Cloning and expression profiling of gsdf and amh genes in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea)

In this study, the gonadal soma derived factor (gsdf) and anti-Müllerian hormone (amh) were cloned from Larimichthys crocea, and their expression patterns were analysed by qRT-PCR. The results shows that the open reading frame (ORF) of gsdf gene spaned a region of 618 bp and coded 205 amino acids with a signal peptide and a conserved domain of the TGF-β superfamily. Sequence alignment analysis reveals that the gsdf of L.crocea and Dicentrarchus labrax shared the highest homology. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the fish Gsdf proteins had a clade separated from the rest members of the TGF-β superfamily. The ORF of amh gene spaned a region of 1 563 bp and coded 520 amino acids that contained a signal peptide, an AMH-N domain and a TGF-β conserved domain. Phylogenetic analysis shows that Amh proteins of L.crocea and D.labrax had the nearest relationship. The qPCR analysis reveals that gsdf and amh genes were expressed mainly in gonad, and the expression levels in testis were significantly higher than that in ovary (P < 0.05). Before the gonad differentiation, gsdf and amh genes had already expressed, and the expression levels of two genes showed an increase-decrease trend in testis whereas the expression levels were very low in ovaries. Besides, compared with normal females, the expressions of two genes had more significant expression in gonad of pseudo-males (genetic females). It is indicated that gsdf and amh genes play a very important role in the process of L.crocea gonad differentiation.