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Mapping and Expression of Candidate Genes for Development Rate in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Matthew C Hale1, John A Colletti1, Scott A Gahr1
1From the Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (Hale, Colletti, Scardina, Harmon, Carter, and Nichols); the Biology Department, St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA (Gahr); Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Juneau, AK (Thrower); the Department of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA (Phillips); the Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA (Thorgaard); the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Cool and Coldwater Aquaculture, Leetown, WV (Rexroad); the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (Nichols); and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Conservation Biology Division, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112 (Nichols).
Abstract:
Development rate has important implications for individual fitness and physiology. In salmonid fishes, development rate correlates with many traits later in life, including life-history diversity, growth, and age and size at sexual maturation. In rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), a quantitative trait locus for embryonic development rate has been detected on chromosome 5 across populations. However, few candidate genes have been identified within this region. In this study, we use gene mapping, gene expression, and quantitative genetic methods to further identify the genetic basis of embryonic developmental rate in O. mykiss Among the genes located in the region of the major development rate quantitative trait locus (GHR1, Clock1a, Myd118-1, and their paralogs), all were expressed early in embryonic development (fertilization through hatch), but none were differentially expressed between individuals with the fast- or slow-developing alleles for a major embryonic development rate quantitative trait locus. In a follow-up study of migratory and resident rainbow trout from natural populations in Alaska, we found significant additive variation in development rate and, moreover, found associations between development rate and allelic variation in all 3 candidate genes within the quantitative trait locus for embryonic development. The mapping of these genes to this region and associations in multiple populations provide positional candidates for further study of their roles in growth, development, and life-history diversity in this model salmonid.
