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A new pattern of primordial germ cell migration in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) identified using nanos3

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Abstract

The olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) is an important cultured marine fish. However, little information is available on primordial germ cell (PGC) development and migration in this species; such information is vital for applications in artificial reproduction and for the preservation of genetic resources. Here, we sought to remedy this information deficit by isolating the germline-specific gene nanos3 and analyzing its expression in olive flounder. Sequencing analysis showed that olive flounder nanos3 contained a typical RNA-binding zinc finger domain. A phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that nanos3 of the olive flounder grouped with that of the barfin flounder (Verasper moseri). In the olive flounder, nanos3 was consistently expressed during embryogenesis. Whole-mount in situ hybridization showed that a new pattern of PGC migration was present in olive flounder, which combined elements of the PGC migration patterns of medaka, herring, and goby. In olive flounder, PGCs aligned along the lateral plate mesoderm in two loose, elongated lines at early embryogenesis, aggregated into a single loose cluster at mid-embryogenesis, then re-aligned into two tight clusters at late somitogenesis, and finally migrated to the genital ridge as two clusters. Furthermore, whole-mount in situ hybridization revealed that expression of stromal derived factor 1 (Sdf1) was important for guiding of PGC migration during somitogenesis. In particular, Sdf1 directed aggregation of PGCs into a single loose cluster from the two elongated lines during mid-embryogenesis. Additionally, PGCs in zebrafish were successfully visualized by injection of chimeric RNA containing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and 3′ untranslated region of olive flounder nanos3. These findings provide new insights into PGC migration and development in olive flounder and will also facilitate germ cell manipulation in this species.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program: 2012AA10A402), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41276171), the Shandong Province Outstanding Young Scientist Research Award Fund (BS2014HZ008), and the National Key Basic Program of Science and Technology of China-Platforms of Aquaculture Stock Resources. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Ethical approval

Experiments involving the olive flounder were conducted according to the regulations of local and central governments and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Ecological Mariculture, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China

    Meijie Li, Xungang Tan, Shuang Jiao, Qian Wang, Zhihao Wu, Feng You & Yuxia Zou

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People’s Republic of China

    Meijie Li

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  1. Meijie Li
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  2. Xungang Tan
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  3. Shuang Jiao
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  4. Qian Wang
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  5. Zhihao Wu
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  6. Feng You
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  7. Yuxia Zou
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Correspondence to Xungang Tan.

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Communicated by Matthias Hammerschmidt

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Li, M., Tan, X., Jiao, S. et al. A new pattern of primordial germ cell migration in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) identified using nanos3 . Dev Genes Evol 225, 195–206 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-015-0503-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-015-0503-6

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