AUTHOR=Huo Yingduo , Gu Yang , Cao Mulian , Mao Yingrui , Wang Yayu , Wang Xiaoqiang , Wang Guiling , Li Jiale 

TITLE=Identification and functional analysis of Tex11 and Meig1 in spermatogenesis of Hyriopsis cumingii

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.961773

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2022.961773

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Abstract:</bold> The process of spermatogenesis is complex and controlled by many genes. In mammals, <italic>Testis-expressed gene 11 (Tex11)</italic> and <italic>meiosis expressed gene 1 (Meig1)</italic> are typical spermatogenesis-related genes. In this study, we obtained the full length cDNAs for <italic>Tex11</italic> (3143bp) and <italic>Meig1</italic> (1649bp) in <italic>Hyriopsis cumingii</italic> by cloning<italic>.</italic> Among them, <italic>Hc-Tex11</italic> contains 930 amino acids and <italic>Hc-Meig1</italic> contains 91 amino acids. The protein molecular masses (MW) of <italic>Hc-Tex11</italic> and <italic>Hc-Meig1</italic> were 105.63 kDa and 10.95 kDa, respectively. Protein secondary structure analysis showed that Hc-TEX11 protein has three TPR domains. The expression of <italic>Hc-Tex11</italic> and <italic>Hc-Meig1</italic> in different tissues showed higher levels in testes. At different ages, the expression of <italic>Hc-Tex11</italic> and <italic>Hc-Meig1</italic> was higher levels in 3-year-old male mussels. During spermatogenesis, the mRNA levels of <italic>Hc-Tex11</italic>, <italic>Hc-Meig1</italic> gradually increased with the development of spermatogonia and reached a peak during sperm maturation. <italic>Hc-Tex11</italic> and <italic>Hc-Meig1</italic> mRNA signals were detected on spermatogonia and spermatocytes by <italic>in situ</italic> hybridization. In addition, RNA interference (RNAi) experiments of <italic>Hc-Tex11</italic> caused a down-regulated of <italic>Dmrt1</italic>, <italic>KinaseX</italic>, <italic>Tra-2</italic> and <italic>Klhl10</italic> genes and an up-regulated of <italic>β-catenin</italic> gene. Based on the above experimental results, it can be speculated that <italic>Hc-Tex11</italic> and <italic>Hc-Meig1</italic> are important in the development of the male gonadal and spermatogenesis in <italic>H. cumingii</italic>, which can provide important clues to better comprehend the molecular mechanism of <italic>Tex11</italic> and <italic>Meig1</italic> in regulating spermatogenesis of bivalves.</p>