促性腺激素释放激素(Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone,GnRH)是调控脊椎动物生殖的关键因子之一。文章克隆了经济鱼类斜带石斑鱼(Epinephelus coioides)GnRHⅡ基因的cDNA、基因组序列及其启动子,发现GnRHⅡ基因启动子中与组织特异性表达相关的区域位于距转录起始点上游2005 bp~956 bp之间。以GnRHⅡ启动子驱动绿色荧光蛋白在斑马鱼胚胎中表达的结果显示,GnRHⅡ神经元主要分布在中脑附近和眼部。文章为深入了解GnRHⅡ基因表达的调控机制及GnRHⅡ基因的功能提供了基础信息。
Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a key regulator of reproduction in all vertebrates. We first cloned the cDNA and genomic DNA sequences coding for GnRHff gene in the orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelis coioides), an economically important marine fish, and then cloned its promoter sequence. The region responsible for the cell-specific expression of GnRHff was located between -2005 bp to -956 bp from the translation start site. GnRHff promoter driven EGFP expression in transgenic zebrafish showed that GnRH Ⅱ -positive neurons were primarily located in the midbrain and in the eyes. Our results provide an improved understanding of the regulatory mechanism and function of GnRH Ⅱ ofE. coioides.