Upregulation of TDRD1 Promotes the Sexual Maturation in Allotetraploids Hybridized from Red Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus Red var) (♀) and Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L) (♂)

Allotetraploid hybrids of Red Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus red var, abbreviated as RCC) (♀) and common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L, abbreviated as CC) (♂) is a species produced by distant hybridization. In this study, SWATH mass spectrometry (SWATH-MS) was applied for quantitative proteomics profiling of gonad tissues of allotetraploids and their parents RCC (♀) and CC (♂). A total of 2338 unique proteins were identified in our proteomic profiling by SWATH-MS. Gene enrichment and network analysis based on differentially expressed proteins revealed some metabolic enzymes involved in gonad growth and development of allotetraploids. Especially, the upregulated gene <i>TDRD1</i> (<i>ratio</i> = 2.59, <i>p</i> = 0.02) in allotetraploids plays a significant role in spermatogenesis, which could speed up the sexual maturation during the process of gonad growth and development. Protein–protein interaction and pathway analysis further suggested that <i>TDRD1</i> served as a hub protein in metabolic-related pathways and networks. It could regulate gonad development via regulating metabolic pathways in a synergistic way with surrounding regulatory factors including <i>CS</i>, <i>GPIA</i>, <i>PGK1</i>, and <i>IDH2</i>. In addition, <i>TDRD1</i> could directly regulate spermatogenesis in conjunction with <i>PIWIL1</i>, <i>PIWIL2</i>, and <i>VASA</i>. Quantitative proteomics integrated with network analysis explored the molecular mechanism in that <i>TDRD1</i> regulated sexual maturation, development, and growth of allotetraploids in a synergetic way with metabolic genes and pathways.