Integrated analysis of microRNA and mRNA expression profiles during the sex-differentiation sensitive period in oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense.

Male oriental river prawns (Macrobrachium nipponense) grow faster than females, and therefore, reach larger sizes by harvest time. Histological observations have indicated that the sex-differentiation sensitive period (which includes the formation of the androgenic gland, the testis, and the ovary) is from post-larvae (PL) developmental stage for M. nipponense. In this study, we prepared four microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA libraries using samples collected from sex-differentiation sensitive period (PL7 to PL16) to perform RNA-sequencing for identifying sex-related candidate miRNAs, genes, and metabolic pathways. A total of nine intersection miRNAs were identified, of which three were highly expressed in the androgenic gland, and their expression was verified by quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR). These three miRNAs and their 11 predicted target genes may be strong candidates for sex-related miRNAs and sex-related genes in M. nipponense. Five vital sex-related metabolic pathways were also identified that may regulate other sex-differentiation and sex-determination mechanisms. Finding of the study provide important insights to enhance our understanding on sex-differentiation and sex-determination mechanisms for M. nipponense.

雄性日本沼虾（Macrobrachium nipponense）比雌性生长更快，因此在收获时体型更大。组织学观察表明，日本沼虾的性别分化敏感期（包括雄性腺、精巢和卵巢的形成）从仔虾后期（PL）发育阶段开始。在本研究中，我们利用从性别分化敏感期（PL7至PL16）采集的样本制备了四个微小RNA（miRNA）和信使RNA（mRNA）文库，以进行RNA测序，从而鉴定与性别相关的候选miRNA、基因和代谢途径。共鉴定出9个交集miRNA，其中3个在雄性腺中高表达，并且通过实时定量聚合酶链反应（qPCR）验证了它们的表达。这3个miRNA及其11个预测的靶基因可能是日本沼虾中与性别相关的miRNA和性别相关基因的有力候选者。还鉴定出5个重要的与性别相关的代谢途径，它们可能调节其他性别分化和性别决定机制。本研究结果为增进我们对日本沼虾性别分化和性别决定机制的理解提供了重要见解。