Cloning, Characterization, and Expression Analysis of the Vasa Gene from Kryptolebias marmoratus
Loading...
Authors
Perry, Jacob Lance
Issue Date
2013-01-07
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
ovotestis , vasa ATP-dependent RNA helicase , UTR , phylogenetic analysis , QPCR
Alternative Title
Abstract
Kryptolebias marmoratus, formerly known as the Mangrove Rivulus, has been
studied in the laboratory setting since the late 1950s. K. marmoratus is a selfing
hermaphrodite with a unique gonad, termed the ovotestis, consisting of both ovarian and
sperm tissue. One particular gene of interest to the development of this gonad is the vasagene. Vasa is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase, which has been studied in many
different organisms such as: Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly), Homo sapiens
(humans), Ambystoma mexicanum (salamander), Xenopus laevis (frog), Danio rerio
(zebrafish), Oryzias latipes (medaka), and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (sea urchin).
The vasa gene was cloned and sequenced from K. marmoratus. The gene consists of
2,273 nucleotides, a predicted amino acid sequence of 641 base pairs, and a 3 '
untranslated region (UTR) of 234 base pairs in length. BLASTp and phylogenetic
analysis revealed that the kmvasa gene is closely related to T oreintalis (Pacific blue fin
tuna) and has a close relationship to 0. latipes (medaka). The ATP-dependent RNA
helicase vasa protein was detected in only the gonad region of K. marmoratus
hermaphrodites and males. In other species, the vasa protein is detected throughout
embryogenesis. It was successfully shown that the K. marmoratus vasa gene is also
expressed at similar levels throughout embryogenesis.
Description
Jacob Lance Perry M.S. in Biology, 2012. Valdosta State University.