Molecular characterization and expression analysis of GATA1 in the blood clam Anadara granosa reveals its role in gonadal development

GATA1 transcription factors, traditionally recognized for their role in hematopoiesis, have recently been implicated in reproduction in vertebrates. However, their function in invertebrate gonadal development remains largely unknown. In this study, we identified and characterized GATA1 (designated as AgGATA1) in the blood clam Anadara granosa and explored its potential role in gonadal development. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AgGATA1 exhibited a high degree of conservation across animal species. Furthermore, AgGATA1 was most highly expressed in the gonads, where it was predominantly expressed in oogonia and spermatogonia, whereas its expression was not observed in oocytes and spermatocyte. In addition, knockdown of the AgGATA1 gene reduced the number of germ cells in the testis through down-regulation of gonadogenesis-related genes (FOXL2, WNT, and Sox9). Collectively, these findings provide the first functional evidence that GATA1 is involved in molluscan gonadal development, expanding its known role beyond hematopoiesis and offering new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying reproductive regulation in invertebrates.