4n=148). Furthermore, two kinds of pentaploid hybrids (5n=172 and 5n=198) were formed. The biological characteristics and the mechanisms of formation of the different ploidy fish were compared and discussed at the cellular and molecular level. The results indicated distant hybridization or the combination of this method with gynogenesis or androgenesis affects the formation of different ploidy fish with genetic variation.
    Science China. Life sciences 04/2010; 53(4):416-25. · 2.02 Impact Factor
  • Article: Characterization of a novel Tc1-like transposon from bream (Cyprinidae, Megalobrama) and its genetic variation in the polyploidy progeny of bream-red crucian carp crosses.
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    ABSTRACT: Crossing the cyprinids diploid blunt snout bream Megalobrama amblycephala (BSB) and Carassius auratus red var. (RCC) generated sterile triploid (3nRB) and fertile tetraploid (4nRB) hybrid offspring. Utilizing inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) of transposon Tdr1 from Danio rerio as PCR primer, the results showed that evident change in the number of Tc1-like transposons in 4nRB relative to BSB occurred, whereas such change did not arise in 3nRB compared to BSB. No Tc1-like transposon was found in RCC. A novel transposon was isolated from both BSB and 3nRB and designated as Tma1, which consisted of multiple copies after dot-blot hybridization. Based on the analysis of PCR amplified flanking sequence, characterization of Tma1 indicated that this element flanked by a duplicated TA dinucleotide and harbored an ITR of about 224 bp. Tma1 also harbored an incomplete transposase gene. Another novel transposon designated as Tte1 was detected in 4nRB, which harbored an ITR of roughly 130 bp and consisted of multiple copies, but had no transposase gene. The analysis of PCR amplification and Southern blot hybridization showed that DNAs of 4nRB, which were hybridized to DIG-labeled pTma1, did not give band by PCR with Tma1 primer, on the other hand, 7 of 15 DNA samples from BSB, which were hybridized to DIG-labeled pTte1, did not produce band by PCR with Tte1 primer. These results suggest that Tte1 may be a recent invasion in BSB population and burst in 4nRB offspring. Our data provide clues as to the possible role of transposons as a driving mechanism for genomic evolution.
    Journal of Molecular Evolution 10/2009; 69(4):395-403. · 2.27 Impact Factor
  • Article: Biological characteristics of an improved triploid crucian carp.
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    ABSTRACT: An improved triploid crucian carp (ITCC) was produced by crossing improved tetraploids (G1xAT, male symbol) with improved red crucian carp (IRCC, female symbol), which were obtained by distant crossing and gynogenesis. The biological characteristics of ITCC, including the number and karyotype of chromosomes, gonadad and pituitary structures, phenotype, and growth rate are reported. ITCC possessed 150 chromosomes with the karyotype 33m+51sm+33st+33t. In the breeding season, both ovary-like and testis-like gonads of ITCC were unable to produce normal mature gametes. The ultrastructure of the pituitary of ITCC showed that most of the endocrine granules in gonadotrophic hormone (GTH) cells had not been released, providing endocrinological evidence for the sterility of ITCC. Compared with triploid crucian carp (TCC) produced by mating Japanese crucian carp with allotetraploid hybrids, ITCC not only retained the excellent traits of fast growth rate and sterility, but also acquired improved morphological characteristics, including higher body, shorter tail and smaller head.
    Science in China Series C Life Sciences 09/2009; 52(8):733-8. · 1.61 Impact Factor