Zoology Faculty Work

Title

Analysis of Expressed Sequence Tags from the Placenta of the LiveBearing Fish Poeciliopsis (Poeciliidae)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

Publication Title

Journal of Heredity

Volume Number

102

Issue Number

3

DOI

10.1093/jhered/esr002

Abstract

Matrotrophic fish in the genus Poeciliopsis (Poeciliidae) have a placenta-like structure used in postfertilization maternal provisioning of the developing embryo. To understand better the structure and function of the Poeciliopsis placenta, we derived cDNA libraries from the maternal follicular placenta of 2 matrotrophic Poeciliopsis sister species, P. turneri and P. presidionis. These species inherited their placenta from a common ancestor and represent one of 3 independent origins of placentas in Poeciliopsis. Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were generated and putative function was determined using BLASTX homology searches and Gene Ontology (GO) annotation. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction was used to verify placenta tissue expression of a putative candidate gene, alpha-2 macroglobulin. In total, 1956 (71.5% of the total submitted ESTs) and 924 (71.0% of the total submitted ESTs) unique transcripts were identified for the P. turneri and P. presidionis placenta, respectively. Homology search and GO annotation revealed putative genes whose products may be involved in specific transport functions of the maternal follicle. These putative genes are excellent candidates for future research on the evolution of the placenta. We discuss our results in light of the parent–offspring conflict theory of placental evolution and in terms of the Poeciliid placenta structure and function.

ISSN

0022-1503

First Page

352

Last Page

361

Link Out URL

https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esr002

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