Genetic evaluation of migratory fish: Implications for conservation and stocking programs.

Fish stocking programs have been implemented to mitigate the blockage of original riverbeds by the construction of hydropower dams, which affects the natural migration of fish populations. However, this method raises concerns regarding the genetic rescue of the original populations of migratory fish species. We investigated the spatial distribution of genetic properties, such as genetic diversity, population structure, and gene flow (migration), of the Neotropical migratory fish Prochilodus costatus in the Três Marias dam in the São Francisco River basin, Brazil, and examined the possible effects of fish stocking programs on P. costatus populations in this region. In total, 1,017 specimens were sampled from 12 natural sites and a fish stocking program, and genotyped for high-throughput sequencing at 8 microsatellite loci. The populations presented low genetic variability, with evidence of inbreeding and the presence of only four genetic pools; three pools were observed throughout the study region, and the fourth was exclusive to one area in the Paraopeba River. Additionally, we identified high unidirectional gene flow between regions, and a preferred migratory route between the Pará River and the upper portion of the São Francisco River. The fish stocking program succeeded in transposing the genetic pools from downstream to upstream of the Três Marias dam, but, regrettably, promoted genetic homogenization in the upper São Francisco River basin. Moreover, the data show the fragility of this species at the genetic level. This monitoring strategy could be a model for the development of conservation and management measures for migratory fish populations that are consumed by humans.

Selected to survive and kill: Tityus serrulatus, the Brazilian yellow scorpion.

Annually, more than 1.2 million scorpion stings and more than 3,000 deaths occur worldwide. Tityus serrulatus Lutz and Mello, 1922 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) is the most medically relevant species in Brazil where it is spreading rapidly and causing over 90,000 cases of envenomation yearly. We monitored T. serrulatus longevity and ability to reproduce under conditions of food and/or water deprivation. We found that T. serrulatus is highly tolerant to food deprivation, with individuals enduring up to 400 days without food. On the other hand, access to water played a pivotal role in T. serrulatus survival. Food and water deprived scorpions showed weight reduction. Reproduction occurred throughout the year for food-deprived scorpions and controls, but not in the water-deprived groups. Remarkably, food-deprived animals were able to give birth after 209 days of starvation. Tityus serrulatus resistance to food and water deprivation is likely to be an additional factor underlying this species' geographic expansion and the difficulties encountered in controlling it.

CPP-Ts: a new intracellular calcium channel modulator and a promising tool for drug delivery in cancer cells.

Scorpion sting envenoming impacts millions of people worldwide, with cardiac effects being one of the main causes of death on victims. Here we describe the first Ca2+ channel toxin present in Tityus serrulatus (Ts) venom, a cell penetrating peptide (CPP) named CPP-Ts. We show that CPP-Ts increases intracellular Ca2+ release through the activation of nuclear InsP3R of cardiomyocytes, thereby causing an increase in the contraction frequency of these cells. Besides proposing a novel subfamily of Ca2+ active toxins, we investigated its potential use as a drug delivery system targeting cancer cell nucleus using CPP-Ts's nuclear-targeting property. To this end, we prepared a synthetic CPP-Ts sub peptide14-39 lacking pharmacological activity which was directed to the nucleus of specific cancer cell lines. This research identifies a novel subfamily of Ca2+ active toxins and provides new insights into biotechnological applications of animal venoms.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Salminus brasiliensis (Characiformes, Characidae).

We report the complete mitochondrial genome of the fish Salminus brasiliensis, popularly known as dourado. It is a circular, 17,721 bp long DNA molecule, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a non-coding Control Region of 2128 bp, a relatively large molecule when compared to other closely related fishes. All protein-coding genes are on the heavy strand, except for Nd6, and all have ATG as the start codon, except for Cox1 gene which has a GTG start codon. Seven protein-coding genes have incomplete stop codons (Nd2, Cox2, Atp6, Nd4, and Cytb have T- -, and Cox3 and Nd3 have TA-). TAG is the stop codon for Nd6 and AGG is the stop codon for Cox1.

Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes, Prochilodontidae).

Prochilodus lineatus (curimba) is an important Brazilian freshwater migratory fish with substantial economic importance in fishing. The complete mitochondrial genome of P. lineatus is 16,699 bp and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and one control region (D-loop). The mtDNA of P. lineatus is the first mitogenome of the Prochilodontidae family to be fully characterized. All of the PCGs in the mtDNA use the standard ATG start codon, with the exception of Cox1 that utilizes the GTG start codon. Six of the 13 PCGs contain TAA stop codons, two contain the incomplete stop codon TA- (Atp6 and Nd6), and five contain the incomplete stop codon T- - (Nd2, Cox2, Nd3, Nd4 and Cytb).

Description and comparison of two economically important fish species mitogenomes: Prochilodus argenteus and Prochilodus costatus (Characiformes, Prochilodontidae).

Prochilodus spp. are important Brazilian freshwater migratory fishes with substantial economic and ecological importance. Prochilodus argenteus and Prochilodus costatus are morphologically similar and a molecular species delimitation is impaired due to high degree of sequence identity among the available genetic markers. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome of P. argenteus and P. costatus and their comparison to the mitogenome of P. lineatus are described. The three species displayed a similar mtDNA annotation. A phylogenetic analysis was performed with other Characiformes species. The genus Prochilodus was recovered as a monophyletic group, as well as the family Prochilodontidae, both with high bootstrap probability.