The foxl2 gene's role in egg yolk protein production in mud crabs

A 530 amino acid protein encoded by the Spfoxl2 gene was identified in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain.

• The Spfoxl2 gene was validated using PCR technology and found to be conserved in 14 other crustacean species.
• Multiple sequence alignment revealed high conservation of the forkhead domain in the Foxl2 protein across species.
• Spfoxl2 gene expression was primarily located in the gonad, with significantly higher levels in the testis compared to the ovary (p < 0.01).
• In various larval stages, the highest expression level of Spfoxl2 was observed in the megalopa stage.
• A putative binding site for Foxl2 was identified on the promoter region of the Spvtg gene.
• Knockdown of Spfoxl2 via RNA interference increased the expression of Spvtg in the ovary, suggesting that Spfoxl2 may act as an upstream negative regulator of Spvtg.

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