Gene Silencing in Yellow Perch Reveals Critical Role in Sex Differentiation and Growth Regulation

Strategic Insights -

Research on fisheries, led by Ohio State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has shed new light on the impact of gene silencing on sex differentiation and growth regulation in juvenile yellow perch. By sequencing the genome of the yellow perch and screening transcripts of gonadal, liver, and brain tissues, researchers discovered a crucial role for the dmrt1 gene in determining sex and body size.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers first sequenced the entire genome of the yellow perch and identified sex-related genes, including dmrt1 and cyp19a1, which are involved in sex differentiation and growth regulation.
  • Silencing the dmrt1 gene using siRNA interference resulted in a significant increase in the number of females and a larger size in both males and females compared to the control group.
  • The interference also exerted a detrimental effect on the process of sperm production and maturation.
  • The expression level of dmrt1 exhibited positive and negative correlations with body size of females and males, respectively.
  • The study suggests that dmrt1 plays a crucial role directly or indirectly in the sex differentiation and growth regulation of yellow perch.
  • The research was funded by Ohio State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Statistics:

  • 20% increase in female number and larger size in both males and females compared to the control group.
  • 70.09% females in the experimental group compared to 46.79% in the negative control group.
  • A partial feminization of all-male fish was achieved despite administering the injection at a later stage of sex differentiation.

Sources:

  • Expression of sex-related genes and effects of dmrt1 siRNA-silencing on sex differentiation in juvenile yellow perch. Aquaculture Reports, 2025,42():102791. (Aquaculture Reports http://www.journals.elsevier.com/aquaculture-reports/)
  • NewsRx. Researchers at Ohio State University Report Research in Fisheries Research (Expression of sex-related genes and effects of dmrt1 siRNA-silencing on sex differentiation in juvenile yellow perch). Life Science Weekly. July 8, 2025; p 5325.