Protandric Transcriptomes to Uncover Parts of the Crustacean Sex-Differentiation Puzzle

Hermaphrodite systems offer unique opportunities to study sexual differentiation, due their high degree of plasticity and the fact that, unlike gonochoristic systems, process is not confined an early developmental stage. In protandric shrimp species, such as Hippolyte inermis Pandalus platyceros , male differentiation followed by transformation femaleness during adulthood. The mechanisms controlling have been fully elucidated in crustaceans, but a key role has attributed insulin-like hormone (IAG) produced androgenic gland (AG), crustacean masculine endocrine organ. To uncover further transcriptomic toolkit elements affecting H. we constructed eye whole body RNA libraries four representative stages its life cycle (immature, male, young female mature female). contained transcripts related reproductive system, among others, while X-organ-sinus gland, central complex that regulates reproduction. Binary pattern analysis, performed mine for genes expressed differentially between different stages, yielded 19,605 6,175 with specific expression body, respectively. Prominent sexually biased patterns were recorded IAG vitellogenin genes, representing, respectively, factor within IAG-switch, precursor yolk protein, typical feminine states. These enabled discovery novel putative protein-coding exhibiting transcriptomes males females. Homologs above found other decapod comparative study, using previously another shrimp, P. showed similar results, supporting notion mined from transcriptome, may be universal factors reproduction control crustaceans. This thus demonstrates potential studies species unexplored layers sex-differentiation puzzle.