Lei Yaling, Jiao Kaizhi, Huang Yuanqing, Wu Yuwei, Shi Gang, Shi Hongjuan, Chen Huapu, Deng Siping, Li Guangli, Tao Wenjing, Jiang Dongneng
Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Aquaculture Environment of Zhanjiang, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
Animals (Basel). 2025 May 27;15(11):1564. doi: 10.3390/ani15111564.
The () is a valuable aquaculture species in southern China, with females exhibiting significantly faster growth rates than males. However, the limited understanding of its sex determination and differentiation mechanisms poses challenges for sex-controlled breeding. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), key post-transcriptional regulators, are known to modulate critical pathways governing sex determination and differentiation across several vertebrates. However, there is currently no research on miRNAs related to sex determination and differentiation in . In this study, we analyzed the expression profiles of miRNA and mRNA in the gonads of adult using high-throughput sequencing. Our analysis identified 2210 miRNAs, including 482 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) between sexes. These DEMs targeted 3340 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), generating 13,773 regulatory interaction pairs. The expression of some DEGs related to sex determination and differentiation was found to be either positively or negatively correlated with expression of DEMs that might regulate them. The novel_miR_110/, novel_miR_802/, and novel_miR_1263/Gdf9 show opposing differential expression trends, whereas sar-miR-143-5p-4/, sar-miR-143-5p-5/, and novel_miR_379/ show consistent trends. The regulatory relationship between miRNA and gene in the gonads does not seem to be conserved among different fish species. This work advances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the sexual dimorphism of gonadal gene expression in . The identified miRNA-gene interactions may serve as potential targets for future sex-control strategies, contributing to advancements in aquaculture practices for this species.
（该物种）是中国南方一种有价值的水产养殖品种，雌性的生长速度明显快于雄性。然而，对其性别决定和分化机制的了解有限，给性别控制育种带来了挑战。微小RNA（miRNA）是关键的转录后调节因子，已知在多种脊椎动物中调节控制性别决定和分化的关键途径。然而，目前尚无关于（该物种）中与性别决定和分化相关的miRNA的研究。在本研究中，我们使用高通量测序分析了成年（该物种）性腺中miRNA和mRNA的表达谱。我们的分析鉴定出2210个miRNA，包括482个在两性之间差异表达的miRNA（DEM）。这些DEM靶向3340个差异表达基因（DEG），产生了13773个调控相互作用对。发现一些与性别决定和分化相关的DEG的表达与可能调节它们的DEM的表达呈正相关或负相关。新型_miR_110/、新型_miR_802/和新型_miR_1263/Gdf9呈现相反的差异表达趋势，而sar-miR-143-5p-4/、sar-miR-143-5p-5/和新型_miR_379/呈现一致的趋势。不同鱼类性腺中miRNA与基因之间的调控关系似乎并不保守。这项工作增进了我们对（该物种）性腺基因表达性别二态性潜在分子机制的理解。所鉴定的miRNA-基因相互作用可能作为未来性别控制策略的潜在靶点，有助于推动该物种水产养殖实践的进步。
