Salinity changes in the anadromous river pufferfish, Takifugu obscurus, mediate gene regulation.

This study aimed to better understand the hydromineral regulatory response of the anadromous river pufferfish, Takifugu obscurus, to salinity changes through real-time RT-PCR. After abrupt transfer from 30 or 5 psu to 5 or 30 psu, respectively, we analyzed the mRNA expression of Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase, prolactin receptor, and aquaporin from osmoregulatory organs of the river pufferfish such as gills, kidney, and intestine. Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase showed notable changes in the gills and kidney when salinity was increased. In the gills, the expression level of Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase suddenly increased within a day after abrupt transfer from 5 to 30 psu and then slightly declined within 2 days after exposure. In the kidney, Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase has shown consistently high mRNA expression after the increase in salinity. Expression levels of the prolactin receptor gene increased when environmental salinity decreased. In the intestine, gene expression of the prolactin receptor remained high, even when salinity decreased. To the contrary, there was a steady increase or decrease in mRNA expression in the kidney in response to salinity decrease or increase, respectively. As for aquaporins, aquaporin 1 was mainly expressed in the intestine and kidney, and aquaporin 3 was mainly expressed in the gills and intestine. In the gills, increased expression of aquaporin 3 was found after transfer to lower salinity and in the intestine and kidney, a decrease in salinity followed by an abrupt decrease in aquaporin 1 and aquaporin 3. Contrastingly, the expression of these genes increased in the intestine after transfer to 30 psu. Osmoregulatory genes were expressed in diverse organs, apparently to overcome an influx or exhaust of water or ions. A superior adaptation ability of the river pufferfish to a wide range of salinities is most reasonably due to active osmoregulatory processes mediated by the genes monitored here.

Population biology of the largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides from Goe-San Lake, Korea.

The population biology of Micropterus salmoides were examined in Goe-san Lake from March 2010 to February 2011. The development of ovary and testis was separated into 5 stages by the criteria. The ratio of females to males increased with total length. Females were sampled in slightly larger size and greater number. Mean size and age was greater for females (255 mm total length and 2.03 years, respectively) than males (227 mm and 2.44 years, respectively). Growth was described by 3 parameter von Bertalanffy model by otoliths as L(t) = 459.01 (1-exp[-0.126 (t+0.416)]). The spawning season of M. salmoides was from April to June, with a peak in May by the gonadosomatic indices and the monthly proportions of female and male gonad stages. Ripe females were collected during the spawning period. Mean fecundity was 27656 +/- 1424 oocytes every female. Fecundity was positively correlated with total length, and it was described by mean fecundity 202.4 Total length--38188. Higher fecundity well indicated that the largemouth bass has a flexible spawning strategy and has acclimatized well to Goe-san Lake.

Low genetic diversity, local-scale structure, and distinct genetic integrity of Korean chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) at the species range margin suggest a priority for conservation efforts.

Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) is an ecologically and economically important species widely distributed across the North Pacific Ocean. However, the population size of this fishery resource has declined globally. Identifying genetic integrity, diversity and structure, and phylogenetic relationships of wild populations of O. keta over an entire species' range is central for developing its effective conservation and management plans. Nevertheless, chum salmon from the Korean Peninsula, which are comprised of its southwestern range margins, have been overlooked. By using mtDNA control region and 10 microsatellite loci, we here assessed the genetic diversity and structure for 16 populations, including 10 wild and six hatchery populations, encompassing the species entire geographic range in South Korea. The analyses showed that genetic diversity is significantly higher for wild than for hatchery populations. Both marker sets revealed significant genetic differentiation between some local populations. Comparisons of six wild and their respective hatchery populations indicated that allele/haplotype frequencies considerably differ, perhaps due to a strong founder effect and/or homogenizing of hatchery populations for stocking practice. Despite its single admixed gene pool for the Korean chum salmon, some local populations housing their own unique lineages should be accorded with a high priority to safeguard their genetic integrities. The results of our comparative analyses of the Korean population with other North Pacific chum salmons (inhabiting regions of Japan, Russia, and North America) revealed a lower diversity but higher contribution to the overall species-level genetic diversity, and also its unique genetic integrity. These findings advocate for the evolutionary significance of the Korean population for species-level conservation.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the javeline goby Acanthogobius hasta (Perciformes, Gobiidae) and phylogenetic considerations.

We isolated Acanthogobius hasta mitochondrial DNA by long-polymerase chain reaction (long-PCR) with conserved primers, and sequenced this mitogenome with primer walking. The resultant A. hasta mitochondrial DNA sequence was found to consist of 16,663 bp with a structural organization conserved relative to that of other fish. In this paper, we report the basic characteristics of the A. hasta mitochondrial genome including structural organization, base composition of rRNAs and the tRNAs and protein-encoding genes, and characteristics of mitochondrial tRNAs. These findings are applicable to molecular phylogenetics in the suborder Gobioidei.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the freshwater gudgeon, Pseudopungtungia nigra (Cypriniformes, Gobioninae).

The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced from the freshwater fish, Pseudopungtungia nigra. The genome sequence was 16,605 bp in size, and the gene order and contents were identical with the cyprinid fish without any peculiar features. Of 13 protein-coding genes (PGCs), 3 genes (CO2, CO3 and Cytb) had an incomplete stop codon. The base composition of P. nigra showed anti-G bias (13.71% and 9.48%) on the second and third positions of PCGs.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the freshwater fish, Rhodeus suigensis (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced from the cyprinid freshwater fish, Rhodeus suigensis. The genome sequence was 16,733 bp in size, and the gene order and contents were identical with the congeneric species R. uyekii. Of 13 protein-coding genes (PGCs), 3 genes (CO2, CO3 and Cytb) had an incomplete stop codon as shown in R. uyekii. Fot the base composition, R. suigensis showed anti-G bias (13.66% and 12.37%) on the second and third positions of the PCGs.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the freshwater fish, Acanthorhodeus macropterus (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced from the freshwater cyprinid fish, Acanthorhodeus macropterus. The genome sequence was 16,774 bp in size, and the gene order and contents were identical with another cyprinid fish, Acheilognathus yamatsutae. Of 13 protein-coding genes (PGCs), 3 genes (CO2, CO3, Cytb) had an incomplete stop codon. The base composition of A. macropterus showed anti-G bias (13.58% and 8.98%) on the second and third positions of PCGs.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Korean bitterling Acheilognathus intermedia (Cypriniformes; Cyprinidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced from the Korean bitterling Acheilognathus intermedia. The genome sequence was 16,610 bp in size, and the gene order and contents were identical with the congeneric Acheilognathus signifier and other previously reported fish mitochondrial genomes. Of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), three genes (CO2, CO3, and Cytochrome b) had incomplete stop codons. The base composition of A. intermedia showed anti-G bias (12.48%) on the third position of PCGs.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Korean bitterling Acheilognathus koreensis (Cypriniformes; Cyprinidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced from the Korean bitterling Acheilognathus koreensis. The genome sequence was 16,563 bp in size, and the gene order and contents were identical with the same genera Acheilognathus signifier and other previously reported fish mitochondrial genomes. Of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), four genes (CO2, CO3, ND4, and Cytochrome b) had incomplete stop codons. The base composition of A. koreensis showed anti-G bias (13.69%) on the third position of PCGs.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the striped bittering Acheilognathus yamatsutae (Cypriniformes; Cyprinidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced from the striped bittering Acheilognathus yamatsutae. The genome sequence was 16,703 bp in size, and the gene order and contents were identical tot those of the congeneric species Acheilognathus signifer and other previously reported fish mitochondrial genomes. Of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), three genes (CO(2), CO(3), and Cytb) had incomplete stop codons. The base composition of A. yamatsutae showed anti-G bias (13.50% and 9.72%) on the 2nd and 3rd position of PCGs.

Permanent genetic resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 August 2011-30 September 2011.

This article documents the addition of 299 microsatellite marker loci and nine pairs of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) EPIC primers to the Molecular Ecology Resources (MER) Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Alosa pseudoharengus, Alosa aestivalis, Aphis spiraecola, Argopecten purpuratus, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Garra gotyla, Hippodamia convergens, Linnaea borealis, Menippe mercenaria, Menippe adina, Parus major, Pinus densiflora, Portunus trituberculatus, Procontarinia mangiferae, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, Schizothorax richardsonii, Scophthalmus rhombus, Tetraponera aethiops, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, Tuta absoluta and Ugni molinae. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Barilius bendelisis, Chiromantes haematocheir, Eriocheir sinensis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus cladocalix, Eucalyptus globulus, Garra litaninsis vishwanath, Garra para lissorhynchus, Guindilla trinervis, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, Luma chequen. Guayaba, Myrceugenia colchagüensis, Myrceugenia correifolia, Myrceugenia exsucca, Parasesarma plicatum, Parus major, Portunus pelagicus, Psidium guayaba, Schizothorax richardsonii, Scophthalmus maximus, Tetraponera latifrons, Thaumetopoea bonjeani, Thaumetopoea ispartensis, Thaumetopoea libanotica, Thaumetopoea pinivora, Thaumetopoea pityocampa ena clade, Thaumetopoea solitaria, Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni and Tor putitora. This article also documents the addition of nine EPIC primer pairs for Euphaea decorata, Euphaea formosa, Euphaea ornata and Euphaea yayeyamana.

Permanent genetic resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 December 2010-31 January 2011.

This article documents the addition of 238 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Alytes dickhilleni, Arapaima gigas, Austropotamobius italicus, Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, Cobitis lutheri, Dendroctonus ponderosae, Glossina morsitans morsitans, Haplophilus subterraneus, Kirengeshoma palmata, Lysimachia japonica, Macrolophus pygmaeus, Microtus cabrerae, Mytilus galloprovincialis, Pallisentis (Neosentis) celatus, Pulmonaria officinalis, Salminus franciscanus, Thais chocolata and Zootoca vivipara. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Acanthina monodon, Alytes cisternasii, Alytes maurus, Alytes muletensis, Alytes obstetricans almogavarii, Alytes obstetricans boscai, Alytes obstetricans obstetricans, Alytes obstetricans pertinax, Cambarellus montezumae, Cambarellus zempoalensis, Chorus giganteus, Cobitis tetralineata, Glossina fuscipes fuscipes, Glossina pallidipes, Lysimachia japonica var. japonica, Lysimachia japonica var. minutissima, Orconectes virilis, Pacifastacus leniusculus, Procambarus clarkii, Salminus brasiliensis and Salminus hilarii.