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Fan W, He Y, Su J, Feng Y, Zhuo T, Wang J, Jiao X, Luo Y, Wu J, Geng Y. Effects of leucism on organ development and molecular mechanisms in Northern snakehead (Channa argus) beyond pigmentation alterations. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19689. [PMID: 37952047 PMCID: PMC10640583 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46608-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Leucism, a widespread occurrence observed in Northern snakehead (Channa argus), bestows a striking white jade-like body coloration upon affected individuals and has gained substantial popularity in commercial breeding. While the visible manifestation of leucism in snakeheads is primarily limited to body coloration, it is crucial to explore the potential influence of leucism on organ development and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Through a comparative analysis of growth differences, our study revealed that at 150 days post-fertilization, the white variety exhibited an 8.5% higher liver index and intestinal index, but experienced a 20% and 38% decreased in spleen index and renal interstitial index, respectively, suggesting an enlarged digestive area but relatively smaller immune tissues. Nonetheless, no significant differences were observed in the intestinal flora between the two varieties, suggesting the exclusion of any exogenous impacts from symbiotic flora on the growth and development of the white variety. Importantly, transcriptome analysis demonstrated that the white variety exhibited higher expression levels of innate immune genes. Furthermore, annotation of the gene sets expressed in the liver and spleen revealed 76 and 35 genes respectively, with the white variety displaying lower expression in genes associated with "Viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor", "Protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum", and "TNF signaling pathway", while exhibiting higher expression in "Estrogen signaling pathway". Notably, three genes, namely pcdhf 4, nlrc3 card 15-like, and a pol-like were identified in both the liver and spleen, indicating their potential involvement in altering the development and innate immunity of the white variety. This study reveals the systemic impact of leucism that extends beyond mere pigmentation alterations, highlighting the prominent characteristics of this phenotype and providing a foundation for future molecular breeding programs aimed at enhancing this variety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Street No. 211, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- NeiJiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Neijiang, 641000, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang He
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Fishes Conservation and Utilization in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River/College of Life Sciences, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang, 641000, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Su
- NeiJiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Neijiang, 641000, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Feng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Street No. 211, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Zhuo
- NeiJiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Neijiang, 641000, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Fishes Conservation and Utilization in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River/College of Life Sciences, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang, 641000, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolei Jiao
- NeiJiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Neijiang, 641000, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Luo
- NeiJiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Neijiang, 641000, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Wu
- NeiJiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Neijiang, 641000, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Geng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Street No. 211, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
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Sun D, Qi X, Wen H, Li C, Li J, Chen J, Tao Z, Zhu M, Zhang X, Li Y. The genetic basis and potential molecular mechanism of yellow-albino northern snakehead ( Channa argus). Open Biol 2023; 13:220235. [PMID: 36789536 PMCID: PMC9929503 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Body colour is an important economic trait for commercial fishes. Recently, a new colour morph displaying market-favoured yellow skin (termed as yellow-mutant, YM) of northern snakehead (Channa argus) was discovered in China. We confirmed that YM snakehead is an albino with complete loss of melanin in the skin and eyes by histological and ultrastructural observations, and inherited as a recessive Mendelian trait. By applying genomic analysis approaches, in combination with gene knockdown and rescue experiments, we suggested a non-sense mutation in slc45a2 (c.383G > A) is the causation for the YM snakehead. Notably, significantly higher levels of key melanogenesis genes (tyr, tyrp1, dct and pmel) and phospho-MITF protein were detected in YM snakehead than those in wild-type individuals, and the underlying mechanism was further investigated by comparative transcriptomic analysis. Results revealed that differential expressed genes involved in pathways like MAPK, WNT and calcium signalling were significantly induced in YM snakehead, which might account for the increased amount of melanogenesis elements, and presumably be stimulated by fibroblast-derived melanogenic factors in a paracrine manner. Our study clarified the genetic basis of colour variation in C. argus and provided the preliminary clue indicating the potential involvement of fibroblasts in pigmentation in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donglei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education (KLMME), Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Qi
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education (KLMME), Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Haishen Wen
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education (KLMME), Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Li
- School of Marine Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianlong Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education (KLMME), Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiwei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education (KLMME), Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Zexin Tao
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education (KLMME), Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingxin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education (KLMME), Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- School of Marine Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education (KLMME), Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
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