Table 3.
Expression Patterns of Candidate Genes in Cichlids (Based on qRT-PCR, Calculated after Simon [2003], See Supplementary Material S2, Supplementary Material online).
| Gene | Expression in Astatotilapia burtoni | Expression in Ophthalmotilapia ventralis | Expression in Neolamprologus pulcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ctnnb1Aa, catenin beta A, intracellular signal transducer, part of the wnt-pathway in ovaries | Brain > gonads | Ovary and brain > testis | Ovary and brain > testis |
| ctnnb1B, catenin beta B | Ovary > brain > testis | Ovary > brain > testis | Ovary > female brain > male brain > testis |
| cyp11b2, cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily B polypeptide 2, androgen synthesis, testis factor | Testis > female brain > male brain > ovary | Testis > brain and ovary | Testis > brain > ovary |
| cyp19a1A, aromatase cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A polypeptide 1 A, estrogen synthesis, ovarian aromatase | Ovary > brain and testis | Gonads > brain | Ovary > testis > brain |
| cyp19a1B, aromatase cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A polypeptide 1, brain aromatase | Testis > brain and ovary | Male brain > female brain > gonads | Brain > gonads |
| dax1A, dosage-sensitive sex reversal adrenal hypoplasia critical region on chromosome X gene 1 A, orphan receptor, regulates steroidogenesis, interacts with sf-1 | Ovary > testis > brain | Ovary and brain > testis | Ovary and brain > testis |
| dmrt1, doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 1, male sex/testis differentiation | Testis > ovary | Testis > ovary | Testis > ovary > female brain > male brain |
| figla, factor in the germline alpha, germline transcription factor, acts in folliculogenesis | Ovary > testis | Ovary > testis | Ovary > testis |
| foxl2A, forkhead transcription factor L2 A, transcription factor, regulates cyp19a1A, ovary development and function | Ovary > brain > testis | Ovary > brain > testis | Ovary > brain > testis |
| foxl2B, forkhead transcription factor L2 B, discussed earlier | Gonads | N.A. | N.A. |
| gata4, GATA binding protein 4, transcription factor, gonad development, and function | Ovary > testis | Gonads > brain | Gonads > brain |
| nanos1A, brain and germ cell development | Brain > ovary > testis | Brain > ovary > testis | Brain > ovary > testis |
| nanos1B, discussed earlier | Brain > ovary > testis | Brain > ovary > testis | Brain > gonads |
| nr5a2 (lrh-1), nuclear receptor subfamily 5, group A, member 2, acts in steroidogenesis | Brain > gonads | Brain > gonads | Brain > ovary > testis |
| nr5a5, nuclear receptor subfamily 5, group A, member 5, related to sf-1, gene of the nr5a family, regulation of sterol/steroid metabolism | Not expressed | Brain and ovary | Brain > ovary > testis |
| rspo1, R-spondin-1, activates wnt/beta-catenin pathway in ovary differentiation | Brain > gonads | Brain > testis > ovary | Brain > gonads |
| sf-1 (nr5a1) steroidogenic factor 1, orphan nuclear receptor, gonadal differentiation, regulates steroidogenesis | Gonads > brain | N.A.b | N.A.b |
| sox9A, SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 9 A, transcription factor, regulates amh expression together with sf-1, gonad development, Sox9 is a conserved vertebrate testis factor | Brain > gonads | Brain > ovary > testis | Brain > gonads |
| sox9B, SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 9 B | Ovary > brain > testis | Ovary and brain > testis | Brain > ovary > testis |
| wnt4A, wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 4A, female reproductive development | Ovary > brain > testis | Ovary and brain > testis | N.A.b |
| wnt4B, wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 4B | Brain and testis | Brain and testis > ovary | Brain > testis > ovary |
| wt1A, Wilms tumor 1 A, gonad formation, testis differentiation, interacts with sf-1 | Gonads > brain | Gonads > brain | Ovary > testis > brain |
| wt1B, Wilms tumor 1 B | N.A.b | Gonads > brain | Ovary > testis > male brain > female brain |
Note.—N.A., not applicable.
aA and B denote gene copies derived from the FSGD.
bPrimer do not amplify successfully.