Genes and elements involved in the regulation of the nervous system and growth affect the development of spinal deformity in Cyprinus carpio.

Spinal deformity is a serious economic and animal welfare problem in intensive fish farming systems, which will be a significant unsolved problem for the fish sector. The aim of this study was to determine the relative expression of genes (Akt1 substrate 1, Calreticulin, Collagen type I alpha 2 chain, Corticotropin-releasing hormone, Chromodomain-Helicase DNA-binding, Growth hormone, Insulin like growth factor 1, Myostatin, Sine oculis-related homeobox 3, Toll-like receptor 2) in different tissues associated with spinal deformity and to determine the macroelement (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sulfur) and microelement (barium, copper, iron, manganese, strontium, zinc) content of spine in healthy and deformed common carps (Cyprinus carpio) in Hungary. The mRNA levels of the genes were measured in 7 different tissues (abdominal fat, blood, brain, dorsal muscle, genitals, heart, liver) by qRT-PCR. Correlations between gene expression and element content were analyzed by using linear regression and Spearman rank correlation. In a total of 15 cases, we found a statistically significant connection between gene expression in a tissue and the macro- or microelement content of the spine. In these contexts, the genes Akt1 substrate 1 (3), Collagen type I alpha 2 chain (2), Corticotropin-releasing hormone (4), Insulin-like growth factor 1 (4), and Myostatin (2), the tissue's blood (3), brain (6), heart (5), and liver (1), the macroelements sodium (4), magnesium (4), phosphorus (1) and sulfur (2) as well as the microelement iron (4) were involved. We also found statistically significant mRNA level differences between healthy and deformed common carps in tissues that were not directly affected by the deformation. Based on our results, genes regulating the nervous system and growth, elements, and tissues are the most associated components in the phenomenon of spinal deformity. With our study, we wish to give direction to and momentum for the exploration of these complex processes.

Abiotic stress elements in in vitro potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) exposed to air-based and liquid-based ultrasound: A comparative transcriptomic assessment.

Ultrasound (US) can modify the plant growth and development. Previous assessments of the transcriptome of in vitro potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) exposed to US transmitted through air (AB-US) or liquid (PE-US) revealed the up- or down-regulation of several stress-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to abiotic stress. In a bid to better characterize stress-related elements over a four-week period, the transcriptome of AB-US was compared to that of PE-US. When comparing the controls of both treatments, DEGs related to hypoxia were not detected. Nevertheless, hypoxia-related DEGs were detected in the combination of liquid medium and ultrasonication. DEGs coding for chitinase, peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, transcription factors of ERF (ethylene responsive factor), DREB (dehydration-responsive element-binding), WRKY and MYB were also significantly highly expressed in PE-US, relative to AB-US. Up- and down-regulation of DEGs related to metabolic processes, and enzymes of the antioxidant system also confirm that PE-US is a more acute abiotic stress than AB-US. KEY MESSAGE: A transcriptomic analysis revealed that liquid-based ultrasonication was a stronger abiotic stressor than air-based ultrasonication. Of particular interest were the heat shock proteins and transcription factors in this comparison. Despite the ultrasound stress, explants survived and plantlets developed.