{"database":"GEO","file_versions":[],"scores":null,"additional":{"omics_type":["Transcriptomics"],"species":["Petromyzon marinus"],"gds_type":["Expression profiling by high throughput sequencing"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE334273"],"repository":["GEO"],"entry_type":["GSE"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"Gonadal single-cell RNA-seq analysis reveals genes important for germ cell development and sexual differentiation in sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)","description":"The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is a jawless vertebrate species that develops through larval, juvenile, and adult life stages. The mechanism of sex determination in this species is unknown and thought to be regulated by several environmental factors. During its lengthy larval stage that lasts between 3-20 years, the gonad usually contains both female and male germ cells before metamorphosis. To seek insights for sex determination and sexual differentiation in this agnathan species, we profiled gene expression patterns of gonadal cells from larvae (sex-labile) and recently metamorphosed juvenile transformers (sex-determined). We used flow cytometric cell sorting (BD FACS Aria IIu) and PIPseqTM (single-cell RNA-seq technique by Fluent BioSciences/now part of Illumina) to capture expressed genes in individual gonadal cells. Primordial germ cells expressed many specific cell markers, such as HOXA4, HOXA5A, HOXA10, KDM1A, LHX8, PAX7, POU2F2, SOX1, and SOX14. Male germ cells expressed specific cell marker ADGB, whereas gonadal macrophages expressed specific cell marker CD115/CSF1R. Interestingly, germ cells are enriched with ribosomal proteins, some can interact with heat-shock proteins or hormone receptors, and others are sensitive to sugar or lipid metabolisms. These ribosomal genes may provide a link between environmental factors such as temperature and nutrients to cellular functions, leading to changes in germ cell fate. Germ cells in the larvae expressed many transcription factors involving in DNA replication, transcription, translation, apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycles, cell differentiation, cell adhesion and migration, cell survival, chromatin remodeling and proliferation. In particular, TGF?, and Wnt signaling pathways were involved in sexual differentiation in other species. We also examined the pseudotime trajectory of top 50 gene expression patterns for female and male sexual differentiation pathways. Further analysis is required to confirm the functions of these genes and pathways in sex determination and sexual differentiation in the sea lamprey.","dates":{"publication":"2026/06/03"},"accession":"GSE334273","cross_references":{"GSM":["GSM9784490","GSM9784487","GSM9784488","GSM9784489"],"GPL":["27508"],"GSE":["334273"],"taxon":["Petromyzon marinus"]}}