Characterization of the fatty acyl elongase (elovl) gene family, and hepatic elovl and delta-6 fatty acyl desaturase transcript expression and fatty acid responses to diets containing camelina oil in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).

For aquaculture to become sustainable, there is a need to substitute fish oil [FO, rich in ω3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) such as 20:5ω3 (EPA) and 22:6ω3 (DHA)] in aquafeed with plant oils such as camelina oil [CO, rich in C18 PUFA such as 18:3ω3 (ALA) and 18:2ω6 (LNA)]. The LC-PUFA are essential components in fish diets for maintaining optimal health, physiology and growth. However, most marine fish including Atlantic cod are inefficient at producing LC-PUFA from shorter chain precursors. Since elovl genes encode enzymes that play key roles in fatty acid biosynthesis, we hypothesized that they may be involved in Atlantic cod responses to diets rich in 18:3ω3 and 18:2ω6. Ten members of the cod elovl gene family were characterized at the mRNA level. RT-PCR was used to study constitutive expression of elovl transcripts in fifteen tissues. Some transcripts (e.g. elovl5) were ubiquitously expressed, while others had tissue-specific expression (e.g. elovl4a in brain and eye). Cod fed a CO-containing diet (100% CO replacement of FO and including solvent-extracted fish meal) had significantly lower weight gain, with significant up-regulation of elovl5 and fadsd6 transcripts in the liver as shown by QPCR analysis, compared with cod on a FO control diet after a 13-week trial. Multivariate statistical analyses (SIMPER and PCA) indicated that high 18:3ω3 and/or low ω3 LC-PUFA levels in the liver were associated with the up-regulation of elovl5 and fadsd6, which are involved in LC-PUFA biosynthesis in cod.

Family-specific differences in growth rate and hepatic gene expression in juvenile triploid growth hormone (GH) transgenic Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

Growth hormone transgenic (GHTg) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) have enhanced growth when compared to their non-transgenic counterparts, and this trait can be beneficial for aquaculture production. Biological confinement of GHTg Atlantic salmon may be achieved through the induction of triploidy (3N). The growth rates of triploid GH transgenic (3NGHTg) Atlantic salmon juveniles were found to significantly vary between families in the AquaBounty breeding program. In order to characterize gene expression associated with enhanced growth in juvenile 3NGHTg Atlantic salmon, a functional genomics approach (32K cDNA microarray hybridizations followed by QPCR) was used to identify and validate liver transcripts that were differentially expressed between two fast-growing 3NGHTg Atlantic salmon families (AS11, AS26) and a slow-growing 3NGHTg Atlantic salmon family (AS25); juvenile growth rate was evaluated over a 45-day period. Of 687 microarray-identified differentially expressed features, 143 (116 more highly expressed in fast-growing and 27 more highly expressed in slow-growing juveniles) were identified in the AS11 vs. AS25 microarray study, while 544 (442 more highly expressed in fast-growing and 102 more highly expressed in slow-growing juveniles) were identified in the AS26 vs. AS25 microarray study. Forty microarray features (39 putatively associated with fast growth and 1 putatively associated with slow growth) were present in both microarray experiment gene lists. The expression levels of 15 microarray-identified transcripts were studied using QPCR with individual RNA samples to validate microarray results and to study biological variability of transcript expression. The QPCR results agreed with the microarray results for 12 of 13 putative fast-growth associated transcripts, but QPCR did not validate the microarray results for 2 putative slow-growth associated transcripts. Many of the 39 microarray-identified genes putatively associated at the transcript expression level with fast-growing 3NGHTg salmon juveniles (including APOA1, APOA4, B2M, FADSD6, FTM, and GAPDH) are involved in metabolism, iron homeostasis and oxygen transport, and immune- or stress-related responses. The results of this study increase our knowledge of family-specific impacts on growth rate and hepatic gene expression in juvenile 3NGHTg Atlantic salmon. In addition, this study provides a suite of putative rapid growth rate-associated transcripts that may contribute to the development of molecular markers [e.g. intronic, exonic or regulatory region single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)] for the selection of GHTg Atlantic salmon broodstock that can be utilized to produce sterile triploids of desired growth performance for future commercial applications.

Identification and molecular cloning of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) transcript and its induction in spleen following intraperitoneal polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid injection.

Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) participates in cellular processes to adapt to various extra- and intra-cellular changes including the modulation of immunity to prevent uncontrolled immune responses to pathogens. In teleost fishes, the involvement of ATF3 in immune response has not been documented. In this study, the putative Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) ATF3 transcript was identified by performing rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) based on unknown expressed sequence tags (ESTs) that are potentially inducible by polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (pIC, a synthetic double-stranded RNA viral mimic) in Atlantic cod. ATF3-like ESTs were the most abundant unknown transcript (i.e. lacking significant BLAST hits) generated from a previously constructed cDNA library enriched for pIC inducible transcripts in Atlantic cod spleen. The full-length cDNA of cod ATF3 consists of 2329 nucleotides with an open reading frame (ORF) of 735 bp encoding 244 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of Atlantic cod ATF3 shares over 45% identity with its putative orthologs from other vertebrates. In addition, the presence of a conserved basic region leucine zipper (bZIP) domain in the deduced Atlantic cod ATF3-like protein further supports its identity as an ATF3 homolog. In the spleen of Atlantic cod challenged with intraperitoneal (IP) injections of pIC, the time-course transcript expression of ATF3 was studied using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (QPCR). At 6 h following the pIC injection, the relative expression level of ATF3 mRNA was significantly up-regulated in comparison to a pre-injected control (61.9-fold) and its time-matched saline-injected control (97.3-fold). At 24 h following the pIC injection, the mRNA expression level of cod ATF3 had subsided and was no longer significantly different from its pre-injected control, but significantly higher (1.88-fold) than its time-matched saline-injected control. Collectively, these results suggest that ATF3 may be involved in the modulation of innate anti-viral response in Atlantic cod.

Development and experimental validation of a 20K Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) oligonucleotide microarray based on a collection of over 150,000 ESTs.

The collapse of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) wild populations strongly impacted the Atlantic cod fishery and led to the development of cod aquaculture. In order to improve aquaculture and broodstock quality, we need to gain knowledge of genes and pathways involved in Atlantic cod responses to pathogens and other stressors. The Atlantic Cod Genomics and Broodstock Development Project has generated over 150,000 expressed sequence tags from 42 cDNA libraries representing various tissues, developmental stages, and stimuli. We used this resource to develop an Atlantic cod oligonucleotide microarray containing 20,000 unique probes. Selection of sequences from the full range of cDNA libraries enables application of the microarray for a broad spectrum of Atlantic cod functional genomics studies. We included sequences that were highly abundant in suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) libraries, which were enriched for transcripts responsive to pathogens or other stressors. These sequences represent genes that potentially play an important role in stress and/or immune responses, making the microarray particularly useful for studies of Atlantic cod gene expression responses to immune stimuli and other stressors. To demonstrate its value, we used the microarray to analyze the Atlantic cod spleen response to stimulation with formalin-killed, atypical Aeromonas salmonicida, resulting in a gene expression profile that indicates a strong innate immune response. These results were further validated by quantitative PCR analysis and comparison to results from previous analysis of an SSH library. This study shows that the Atlantic cod 20K oligonucleotide microarray is a valuable new tool for Atlantic cod functional genomics research.

Characterization and expression studies of Gaduscidin-1 and Gaduscidin-2; paralogous antimicrobial peptide-like transcripts from Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).

Piscidins are a family of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from fish that constitute an important component of their innate immune system. Based on previously generated Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) expressed sequence tags (ESTs), we identified sequences representing two paralogous AMP-like transcripts. These Atlantic cod paralogues were termed gaduscidins (GAD-1 and GAD-2), derived from the genus name Gadus. We obtained full-length cDNA sequences for these putative AMP-encoding transcripts using bi-directional rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). GAD-1 and GAD-2 putative peptides exhibit sequence similarity with members of the piscidin family from teleost fish. Quantitative reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) was utilized in transcript expression studies of GAD-1 and GAD-2. We examined the constitutive expression of these transcripts in six tissues (head kidney, blood, brain, gill, pyloric caecum, and spleen) of non-stressed juvenile cod; GAD-1 and GAD-2 transcripts were detected in all six tissues, with the highest expression of both transcripts being in spleen, head kidney, and gill. Transcript expression of GAD-1 and GAD-2 was also examined in immune tissues (spleen and head kidney) following intraperitoneal (IP) injection of formalin-killed, atypical Aeromonas salmonicida (ASAL) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS control). Both transcripts were weakly (less than 4-fold) up-regulated by ASAL in spleen but non-responsive to ASAL in head kidney. Since GAD-1 and GAD-2 transcripts are highly expressed constitutively in immune-relevant tissues (e.g. spleen and head kidney), and are weakly induced in spleen following IP injection with bacterial antigens, they may represent important components of innate immunity in Atlantic cod.

An integrated approach to gene discovery and marker development in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).

Atlantic cod is a species that has been overexploited by the capture fishery. Programs to domesticate this species are underway in several countries, including Canada, to provide an alternative route for production. Selective breeding programs have been successfully applied in the domestication of other species, with genomics-based approaches used to augment conventional methods of animal production in recent years. Genomics tools, such as gene sequences and sets of variable markers, also have the potential to enhance and accelerate selective breeding programs in aquaculture, and to provide better monitoring tools to ensure that wild cod populations are well managed. We describe the generation of significant genomics resources for Atlantic cod through an integrated genomics/selective breeding approach. These include 158,877 expressed sequence tags (ESTs), a set of annotated putative transcripts and several thousand single nucleotide polymorphism markers that were developed from, and have been shown to be highly variable in, fish enrolled in two selective breeding programs. Our EST collection was generated from various tissues and life cycle stages. In some cases, tissues from which libraries were generated were isolated from fish exposed to stressors, including elevated temperature, or antigen stimulation (bacterial and viral) to enrich for transcripts that are involved in these response pathways. The genomics resources described here support the developing aquaculture industry, enabling the application of molecular markers within selective breeding programs. Marker sets should also find widespread application in fisheries management.

Characterization and expression analyses of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2-like genes NR-13, Mcl-1, Bcl-X1, and Bcl-X2 in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).

NR-13, Mcl-1, and BCL-X(L), are conserved anti-apoptotic proteins that belong to the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 sub-family, which inhibits cell death by preventing mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MMP). Given the anti-apoptotic functions of these proteins in vertebrates (e.g. human, mouse, and zebrafish) and the involvement of apoptotic regulation in immune responses, we studied the sequences of these genes and their transcript expression in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) during innate immune responses to viral and bacterial stimuli. Based on previously generated Atlantic cod expressed sequence tags (ESTs), we identified partial cDNA sequences of putative orthologues of Atlantic cod NR-13, Mcl-1, and Bcl-X, and obtained the full-length cDNA, genomic, and promoter region sequences for these genes. The analyses of Atlantic cod cDNA sequences, and comparisons of the cod deduced amino acid sequences to putative orthologues in other species, revealed the presence of highly conserved Bcl-2 homology (BH) and transmembrane (TM) domains in the Atlantic cod sequences. Analysis of gene structure revealed conserved intron/exon boundaries within the coding regions of human and Atlantic cod putative orthologues. We found that an intron/exon boundary immediately following the codon for the 8th residue (tryptophan) of the BH2 domain exists in all anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 sub-family genes regardless of vast evolutionary distance. We also identified a non-coding exon in the Atlantic cod NR-13-like gene, which appears to be absent in its putative mammalian orthologues. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) was used to study constitutive gene expression in six tissues (blood, brain, gill, head kidney, pyloric caecum, and spleen) of non-stressed juvenile cod; NR-13 and Bcl-X2 were most highly expressed in gill, whereas Mcl-1 and Bcl-X1 were most highly expressed in blood. In cod challenged with intraperitoneal (IP) injections of the viral mimic polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (pIC), (1) NR-13 mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated (compared to both 0h pre-injection and timed saline injected controls) in spleen at 6h post-injection and in head kidney at both 6 and 24h post-injection (HPI), and (2) both Mcl-1 and Bcl-X2 were significantly up-regulated (compared to both 0h pre-injection and timed saline injected controls) in spleen at 6 HPI. QPCR was used to show that, in cod challenged with IP injections of formalin-killed, atypical Aeromonas salmonicida (ASAL), only NR-13 appeared to be responsive (significantly up-regulated in spleen at 6 HPI compared to 0h pre-injection controls). Interestingly, QPCR showed that saline injection had a mild (less than 3-fold) but significant inductive effect (compared to 0h pre-injection controls) on both NR-13 and Mcl-1 transcript expression in spleen at 2 HPI. Although we only obtained partial cDNA and genomic sequences for Bcl-X2, sufficient evidence was accumulated to show that two Bcl-X paralogues exist in Atlantic cod, possibly due to the teleost-specific genome duplication event. Promoter regions for NR-13, Mcl-1, and Bcl-X1 were obtained and analyzed for the first time in fish, and potential regulatory sites (e.g. putative NF-kappaB binding sites) that were found in the promoter regions of NR-13 and Mcl-1 may account for their transcriptional activation by pIC.

Identification and analysis of differentially expressed genes in immune tissues of Atlantic cod stimulated with formalin-killed, atypical Aeromonas salmonicida.

Physiological changes, elicited in animal immune tissues by exposure to pathogens, may be studied using functional genomics approaches. We created and characterized reciprocal suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA libraries to identify differentially expressed genes in spleen and head kidney tissues of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) challenged with intraperitoneal injections of formalin-killed, atypical Aeromonas salmonicida. Of 4,154 ESTs from four cDNA libraries, 10 genes with immune-relevant functional annotations were selected for QPCR studies using individual fish templates to assess biological variability. Genes confirmed by QPCR as upregulated by A. salmonicida included interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-8, a small inducible cytokine, interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), ferritin heavy subunit, cathelicidin, and hepcidin. This study is the first large-scale discovery of bacteria-responsive genes in cod and the first to demonstrate upregulation of IRF1 in fish immune tissues as a result of bacterial antigen stimulation. Given the importance of IRF1 in vertebrate immune responses to viral and bacterial pathogens, the full-length cDNA sequence of Atlantic cod IRF1 was obtained and compared with putative orthologous sequences from other organisms. Functional annotations of assembled SSH library ESTs showed that bacterial antigen stimulation caused changes in many biological processes including chemotaxis, regulation of apoptosis, antimicrobial peptide production, and iron homeostasis. Moreover, differences in spleen and head kidney gene expression responses to the bacterial antigens pointed to a potential role for the cod spleen in blood-borne pathogen clearance. Our data show that Atlantic cod immune tissue responses to bacterial antigens are similar to those seen in other fish species and higher vertebrates.