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Updated: Nov 30, 2025
Multi-Faceted Mass Spectrometric Investigation of Neuropeptides in Callinectes sapidus
Published on: May 31, 2022
Molecular cloning, characterization and functional analysis of two neuropeptide F genes from the oriental river prawn
Hui Qiao1, Sufei Jiang1, Yiwei Xiong1
1Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
In invertebrates, neuropeptide F (NPF) has many regulatory functions, similar to NPY, its homologous peptide. In this study, two neuropeptide F genes were identified in Macrobrachium nipponense: Mn-NPF1 and Mn-NPF2. Mn-NPF2 shared the same amino acid sequence with Mn-NPF1, except for a 37 amino acid insert in the middle of the NPF region. The quantitative-PCR (qPCR) results indicated that Mn-NPF1 expression was positively correlated with ovarian maturation, whereas Mn-NPF2 had opposing expression patterns. Both Mn-NPFs were poorly expressed at early embryonic stages, but enhanced expression levels were observed up to day 10 after hatching, when the gonads began to differentiate. Ovary in situ hybridization (ISH) analyses showed that both Mn-NPFs were present at all stages, but were differentially localized to distinct compartments. Temperature gradient studies showed that both Mn-NPFs were implicated in the seasonal regulation of reproduction. A double-stranded (ds) RNA-Mn-NPF2 injection led to a significant 38.5% increase in the vitellogenin (VG) transcript (P < 0.05). These results demonstrated that Mn-NPF2 plays an important role in inhibiting ovarian maturation.
