Deep divergence and apparent sex-biased dispersal revealed by a Y-linked marker in rainbow trout

Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA markers can reveal phylogenetic patterns by allowing tracking of male and female lineages, respectively. We used sequence data from a recently discovered Y-linked marker and a mitochondrial marker to examine phylogeographic structure in the widespread and economically important rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Two distinct geographic groupings that generally correspond to coastal and inland subspecies were evident within the Y-marker network while the mtDNA haplotype network showed little geographic structure. Our results suggest that male-specific behavior has prevented widespread admixture of Y haplotypes and that gene flow between the coastal and inland subspecies has largely occurred through females. This new Y marker may also aid conservation efforts by genetically identifying inland populations that have not hybridized with widely stocked coastal-derived hatchery fish.

A first generation BAC-based physical map of the rainbow trout genome

Background

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are the most-widely cultivated cold freshwater fish in the world and an important model species for many research areas. Coupling great interest in this species as a research model with the need for genetic improvement of aquaculture production efficiency traits justifies the continued development of genomics research resources. Many quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been identified for production and life-history traits in rainbow trout. A bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) physical map is needed to facilitate fine mapping of QTL and the selection of positional candidate genes for incorporation in marker-assisted selection (MAS) for improving rainbow trout aquaculture production. This resource will also facilitate efforts to obtain and assemble a whole-genome reference sequence for this species.

Results

The physical map was constructed from DNA fingerprinting of 192,096 BAC clones using the 4-color high-information content fingerprinting (HICF) method. The clones were assembled into physical map contigs using the finger-printing contig (FPC) program. The map is composed of 4,173 contigs and 9,379 singletons. The total number of unique fingerprinting fragments (consensus bands) in contigs is 1,185,157, which corresponds to an estimated physical length of 2.0 Gb. The map assembly was validated by 1) comparison with probe hybridization results and agarose gel fingerprinting contigs; and 2) anchoring large contigs to the microsatellite-based genetic linkage map.

Conclusion

The production and validation of the first BAC physical map of the rainbow trout genome is described in this paper. We are currently integrating this map with the NCCCWA genetic map using more than 200 microsatellites isolated from BAC end sequences and by identifying BACs that harbor more than 300 previously mapped markers. The availability of an integrated physical and genetic map will enable detailed comparative genome analyses, fine mapping of QTL, positional cloning, selection of positional candidate genes for economically important traits and the incorporation of MAS into rainbow trout breeding programs.

Recombination is suppressed over a large region of the rainbow trout Y chromosome

The previous genetic mapping data have suggested that most of the rainbow trout sex chromosome pair is pseudoautosomal, with very small X-specific and Y-specific regions. We have prepared an updated genetic and cytogenetic map of the male rainbow trout sex linkage group. Selected sex-linked markers spanning the X chromosome of the female genetic map have been mapped cytogenetically in normal males and genetically in crosses between the OSU female clonal line and four different male clonal lines as well as in outcrosses involving outbred OSU and hybrids between the OSU line and the male clonal lines. The cytogenetic maps of the X and Y chromosomes were very similar to the female genetic map for the X chromosome. Five markers on the male maps are genetically very close to the sex determination locus (SEX), but more widely spaced on the female genetic map and on the cytogenetic map, indicating a large region of suppressed recombination on the Y chromosome surrounding the SEX locus. The male map is greatly extended at the telomere. A BAC clone containing the SCAR (sequence characterized amplified region) Omy-163 marker, which maps close to SEX, was subjected to shotgun sequencing. Two carbonyl reductase genes and a gene homologous to the vertebrate skeletal ryanodine receptor were identified. Carbonyl reductase is a key enzyme involved in production of trout ovarian maturation hormone. This brings the number of type I genes mapped to the sex chromosome to six and has allowed us to identify a region on zebrafish chromosome 10 and medaka chromosome 13 which may be homologous to the distal portion of the long arm of the rainbow trout Y chromosome.

Universal mtDNA primers for species identification of degraded bony fish samples

We developed primers for amplifying and sequencing highly degraded mtDNA from diverse fish species. The primers flank a variable 148-bp fragment within the 12S region of mtDNA. We screened and sequenced 82 samples of bony fishes representing 17 families to confirm cross-species amplification and identification. Salmonid species were analysed and demonstrate 13 species-specific SNPs within this region. Based on alignments of additional deposited sequences, these primers are conserved in many other species, making them useful for species identification using degraded DNA samples such as archaeological specimens.

Characterization of the interferon genes in homozygous rainbow trout reveals two novel genes, alternate splicing and differential regulation of duplicated genes

The genes encoding the type I and type II interferons (IFNs) have previously been identified in rainbow trout and their proteins partially characterized. These previous studies reported a single type II IFN (rtIFN-gamma) and three rainbow trout type I IFN genes that are classified into either group I (rtIFN1, rtIFN2) or group II (rtIFN3). In this present study, we report the identification of a novel IFN-gamma gene (rtIFN-gamma2) and a novel type I group II IFN (rtIFN4) in homozygous rainbow trout and predict that additional IFN genes or pseudogenes exist in the rainbow trout genome. Additionally, we provide evidence that short and long forms of rtIFN1 are actively and differentially transcribed in homozygous trout, and likely arose due to alternate splicing of the first exon. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) assays were developed to systematically profile all of the rainbow trout IFN transcripts, with high specificity at an individual gene level, in naïve fish and after stimulation with virus or viral-related molecules. Cloned PCR products were used to ensure the specificity of the qRT-PCR assays and as absolute standards to assess transcript abundance of each gene. All IFN genes were modulated in response to Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), a DNA vaccine based on the IHNV glycoprotein, and poly I:C. The most inducible of the type I IFN genes, by all stimuli tested, were rtIFN3 and the short transcript form of rtIFN1. Gene expression of rtIFN-gamma1 and rtIFN-gamma2 was highly up-regulated by IHNV infection and DNA vaccination but rtIFN-gamma2 was induced to a greater magnitude. The specificity of the qRT-PCR assays reported here will be useful for future studies aimed at identifying which cells produce IFNs at early time points after infection.

Comparative genome mapping reveals evidence of gene conversion between Sox9 paralogs of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Considerable evidence suggests that one genome duplication event preceded the divergence of teleost fishes and a second genome duplication event occurred before the radiation of teleosts of the family Salmonidae. Two Sox9 genes have been isolated from a number of teleosts and are called Sox9a and Sox9b. Two Sox9 gene copies have also been isolated from rainbow trout, a salmonid fish and are called Sox9 and Sox9?2. Previous evaluations of the evolutionary history of rainbow trout Sox9 gene copies using phylogenetic reconstructions of their coding regions indicated that they both belong to the Sox9b clade. In this study, we determine the true evolutionary history of Sox9 gene copies in rainbow trout. We show that the locus referred to as Sox9 in rainbow trout is itself duplicated. Mapping of the duplicated Sox9 gene copies indicates that they are co-orthologs of Sox9b while mapping of Sox9?2 indicates that it is an ortholog of Sox9a. This relationship is supported by phylogenetic reconstruction of Sox9 gene copies in teleosts using their 3? untranslated regions. The conflicting phylogenetic topology of Sox9 genes in rainbow trout indicates the occurrence of gene conversion events between Sox9 and Sox9?2 which is supported by a number of recombination analyses.

Mapping of five candidate sex-determining loci in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

BACKGROUND

Rainbow trout have an XX/XY genetic mechanism of sex determination where males are the heterogametic sex. The homology of the sex-determining gene (SDG) in medaka to Dmrt1 suggested that SDGs evolve from downstream genes by gene duplication. Orthologous sequences of the major genes of the mammalian sex determination pathway have been reported in the rainbow trout but the map position for the majority of these genes has not been assigned.

RESULTS

Five loci of four candidate genes (Amh, Dax1, Dmrt1 and Sox6) were tested for linkage to the Y chromosome of rainbow trout. We exclude the role of all these loci as candidates for the primary SDG in this species. Sox6i and Sox6ii, duplicated copies of Sox6, mapped to homeologous linkage groups 10 and 18 respectively. Genotyping fishes of the OSU x Arlee mapping family for Sox6i and Sox6ii alleles indicated that Sox6i locus might be deleted in the Arlee lineage.

CONCLUSION

Additional candidate genes should be tested for their linkage to the Y chromosome. Mapping data of duplicated Sox6 loci supports previously suggested homeology between linkage groups 10 and 18. Enrichment of the rainbow trout genomic map with known gene markers allows map comparisons with other salmonids. Mapping of candidate sex-determining loci is important for analyses of potential autosomal modifiers of sex-determination in rainbow trout.

Genome assembly anchored QTL map of bovine chromosome 14

Bovine chromosome 14 (BTA14) has been widely explored for quantitative trait loci (QTL) and genes related to economically important traits in both dairy and beef cattle. We reviewed more than 40 investigations and anchored 126 QTL to the current genome assembly (Btau 4_0). Using this anchored QTL map, we observed that, in dairy cattle, the region spanning 0 – 10 Mb on BTA14 has the highest density QTL map with a total of 56 QTL, mainly for milk production traits. It is very likely that both somatic cell score (SCS) and clinical mastitis share some common QTL in two regions: 61.48 Mb - 73.84 Mb and 7.86 Mb – 39.55 Mb, respectively. As well, both ovulation rate and twinning rate might share a common QTL region from 34.16 Mb to 65.38 Mb. However, there are no common QTL locations in three pregnancy related phenotypes: non-return rate, pregnancy rate and daughter pregnancy rate. In beef cattle, the majority of QTL are located in a broad region of 15 Mb – 45 Mb on the chromosome. Functional genes, such as CRH, CYP11B1, DGAT1, FABP4 and TG, as potential candidates for some of these QTL, were also reviewed. Therefore, our review provides a standardized QTL map anchored within the current genome assembly, which would enhance the process of selecting positional and physiological candidate genes for many important traits in cattle.

Y-specific sequences and polymorphisms in rainbow trout and Chinook salmon

Improved methods for genetically sexing salmonids and for characterization of Y-chromosome homologies between species can contribute to understanding the evolution of sex chromosomes and sex-determining mechanisms. In this study we have explored 12.5 kb of Y-chromosome-specific sequence flanking the previously described OtY2 locus in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and 21 kb of homologous rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Y-chromosome-specific sequence. This is the first confirmed Y-specific sequence for rainbow trout. New Y-specific markers are described for Chinook salmon (OtY3) and rainbow trout (OmyY1), which are readily detected by PCR assays and are advantageous because they also produce autosomal control amplification products. Additionally, AFLP analysis of Chinook salmon yielded another potential Y-chromosome marker. These descriptions will facilitate genotypic sexing and should be useful for population studies of Y-chromosome polymorphisms and for future studies to characterize what appears to be a common sex-determining mechanism between these species.

The cutthroat trout Y chromosome is conserved with that of rainbow trout

Five genetic markers previously shown to be located on the sex chromosomes of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were tested for linkage with the sex locus of Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri) in a genetic cross created from a rainbow x cutthroat male hybrid. We show that the sex locus of both rainbow and cutthroat trout is on the same homologous linkage group. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using a probe for the microsatellite marker Omm1665, which maps close to the sex locus of Yellowstone cutthroat trout, was used to identify the Y chromosome of cutthroat trout in the hybrid. The Y chromosome of cutthroat trout is sub-telocentric and lacks a DAPI band found on the short arm of the Y chromosome of some rainbow trout males.

Heat shock protein (HSP70) RNA expression differs among rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) clonal lines

Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70, 70 kDa) is the most commonly expressed protein in response to thermal stress. The extent of its expression is associated with differences in environmental temperatures. We investigated the heat shock response in red blood cells collected from one-year-old rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Three different clonal lines of rainbow trout (Arlee, OSU and Whale Rock) were utilized, originating from habitats that likely experienced different thermal profile. The relative expression of HSP70 from blood cells treated at 13 degrees C, 16 degrees C, 18 degrees C, 20 degrees C, 22 degrees C, and 24 degrees C was quantified using real-time PCR. The use of red blood cells allows for the control and replication of HSP70 expression patterns. Relative expression of HSP70 differed significantly among the three clonal lines. The Arlee line had the lowest HSP70 response of the three clonal lines at any temperature; indicating a heritable difference. Maximum expression of HSP70 occurred at 22 degrees C in the OSU line and at 24 degrees C in the Whale Rock line. The discovery of variation in HSP70 expression among the clonal lines indicates that future studies to map the genetic control of HSP70 expression differences are possible.

A simplified QTL mapping approach for screening and mapping of novel AFLP markers associated with beef marbling

Genome screening of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for a complex trait is usually costly and highly laborious, as it requires a large number of markers spanning the whole genome. Here we present a simplified approach for screening and mapping of QTL-linked markers for beef marbling using a WagyuxLimousin F(2) reference population. This simplified approach involves integration of the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) with DNA pooling and selective genotyping and comparative bioinformatics tools. AFLP analysis on two high and two low marbling DNA pools yielded ten visually different markers. Among them, four were confirmed based on individual AFLP validation. Sequencing and in silico characterization assigned two of these AFLP markers to bovine chromosomes 1 (BTA1) and 13 (BTA13), which are orthologous to human chromosomes HSA21q22.2 and HSA10p11.23 with both regions harboring QTL for obesity-related phenotypes. Both AFLP markers showed significantly large additive genetic effects (0.28+/-0.11 on BTA1 and 0.54+/-0.21 on BTA13) on beef-marbling score (BMS) (P<0.05). Overall, this approach is less time consuming, inexpensive and in particular, suitable for screening and mapping QTL-linked markers when targeting one or a few complex traits.

Quantitative trait loci x maternal cytoplasmic environment interaction for development rate in Oncorhynchus mykiss

Effects of maternal cytoplasmic environment (MCE) on development rate in rainbow trout were evaluated within a quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis framework. Previous research had identified QTL for development rate in doubled haploid (DH) progeny produced from a cross between the Oregon State University (OSU) and the Swanson (SW) River rainbow trout clonal lines. In this study, progeny for QTL mapping were produced from a cross between the OSU and Clearwater (CW) River clonal lines. Doubled haploids were produced from the OSU x CW F1 by androgenesis using eggs from different females (or MCEs); with androgenesis, the maternal nuclear genome was destroyed by irradiation and diploidy was restored by blocking the first embryonic cleavage by heat shock. All embryos were incubated at the same temperature and development rate quantified as time to hatch. Using a linkage map constructed primarily with AFLP markers, QTL mapping was performed, including MCE covariates and QTL x MCE effects in models for testing. The major QTL for development rate in the OSU x SW cross overlaps with the major QTL found in this OSU x CW cross; effects at this locus were the same across MCEs. Both MCE and QTL x MCE effects contribute to variability in development rate, but QTL x MCE were minor and detected only at small-effect QTL.

Transcriptome profiles of livers and kidneys from three rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) clonal lines distinguish stocks from three allopatric populations

Transcriptome profiling is a powerful means of simultaneously identifying large numbers of genes that respond transcriptionally to stimuli of any sort. Whereas individuality at the level of genomic sequence is readily revealed and can be expected to influence transcriptional responses, knowledge of the global transcriptomic consequences of genomic individuality is in its infancy. Appreciation of the inherent variability of biological systems gives us confidence in predicting that no two individuals in any outbred population will respond identically to a stimulus. More critical for comparative studies, even unstimulated transcriptomes will be distinctive for each individual. To assess the confidence with which inferences may be drawn from transcriptome profiling when genetically identical samples can be assured, we examined the unprovoked transcriptomes of hepatic and pronephric (head kidney) tissues in three clonal lines of Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Clonal individuals derived from three allopatric populations presented transcriptional profiles for both liver and pronephros that were not statistically significantly different within each clonal line; however each clonal line was distinguished by a subset of genes with constitutively different transcript abundance. Among these, immunologically-relevant genes were over-represented, possibly reflecting evolutionarily recent, pathogen-driven genetic sweeps.

Assignment of rainbow trout linkage groups to specific chromosomes

The rainbow trout genetic linkage groups have been assigned to specific chromosomes in the OSU (2N=60) strain using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with BAC probes containing genes mapped to each linkage group. There was a rough correlation between chromosome size and size of the genetic linkage map in centimorgans for the genetic maps based on recombination from the female parent. Chromosome size and structure have a major impact on the female:male recombination ratio, which is much higher (up to 10:1 near the centromeres) on the larger metacentric chromosomes compared to smaller acrocentric chromosomes. Eighty percent of the BAC clones containing duplicate genes mapped to a single chromosomal location, suggesting that diploidization resulted in substantial divergence of intergenic regions. The BAC clones that hybridized to both duplicate loci were usually located in the distal portion of the chromosome. Duplicate genes were almost always found at a similar location on the chromosome arm of two different chromosome pairs, suggesting that most of the chromosome rearrangements following tetraploidization were centric fusions and did not involve homeologous chromosomes. The set of BACs compiled for this research will be especially useful in construction of genome maps and identification of QTL for important traits in other salmonid fishes.

A novel nuclear-encoded mitochondrial poly(A) polymerase PAPD1 is a potential candidate gene for the extreme obesity related phenotypes in mammals

People with obesity, especially extreme obesity, are at risk for many health problems. However, the responsible genes remain unknown in >95% of severe obesity cases. Our previous genome-wide scan of Wagyu x Limousin F₂ cattle crosses with extreme phenotypes revealed a molecular marker significantly associated with intramuscular fat deposition. Characterization of this marker showed that it is orthologous to the human gene KIAA1462 located on HSA10p11.23, where a major quantitative trait locus for morbid obesity has been reported. The newly identified mitochondrial poly(A) polymerase associated domain containing 1 (PAPD1) gene, which is located near this marker, is particularly interesting because the polymerase is required for the polyadenylation and stabilization of mammalian mitochondrial mRNAs. In the present study, both cDNA and genomic DNA sequences were annotated for the bovine PAPD1 gene and ten genetic markers were detected in the promoter and exon 1 region. Among seven markers assayed on ~ 250 Wagyu x Limousin F₂ animals, two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region were significantly associated with intramuscular fat (P<0.05). However, there was a significant interaction (P<0.05) between a third SNP, which causes an amino acid change in coding exon 1, and each of these two promoter SNPs on intramuscular fat deposition. In particular, the differences between double heterozygous animals at two polymorphic sites and the slim genotype animals exceeded 2.3 standard deviations for the trait in both cases. Our study provides evidence for a new mechanism – the involvement of compound heterosis in extreme obesity, which warrants further examination.

Comprehensive gene expression profiling following DNA vaccination of rainbow trout against infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus

The DNA vaccine based on the glycoprotein gene of Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus induces a non-specific anti-viral immune response and long-term specific immunity against IHNV. This study characterized gene expression responses associated with the early anti-viral response. Homozygous rainbow trout were injected intra-muscularly (I.M.) with vector DNA or the IHNV DNA vaccine. Gene expression in muscle tissue (I.M. site) was evaluated using a 16,008 feature salmon cDNA microarray. Eighty different genes were significantly modulated in the vector DNA group while 910 genes were modulated in the IHNV DNA vaccinate group relative to control group. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR was used to examine expression of selected immune genes at the I.M. site and in other secondary tissues. In the localized response (I.M. site), the magnitudes of gene expression changes were much greater in the vaccinate group relative to the vector DNA group for the majority of genes analyzed. At secondary systemic sites (e.g. gill, kidney and spleen), type I IFN-related genes were up-regulated in only the IHNV DNA vaccinated group. The results presented here suggest that the IHNV DNA vaccine induces up-regulation of the type I IFN system across multiple tissues, which is the functional basis of early anti-viral immunity.

Use of androgenesis for estimating maternal and mitochondrial genome effects on development and oxygen consumption in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Chromosome set manipulation was used to produce rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, with identical nuclear backgrounds, but different maternal backgrounds to determine mitochondrial effects on development rate and oxygen consumption. Significant differences in development rate and oxygen consumption were observed between groups from different females. Development rates ranged from a mean of 317.97 degree days ( degrees d) to 335.25 degrees d in progeny from different females. Mean oxygen consumption rates ranged from 3.31 micromol O2 g(-1) wet mass h(-1) to 9.66 micromol O2 g(-1) wet mass h(-1). Oxygen consumption and development rate analysis revealed the two slowest developing groups had the highest oxygen consumption rates. Development rate differences between second generation clonal females indicate that mitochondrial genomes play a significant role on early development and are comparable to development rate differences between clonal lines of rainbow trout. These results indicate that selection for mitochondrial genomes could increase growth rates and possibly food conversion ratios in aquaculture species.

Polymorphism and differentiation of rainbow trout Y chromosomes

Most fish species show little morphological differentiation in the sex chromosomes. We have coupled molecular and cytogenetic analyses to characterize the male-determining region of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Y chromosome. Four genetically diverse male clonal lines of this species were used for genetic and physical mapping of regions in the vicinity of the sex locus. Five markers were genetically mapped to the Y chromosome in these male lines, indicating that the sex locus was located on the same linkage group in each of the lines. We also confirmed the presence of a Y chromosome morphological polymorphism among these lines, with the Y chromosomes from two of the lines having the more common heteromorphic Y chromosome and two of the lines having Y chromosomes morphologically similar to the X chromosome. The fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) pattern of two probes linked to sex suggested that the sex locus is physically located on the long arm of the Y chromosome. Fishes appear to be an excellent group of organisms for studying sex chromosome evolution and differentiation in vertebrates because they show considerable variability in the mechanisms and (or) patterns involved in sex determination.Key words: sex chromosomes, sex markers, cytogenetics, rainbow trout, fish.

Does differential selection on the 5S rDNA explain why the rainbow trout sex chromosome heteromorphism is not linked to the SEX locus?

Many but not all rainbow trout strains have morphologically distinguishable sex chromosomes. In these strains, the short arm of the X has multiple copies of 5S rDNA and a bright DAPI band near the centromere, both of which are missing from the Y chromosome, which has a very small short arm. We examined the presence of these markers using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in four different YY clonal lines derived from different strains and compared the results with sexed fish of the Donaldson strain with the normal X/Y heteromorphism. The Y chromosome in two of the YY clonal lines (Arlee and Swanson) is indistinguishable from the X chromosome and it is positive for 5S rDNA and the DAPI bright band. On the other hand, both 5S rDNA sequences and the DAPI band were not found on the Y chromosome in Hot Creek and Clearwater which have the normal Y. Thus the presence of these two cytogenetic markers may account for the size difference between the short arm of the X and Y chromosome found in most rainbow trout strains. In fishes the expression of one type of 5S rRNA is restricted to oocytes and previous work suggests that although XX males are fairly common, XY females are rare, implying a selective disadvantage for XY females. A hypothesis is presented to explain why this sex chromosome heteromorphism is not closely linked to the SEX locus, which is found on the long arm of the Y chromosome in rainbow trout.

Behavioral Differences Among Rainbow Trout Clonal Lines

Salmonid fish show considerable geographical variation in morphology, physiology, and behavior. Understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying this variation could be useful for enhancing aquaculture stocks, identifying unique populations for conservation, and determining the genetic factors underlying natural adaptation and domestication. As a first step toward the genetic dissection of salmonid behavioral diversity, we examined variation in behavior patterns among four clonal lines of rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) derived from geographically diverse source populations with different domestication histories. Clonal lines were crossed with two outbred (i.e., not homozygous) females, and the resulting progenies were reared and tested under identical conditions. Clonal line had significant genetic effects on mean swim level, hiding, foraging, startle response, and aggression level. Multiple comparisons suggest that domestication history of the source populations had a strong influence on these behavior patterns. Progeny of two clonal lines derived from populations reared in captivity for over 100 years exhibited reductions in predator avoidance behavior patterns and increases in aggression compared to progeny of two clonal lines from more recently domesticated populations. These results will facilitate future investigation of the genetic factors underlying population variation in these behavior patterns influenced by domestication.

A single major chromosomal region controls natural killer cell-like activity in rainbow trout

We report the identification of a single major chromosomal region controlling natural killer (NK) cell-like activity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). A genetic map based on 484 AFLP and 39 microsatellite genotypes from 106 doubled haploid fish was constructed. These fish were produced by androgenesis from a hybrid of two clonal lines divergent in NK-like activity. NK-like activities for 75 of the doubled haploids were quantified by an in vitro chromium release assay utilizing (51)Cr-labeled YAC-1 target cells. Composite interval mapping revealed a single major quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with NK-like activity in this rainbow trout model. Genetic mapping revealed this QTL to also be unlinked to: fragmented MHC class I and MHC class II regions, the leukocyte receptor cluster, the natural killer cell enhancement factor ( NKEF) gene, the RAG-1 gene, and two QTL associated with resistance to infectious pancreatic necrosis virus in rainbow trout. Collectively, these results extend the utility of rainbow trout as an immunological model and are consistent with the idea that a single chromosomal region homologous to the natural killer cell complex (NKC) located on syntenic portions of mouse chromosome (Chr) 6, human Chr 12, and rat Chr 4 may exist in a lower vertebrate model.