Multi-Organ Transcriptomic Analysis of Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) with Different Growth Rates.

Area of Science:

• Aquaculture Genomics
• Fish Physiology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Understanding growth trait regulation is crucial for aquaculture.
• Transcriptome sequencing offers insights into gene expression patterns.
• Greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) growth rates vary significantly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify regulatory genes and pathways influencing growth traits in greater amberjack.
• To compare gene expression profiles between fast-growing and slow-growing individuals.
• To provide genetic resources for molecular breeding programs.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptome sequencing of hypothalamus, pituitary, and liver tissues from 12-month-old greater amberjack.
• Differential gene expression analysis to identify DEGs (differentially expressed genes).
• Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses for functional interpretation.

Main Results:

• Identified 504, 556, and 699 DEGs in hypothalamus, pituitary, and liver, respectively.
• Fast-growing (FG) group showed upregulated genes in growth, cell proliferation, and lipid metabolism (e.g., igf1, fgf19).
• Slow-growing (SG) group exhibited upregulated genes in glycolysis and immune response (e.g., irf1b, cxcl10), indicating energy allocation trade-offs.

Conclusions:

• FG individuals possess enhanced lipid metabolism and cell proliferation capabilities.
• SG individuals allocate more energy towards immune response, potentially hindering growth.
• Study elucidates genetic mechanisms of growth variation and offers resources for breeding.