Affiliation:
1. College of Fisheries, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, China
2. South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510300, China
3. Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, China
4. Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya 572018, China
5. Guangdong Provincial Engineer Technology Research Center of Marine Biological Seed Industry, Guangzhou 510300, China
Abstract
The growth, development, and survival of fish, especially in the early stages of development, is influenced by a complex of environmental factors, among which temperature is one of the most important. Although the physiological effects of environmental stress in fish have been extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. However, recent advances in transcriptomic techniques have facilitated the study of the molecular mechanisms of environmental stress responses in aquatic species. Here, we aimed to elucidate the effects of breeding temperatures (21, 24, 27, and 30 °C) on the growth and nutrient metabolism in the early developmental stage of Platax teira, using transcriptomic techniques. Transcriptomic analysis identified 5492, 6937, and 4246 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the 21 vs. 24 °C, 27 vs. 24 °C, and 30 vs. 24 °C comparisons, respectively, most of which were involved in cell processes, single organism, metabolism, catalytic activity, and cell part, based on gene ontology (GO) functional annotations. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in pathways related to metabolism of matter and energy, protein digestion and absorption, and glucose and lipid metabolism. Additionally, the expression of genes related to energy, lipid, and glucose metabolism in the fish liver was upregulated under a low-temperature condition (21 °C), although increasing the temperature within the acceptable threshold improved nutrient metabolism and growth in the fish. Meanwhile, nutrient metabolism and growth were suppressed by an extremely high temperature (30 °C) owing to oxidative stress. Overall, it was shown that nutrient metabolism pathways were involved in thermal stress responses in P. teira, and the optimal breeding temperature range was 24–27 °C. Through transcriptomics, the regulatory mechanism of larval development in P. teira under different growth temperatures was elucidated, with the goal of establishing a theoretical basis for industrial breeding.
Funder
National Key Research and Development Program of China
National Marine Genetic Resource Center, and China-ASEAN Maritime Co-operation Fund, Guangdong Provincial Special Fund for Modern Agriculture Industry Technology Innovation Teams
Central Public-Interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, CAFS
Subject
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences,General Immunology and Microbiology,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology