Integrated application of transcriptomics and metabolomics provides insights into gonadal differentiation in Mesocentrotus nudus.

ABSTRACT: Mesocentrotus nudus is an important aquaculture species in East Asia, valued for its gonads as the only edible part. However, the molecular basis of gonadal differentiation in this species remains poorly understood. In this study, we determined that morphological gonadal differentiation occurs when individuals reach a test diameter of approximately 40 mm. Amino acid profiling revealed sex-specific differences between ovaries and testes, with higher levels of lysine, proline, alanine, and glutamic acid in testes, suggesting sexual dimorphism in metabolic demand. To investigate the regulatory mechanisms involved, we conducted integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses between differentiated and undifferentiated gonads. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expresse

SUBMITTER: Abulizi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12824366 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature