Characterization, expression profiling, and estradiol response analysis of DMRT3 and FOXL2 in clam Cyclina sinensis

The clam Cyclina sinensis is one of the important economical aquaculture shellfish in China. However, mechanisms sex determination and differentiation C. have not been fully studied. In this study, full-length cDNAs DMRT3 FOXL2 were cloned functionally characterized. ORF region CsDMRT3 consists 1137 nucleotides, which encode 378 amino acids contains a conserved DM domain DMRT family. CsFOXL2 1245 bp, encodes 414 acids, FH domain. Tissue-specific expression results showed that higher level was found ovary testis sinensis. levels also peaked at maturation stage male female gonadal development, respectively. Moreover, significantly trochophore D-larval stages than other stages. transcript reached highest 11 months age, while 7 age. estradiol-treated experiments, gonads 5 µg/L estradiol treatment, histologically, it observed oocytes diameters became larger with increasing concentration. These suggest play an role development .