Title: Cloning and characterization of a vasa homolog in the giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) and its specifically expression in gonad
Abstract:
The vasa gene has been the most used as a gene marker for germ cell in vertebrate; particularly in fish. This study cloned and characterized a vasa homolog in the giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) and designated as Elvasa. Our result showed that Elvasa contained predicted regions that shared consensus motifs with the vasa family in teleosts, including arginine-glycine (RG) repeats, arginine-glycine-glycine (RGG) repeats, ATPase motifs, and a DEAD box. Phylogenetic-tree analysis showed that Elvasa was located on a branch of the tree of vasa family and clearly distinct from PL-10. Reverse transcription PCR was performed to determine tissue distribution of Elvasa. Our result showed that, using cDNA preparations from the heart, liver, spleen, intestine, kidney, muscle, and gonad (ovary and intersex), Elvasa transcript was detected only in gonads. Histological examination and in situ hybridization were performed in ovary, and the results showed strong positive signals for Elvasa in primary oocytes
