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Sex programs functional protein level dimorphism in the zebrafish gastrointestinal tract

Niksirat, Hamid LU orcid ; Siino, Valentina LU ; Steinbach, Christoph and Levander, Fredrik LU orcid (2025) In Aquaculture Reports 42.
Abstract

The biochemical composition and functions of non-sexual organs in male and female must be adjusted to support the distinct reproductive purposes of their sexual organs. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the primary site for the digestion and absorption of nutrients, as well as the metabolism of orally administered drugs. We utilized an in-depth proteomics approach to determine the molecular basis of sex-based differences in the zebrafish GI tract. Results indicated higher potential of female zebrafish for digestion and absorption of dietary nutrients by lower levels of proteins involved in GI motility, and increased levels of digestive enzymes and reduced levels of intestinal epithelial barrier proteins. While several proteins involved... (More)

The biochemical composition and functions of non-sexual organs in male and female must be adjusted to support the distinct reproductive purposes of their sexual organs. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the primary site for the digestion and absorption of nutrients, as well as the metabolism of orally administered drugs. We utilized an in-depth proteomics approach to determine the molecular basis of sex-based differences in the zebrafish GI tract. Results indicated higher potential of female zebrafish for digestion and absorption of dietary nutrients by lower levels of proteins involved in GI motility, and increased levels of digestive enzymes and reduced levels of intestinal epithelial barrier proteins. While several proteins involved in metabolism of carbohydrates were found at higher levels in males, multiple protein and lipid metabolism proteins were higher in females. Furthermore, the GI tract of males contained lower levels of immune-related proteins and higher levels of anti-aging proteins. Several proteins responsible for drug metabolism, antioxidation and detoxification of xenobiotics showed significantly different quantities between GI tract of male and female zebrafish, suggesting unequal abilities of the two sexes to process these substances. The results of the present study provide molecular knowledge that can aid development of sex-based diet formulation, drug design and therapeutic approaches for the GI tract in future studies. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD054273.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Gastrointestinal tract, Protein, Proteomics, Sexual dimorphism
in
Aquaculture Reports
volume
42
article number
102775
external identifiers
  • scopus:105000906039
DOI
10.1016/j.aqrep.2025.102775
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ddb42be1-56ae-4c2a-8ef6-2647bba0bd1f
date added to LUP
2025-08-07 10:59:48
date last changed
2025-08-07 10:59:48
@article{ddb42be1-56ae-4c2a-8ef6-2647bba0bd1f,
  abstract     = {{<p>The biochemical composition and functions of non-sexual organs in male and female must be adjusted to support the distinct reproductive purposes of their sexual organs. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the primary site for the digestion and absorption of nutrients, as well as the metabolism of orally administered drugs. We utilized an in-depth proteomics approach to determine the molecular basis of sex-based differences in the zebrafish GI tract. Results indicated higher potential of female zebrafish for digestion and absorption of dietary nutrients by lower levels of proteins involved in GI motility, and increased levels of digestive enzymes and reduced levels of intestinal epithelial barrier proteins. While several proteins involved in metabolism of carbohydrates were found at higher levels in males, multiple protein and lipid metabolism proteins were higher in females. Furthermore, the GI tract of males contained lower levels of immune-related proteins and higher levels of anti-aging proteins. Several proteins responsible for drug metabolism, antioxidation and detoxification of xenobiotics showed significantly different quantities between GI tract of male and female zebrafish, suggesting unequal abilities of the two sexes to process these substances. The results of the present study provide molecular knowledge that can aid development of sex-based diet formulation, drug design and therapeutic approaches for the GI tract in future studies. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD054273.</p>}},
  author       = {{Niksirat, Hamid and Siino, Valentina and Steinbach, Christoph and Levander, Fredrik}},
  keywords     = {{Gastrointestinal tract; Protein; Proteomics; Sexual dimorphism}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  series       = {{Aquaculture Reports}},
  title        = {{Sex programs functional protein level dimorphism in the zebrafish gastrointestinal tract}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2025.102775}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.aqrep.2025.102775}},
  volume       = {{42}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}