Molecularcloning and expression analysis of FTZ-F1 in the GIFT tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

The FTZ-F1 genes encode orphan receptors of the nuclear receptor superfamily and in mammals have been found to play important roles in the proper development of the adrenal-gonadal axis and sex-determination. We isolated the homologue of FTZ-F1 in genetically improved farmed tilapia (gfFTZ-F1). The full-length cDNA was isolated from the ovary, which included an open reading frame encoding a predicted protein of 486 amino acids. Sequence, tissue distribution and phylogenic analysis of the FTZ-F1 showed that the gfFTZ-F1 belonged to SF-1/Ad4BP group and that gfFTZ-F1 transcripts were only expressed in the gonads and kidney but not in other tissues. Likewise our data suggests that the gfFTZ-F1 gene may share similar functions with other fish and mammalian counterparts, though further study is needed to make any definitive conclusions.