Vitellogenin Ab structure of the amazonian Arapaima gigas.

The vitellogenin is composed by polypeptides that are precursors of egg yolk proteins that provides embryo and larvae nutrition. The mRNA encoding for vitellogenin Ab (Vtg-Ab; 4,536 bp long and 1,512 amino acids) were obtained by RNA-Seq library sequencing of pirarucu gonads. The Vtg-Ab sequences had high homology with Vtgs of other three teleosts species of the order Osteoglossiformes. The transcript of ovarian Vtg was identified based on structural criteria, and so we classify the Vtg of pirarucu as Vtg-Ab due to the truncated or shortened phosvitin (N-terminal end) and phosvitinless domain (C-terminal end). The Vtg-Ab of pirarucu present two major deletions with 133 amino acids in the Lipovitellin I domain and 89 amino acids in the truncated or shortened Phosvitin domain, both located in the N-terminal end region. The three-dimensional (3-D) structure Vtg-Ab protein shows the presence of a typical 4α-helices bundle protein that runs in anti-parallel. In general, the characterization of Vtg-Ab may be the useful elucidation of the hormonal regulation of vitellogenesis and improve the production of pirarucu for broodstock management in aquaculture and preparation of Vtg antibody production (species-specific) for sex identification.

Transcriptomic evidences of local thermal adaptation for the native fish Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818).

Brazil has five climatically distinct regions, with an annual average temperature difference up to 14 ºC between the northern and southern extremes. Environmental variation of this magnitude can lead to new genetic patterns among farmed fish populations. Genetically differentiated populations of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum Cuvier, 1818), an important freshwater fish for Brazilian continental aquaculture, may be associated with regional adaptation. In this study, we selected tambaquis raised in two thermally distinct regions, belonging to different latitudes, to test this hypothesis. De novo transcriptome analysis was performed to compare the significant differences of genes expressed in the liver of juvenile tambaqui from a northern population (Balbina) and a southeastern population (Brumado). In total, 2,410 genes were differentially expressed (1,196 in Balbina and 1,214 in Brumado). Many of the genes are involved in a multitude of biological functions such as biosynthetic processes, homeostasis, biorhythm, immunity, cell signaling, ribosome biogenesis, modification of proteins, intracellular transport, structure/cytoskeleton, and catalytic activity. Enrichment analysis based on biological networks showed a different protein interaction profile for each population, whose encoding genes may play potential functions in local thermal adaptation of fish to their respective farming environments.

How will farmed populations of freshwater fish deal with the extreme climate scenario in 2100? Transcriptional responses of Colossoma macropomum from two Brazilian climate regions.

Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum Cuvier, 1818) is an endemic fish of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, and it is the most economically important native species in Brazil being raised in five climatically distinct regions. In the face of current global warming, environmental variations in farm ponds represent additional challenges that may drive new adaptive regional genetic variations among broodstocks of tambaqui. In an experimental context based on the high-emission scenario of the 5th Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, we used two farmed tambaqui populations to test this hypothesis. RNA-seq transcriptome analysis was performed in the liver of juvenile tambaqui from northern (Balbina Experimental Station, Balbina, AM) and southeastern (Brumado Fish Farming, Mogi Mirim, SP) Brazilian regions kept for 30 days in artificial environmental rooms mimicking the current and extreme climate scenarios. Three Illumina MiSeq runs produced close to 120 million 500 bp paired-end reads; 191,139 contigs were assembled with N50 = 1595. 355 genes were differentially expressed for both populations in response to the extreme scenario. After enrichment analysis, each population presented a core set of genes to cope with climate change. Northern fish induced genes related to the cellular response to stress, activation of MAPK activity, response to unfolded protein, protein metabolism and cellular response to DNA damage stimuli. Genes biologically involved in regulating cell proliferation, protein stabilisation and protein ubiquitination for degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome system were downregulated. Genes associated with biological processes, including the cellular response to stress, MAPK cascade activation, homeostatic processes and positive regulation of immune responses were upregulated in southeastern fish. The downregulated genes were related to cytoskeleton organisation, energy metabolism, and the regulation of transcription and biological rhythms. Our findings reveal the signatures of promising candidate genes involved in the regional plasticity of each population of tambaqui in dealing with upcoming climate changes.

Genetic variability of wild and captivity populations of Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818) / Variabilidade genética de populações selvagens e de cativeiro de Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818)

Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is among the most important fish species of the Amazon and one of the most cultivated in Brazil. In the present work we have evaluated the genetic variability of wild and captivity populations of C. macropomum. Enzymatic markers were used to estimate the genetic variability of 41 specimens from a wild group; and 30, 33 and 45 from three captivity groups, which came from Pentecostes (Ceará State), Jaboticabal (São Paulo State) and Itacoatiara (Amazonas State), respectively. Nine isoenzymic systems were used to evaluate the genetic variability of these populations. Using zimogram data we obtained the polymorphism level, allele number, allelic frequency, observed and expected heterozigosity, Wright F statistics (FIS, FST), genetic distance, level of similarity and group analysis. The isoenzymic data showed that, from the nine systems, six presented polymorphic loci (Fbp-2, G6pdh-2, G6pdh-3, Pgi-1, Pgi-2 and Pgm-1). The populations from Pentecostes and Jaboticabal presented loss of genetic variability and low heterozigosity, compared to the wild population and to the artificial population acquired at Itacoatiara fish farm. Based on these results and on fish farmer information we could consider the population from Itacoatiara as recently derived from a wild population. Concluding, we suggest that the artificial populations of tambaqui, which contain animals originated from this funding population at Pentecostes, should be renewed with the introduction of a new group of individuals with genetic variability equivalent to the wild population.

O tambaqui é uma espécie de peixe bastante importante na região amazônica e uma das espécies mais cultivadas no Brasil. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a variabilidade genética do Colossoma macropomum de cativeiro e selvagem, utilizando marcadores isoenzimáticos. Utilizamos 41 indivíduos de uma população da natureza e 30, 33 e 45 de populações de cativeiro de Pentecoste, Jaboticabal e Itacoatiara, respectivamente. Nove sistemas isoenzimáticos foram utilizados para verificar a variabilidade genética do tambaqui, bem como os níveis de polimorfismos, números de alelos, freqüências alélicas, heterozigosidade observada e esperada, estatística F de Wright (FIS e FST), distância e similaridade genética, e análise de agrupamento. Das nove isoenzimas analisadas apenas seis sistemas apresentaram polimorfismo (Fbp-2, G6pdh-2, G6pdh-3, Pgi-1, Pgi-2 and Pgm-1). Verificamos que as populações de Pentecostes e Jaboticabal estão com falta de heterozigotos e apresentam-se estruturadas geneticamente em relação às populações de Itacoatiara e da Natureza que apresentam excesso de heterozigotos e não são estruturadas. Concluímos que os indivíduos de Itacoatiara são provenientes de populações selvagens e sugerimos que se realize uma renovação dos plantéis de tambaqui de Pentecostes e Jaboticabal, com o intuito de recuperar a variabilidade genética perdida.

Desenvolvimento de juvenis recentes da lagosta espinhosa Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) em diferentes temperaturas / Development of early juveniles of spiny lobster Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) in different temperatures

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo cultivar juvenis recentes da lagosta espinhosa Panulirus argusem diferentes temperaturas. Foram utilizados 20 indivíduos com peso e comprimento médio (cefalotórax e total) de 2,680 g, 13,8 mm e 40,4 mm, respectivamente. Os juvenis foram divididos em cinco tratamentos (temperaturas: T24, T26, T28, T30 e T32) com quatro repetições em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Após 180 dias de cultivo, as variáveis físicoquímicas da água foram similares para todos os tratamentos. Os indivíduos cultivados nos tratamentos T26 e T28 apresentaram as melhores taxas de crescimento em relação às lagostas cultivadas nos T24 e T30, sendo observada diferença estatística significativa (P < 0,05). Os juvenis pertencentes ao tratamento T32 morreram antes de completar ummês de cultivo. Concluiu-se que juvenis recentes de P. argus podem ser cultivados nas temperaturas de 24 °C a 30 °C, sendo constatado maior crescimento a 28 ºC.

The present work aimed to culture early juveniles of spiny lobster Panulirus argus in differenttemperatures. Twenty individuals with mean weight and length (cephalotorax and total) of 2.680 g, 13.8 mm and 40.4 mm, respectively were used. The juveniles were divided in five treatments (temperatures: T24, T26, T28, T30 and T32) with four repetitions in an entirely ramdomized experimental delineation. After 180 days of culture, physico-chemicals variables of water were similar in all treatments. The cultured individuals in T26 and T28 treatments showed the best growth rates in relation to lobster cultured in T24 and T30, being observed significant statistical difference (P < 0.05). Thejuveniles belonging to the treatment T32 died before completed one month of culture. It was concluded that early juveniles of P. argus can be cultured in temperatures of 24 °C to 30 °C, with higher growth at 28 ºC.