黄喉拟水龟cyp11b2基因在性别分化中的功能解析

脊椎动物性别决定及性别分化机制的研究一直是生物学领域的热点，龟鳖动物由于承前启后的进化地位，其性别决定和分化机制研究备受瞩目。在前期研究工作中，我们绘制了黄喉拟水龟染色体水平基因组精细图谱，通过基因组解析发现cyp11b2基因发生了扩张，该基因在成体黄喉拟水龟精巢中高量表达，且雄性产生温度下胚胎性腺中的表达量显著高于雌性产生温度下胚胎性腺中的表达量。本项目在前期的基础上，拟通过染色体荧光原位杂交阐明cyp11b2基因在黄喉拟水龟中的拷贝数及染色体定位；从转录及蛋白水平研究cyp11b2基因在黄喉拟水龟性腺中的动态表达模式；利用腺病毒过表达以及腺病毒-shRNA干扰探索cyp11b2基因在黄喉拟水龟雄性分化中的生物学功能。本项目将揭示黄喉拟水龟cyp11b2基因的基因组扩张情况以及在性别分化中的功能，为激素合成相关基因在性别分化机制演化中的作用提供创新见解。

The study of sex determination and sex differentiation mechanism in vertebrates has always been a hot topic in biological field. Because of the evolutionary status, the study of sex determination and differentiation mechanism of turtle has attracted much attention. In previous study, we mapped the chromosome-level genome of the Asian yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica). Through genome analysis, we found that cyp11b2 gene underwent expansion and was highly expressed in adult testis, and was also richly in the embryonic gonads of male-producing temperatures than that of female-producing temperatures. Based on the previous work, firstly, we will clarify the copy number and chromosomal location of cyp11b2 gene in the Asian yellow pond turtle by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Subsequently, we will investigate the dynamic expression pattern of cyp11b2 in gonads of the Asian yellow pond turtle from transcription and protein levels. Furthermore, we will explore the biological function of cyp11b2 in male differentiation of Asian yellow pond turtle via adenovirus overexpression and adenovirus-mediated RNA interference. Solving these above issues will reveal the genomic expansion of cyp11b2 and its function in sex differentiation, and also provide new insights on the role of hormone synthesis related genes in the evolution of sex differentiation mechanism.