Identification of FOXL3-downstream genes in medaka germ cells

FOXL3 (Forkhead box L3) is a transcription factor and is evolutionary conserved in vertebrates except for mammals. Foxl3 was identified as a germ cell-intrinsic factor of sex determination in teleost fish medaka (Oryzias latipes) (T Nishimura, et al., 2015, Science). Foxl3 is expressed in female mitotic germ cells and suppresses initiation of spermatogenesis. To identify the downstream genes of FOXL3, we compared transcriptomes between wild-type and foxl3-mutant XX germ cells. For that purpose, we generated a foxl3p-EGFP transgenic line, in which EGFP is expressed under the control of foxl3-promoter and foxl3-3'UTR. We purified foxl3p-EGFP-expressing germ cells by a cell sorter, and generated cDNA libraries for NGS by a Quartz-seq method.