() Gene Cloning and Gonad-Specific Expression Pattern in Starry Flounder ().

is a germline-specific maternal RNA expressed in various vertebrate classes, which encodes an RNA-binding protein that is essential for PGC migration. The purpose of this study is fundamental research about starry flounder gene for germ cell marker development. In this study, we cloned and analyzed the expression levels of () in various tissues and embryonic stages. The gene was isolated from starry flounder ovaries, cloned into a pGEM-t vector, and sequenced. Full-length of cDNA was 1495 bp long, encoding 395 amino acids. expression levels were investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in various tissues and embryo developmental stages. transcripts were detected in the testes and ovaries, but not in somatic tissues. Embryonic expression levels were higher during early embryo development stages than during late embryogenesis; expression was highest at the 1 cell stage, then gradually decreased throughout the subsequent developmental stages. The spatial expression pattern was analyzed by whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH). The transcripts migration pattern was similar with zebrafish (). Our results suggest that may function as a germ cell-specific marker.