Aromatase pathway mediates sex change in each direction

Kroon, Frederiecke J., Munday, Philip L., Westcott, David A., Hobbs, Jean-Paul A., and Liley, N. Robin (2005) Aromatase pathway mediates sex change in each direction. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B, Biological Sciences, 272 (1570). pp. 1399-1405.

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Abstract

The enzyme aromatase controls the androgen/oestrogen ratio by catalysing the irreversible conversion of testosterone into oestradiol (E2). Therefore, the regulation of E2 synthesis by aromatase is thought to be critical in sexual development and differentiation. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that experimental manipulation of E2 levels via the aromatase pathway induces adult sex change in each direction in a hermaphroditic fish that naturally exhibits bidirectional sex change. Our results demonstrate that a single enzymatic pathway can regulate both female and male sexual differentiation, and that aromatase may be the key enzyme that transduces environmental, including social, cues to functional sex differentiation in species with environmental sex determination.

Item ID: 7060
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1471-2954
Keywords: aromatase; coral goby; Gobiodon; oestradiol; sex change
Date Deposited: 25 Mar 2010 02:24
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 50%
06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0699 Other Biological Sciences > 069999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 50%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960802 Coastal and Estuarine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
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