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Updated: Jan 18, 2026
High-fat Feeding Paradigm for Larval Zebrafish: Feeding, Live Imaging, and Quantification of Food Intake
Published on: October 27, 2016
Liver and intestine transcriptome analysis reveals molecular mechanisms of phytase-driven nutrient utilization and
Dongdong Zhang1, Eric Peatman2, Benjamin H Beck3
1Provincial Key Laboratory for Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, School of Breeding and Multiplication (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication), Hainan University, Haikou 570228/Sanya 572025, China; School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
Abstract:
The use of phytase in aquafeeds has gained increasing attention as a strategy to enhance nutritional value and mitigate the adverse effects of phytic acid, especially for diets containing plant-based ingredients. Notwithstanding examples of phytase-induced phenotypic changes, the molecular mechanisms underlying phytase supplementation are not well understood. The present study evaluated the effects of phytase on the transcriptomic profiles in the liver and intestine, as well as on growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and hematological parameters of Jubilee × D&B hybrid catfish. Over a 140-day feeding trial, phytase supplementation (2500 phytase units/kg diet) significantly improved growth, FCR, red blood cell count, hematocrit, and total cell count in the blood compared with fish fed the basal diet. By comparing the transcriptomic profiles of phytase-supplemented and control fish, we identified a distinct gene expression profile relative to controls. This profile was characterized by differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with mineral metabolism (including iron), energy homeostasis, protein synthesis, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and immune response. The putative roles of key DEGs, including their interactions in different metabolic pathways, are discussed. The current study explains the benefits of phytase supplementation on hybrid catfish performance on the molecular level, uncovers the transcriptomic mechanisms controlling these benefits, and provides valuable information for customized functional feeds in aquaculture.
