Transferrins are a superfamily of iron-binding proteins and are recognized as multifunctional proteins. In the present study, transcriptomic and proteomic methods were used to identify transferrins in the reproductive organs and sperm of out-of-spawning and spermiating sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) males. The results showed that seven transferrin transcripts were identified in the transcriptome of sterlet, and these transcripts were qualified as two different transferrin genes, serotransferrin and melanotransferrin, with several isoforms present for serotransferrin. The relative abundance of serotransferrin isoforms was higher in the kidneys and Wolffian ducts in the spermiating males compared to out-of-spawning males. In addition, transferrin was immunodetected in sterlet seminal plasma, but not in sterlet spermatozoa extract. Mass spectrometry identification of transferrin in seminal plasma but not in spermatozoa corroborates immunodetection. The identification of transferrin in the reproductive organs and seminal plasma of sterlet in this study provides the potential function of transferrin during sturgeon male reproduction.

Biology Centre of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Institute of Parasitology Branisovska 31 37005 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

Institute of Chemistry Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice Branisovska 1760 37005 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

Marine College Shandong University Weihai 264209 Shandong China

Sino Czech Joint Laboratory of Fish Conservation and Biotechnology Key Laboratory of Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation Ministry of Agriculture of China Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences Wuhan 430223 China

South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice Zatisi 728 2 389 25 Vodnany Czech Republic

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