D-Tryptophan enhances the reproductive organ-specific expression of the amino acid transporter homolog Dr-SLC38A9 involved in the sexual induction of planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many animals switch between asexual and sexual reproduction in nature. We previously established a system for the sexual induction of planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis by feeding asexual planarians with minced sexual planarians. We identified DL-tryptophan (Trp) as one of the sex-inducing substances. DL-Trp can induce ovarian development, the first and essential step of sexual induction. D-Trp must act as a principal bioactive compound in terms of ovarian development, because the ovary-inducing activity of D-Trp was 500 times more potent than that of L-Trp. However, how Trp controls sexual induction is still unknown.

Results

In this study, qRT-PCR analyses suggested that the putative amino acid transporter gene Dr-SLC38A9 is highly expressed in sexual worms, especiall

SUBMITTER: Maezawa T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7981857 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature