Evolutionary Dynamics and Functional Conservation of <i>amh</i> Signaling in Teleost Lineages
The anti-Müllerian hormone (<i>amh</i>) and its receptor, <i>amhr2</i>, along with the downstream bone morphogenetic protein receptors (<i>bmpr</i>s), have been recognized as the central regulators in teleost sex determination (SD) and differentiation. However, th...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Fishes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/7/327 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | The anti-Müllerian hormone (<i>amh</i>) and its receptor, <i>amhr2</i>, along with the downstream bone morphogenetic protein receptors (<i>bmpr</i>s), have been recognized as the central regulators in teleost sex determination (SD) and differentiation. However, their evolution and function in reproduction among diverse teleost lineages may represent species-specific patterns and still need more explanation. In this study, systematic investigations of <i>amh</i> signaling genes, including <i>amh</i>, <i>amhy</i> (Y-linked paralog of <i>amh</i>), <i>amhr2</i>, <i>bmpr1</i>, and <i>bmpr2</i>, were conducted among teleost species. The results revealed generally conserved gene copy number, phylogeny, structure, and synteny, among teleost <i>amh</i> signaling genes. Notably, significantly accelerated evolutionary rates (dN/dS) were found in teleost <i>amhy</i> compared to <i>amh</i>, and <i>amh</i> exhibited faster molecular evolution in <i>amhy</i>-SD teleosts than in non-<i>amhy</i>-SD teleosts, suggesting their enhanced evolutionary plasticity in teleosts. Expression profiling identified testis-biased expression of the most <i>amh</i> signaling genes in fish species with different SD genes and mechanisms, including <i>Lateolabrax maculatus</i> and <i>Dicentrarchus labrax</i> from Order Perciformes, <i>Cynoglossus semilaevis</i> and <i>Paralichthys olivaceus</i> from Order Pleuronectiformes, and <i>Salmo salar</i> and <i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i> from Order Salmoniformes, with ovary-biased expression also found in Salmoniformes. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis further uncovered strong species-specific functional interactions between <i>amh</i> signaling components and genes of germ-cell development, the meiotic process, etc. Collectively, the integrated evidence from this study supports the hypothesis that <i>amh</i> signaling provides the key molecules governing sex differentiation in a species-specific manner in diverse teleost lineages, independent of its SD role, and interacts with functions of both testis and ovary development. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2410-3888 |