National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China; Programs in Human Genetics and Biological Sciences, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
Zheng Cao
Institute of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Zhangfei Shen
Institute of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Jingwen Yang
National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China; Programs in Human Genetics and Biological Sciences, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
Xu Chen
National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
Zhen Yang
National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
Ke Xu
National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
Xiaowei Xiang
National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
Qiuhan Yu
National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
Yimin Song
National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
Weiwei Wang
Institute of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Yanan Tian
Institute of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Lina Sun
Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
Libin Zhang
Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
Su Guo
Programs in Human Genetics and Biological Sciences, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
The kisspeptin system is a central modulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in vertebrates. Its existence outside the vertebrate lineage remains largely unknown. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the kisspeptin system in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. The gene encoding the kisspeptin precursor generates two mature neuropeptides, AjKiss1a and AjKiss1b. The receptors for these neuropeptides, AjKissR1 and AjKissR2, are strongly activated by synthetic A. japonicus and vertebrate kisspeptins, triggering a rapid intracellular mobilization of Ca2+, followed by receptor internalization. AjKissR1 and AjKissR2 share similar intracellular signaling pathways via Gαq/PLC/PKC/MAPK cascade, when activated by C-terminal decapeptide. The A. japonicus kisspeptin system functions in multiple tissues that are closely related to seasonal reproduction and metabolism. Overall, our findings uncover for the first time the existence and function of the kisspeptin system in a non-chordate species and provide new evidence to support the ancient origin of intracellular signaling and physiological functions that are mediated by this molecular system.
