Table1_Brain and Pituitary Transcriptome Analyses Reveal the Differential Regulation of Reproduction-Related LncRNAs and mRNAs in Cynoglossus semilaevis.DOCX

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified to be involved in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) reproduction. However, studies of their roles in reproduction have focused mainly on the ovary, and their expression patterns and potential roles in the brain and pituitary are unclear. Thus, to explore the mRNAs and lncRNAs that are closely associated with reproduction in the brain and pituitary, we collected tongue sole brain and pituitary tissues at three stages for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), the 5,135 and 5,630 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs and 378 and 532 DE lncRNAs were identified in the brain and pituitary, respectively. The RNA-seq results were verified by RT-qPCR. Moreover, enrichment analyses were performed to analyze the functions of DE mRNAs and lncRNAs. Interestingly, their involvement in pathways related to metabolism, signal transduction and endocrine signaling was revealed. LncRNA-target gene interaction networks were constructed based on antisense, cis and trans regulatory mechanisms. Moreover, we constructed competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. In summary, this study provides mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles in the brain and pituitary to understand the molecular mechanisms regulating tongue sole reproduction.

长链非编码RNA（long noncoding RNAs，lncRNAs）现已被证实参与半滑舌鳎（Cynoglossus semilaevis）的繁殖调控过程。然而，现有关于其在繁殖过程中功能的研究多集中于卵巢，而其在脑与垂体中的表达模式及潜在功能仍尚不明确。为此，为探究脑与垂体中与繁殖密切相关的信使RNA（messenger RNA，mRNA）及lncRNAs，我们采集了三个发育阶段的半滑舌鳎脑及垂体组织进行RNA测序（RNA-seq），分别在脑与垂体中鉴定出5135、5630个差异表达（differentially expressed，DE）mRNA以及378、532个DE lncRNAs。本研究通过实时定量聚合酶链式反应（RT-qPCR）对RNA-seq结果进行了验证。此外，本研究对DE mRNA及lncRNAs开展了富集分析以解析其功能。有趣的是，分析结果显示这些分子参与了代谢、信号转导及内分泌信号通路。基于反义、顺式及反式调控机制，本研究构建了lncRNA-靶基因相互作用网络。此外，本研究还构建了内源竞争RNA（competing endogenous RNA，ceRNA）网络。综上，本研究获取了半滑舌鳎脑与垂体中的mRNA及lncRNA表达谱，为解析调控半滑舌鳎繁殖的分子机制提供了关键数据支撑。