Transcriptome analysis provides insights into the skeletal malformation induced by dietary phospholipids deficiency in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) larvae

Abstract

Abstract Largemouth bass is one of the most important freshwater aquaculture species in China. However, the mechanisms underlying the development of skeleton in the fish are unclear. High-throughput RNA-Seq was used to analyze the differences in the transcriptome of largemouth bass skeleton between high-phospholipids and low-phospholipids groups. Thirty individuals each from 3 high-phospholipids families and 3 low-phospholipids families were used to reduce inaccuracies. The results indicated that 255 up-regulated and 329 down-regulated genes were identified in the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed the DEGs were involved in the MAPK signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol signaling system, glycosphingolipid biosynthesis-lacto and neolacto series and fatty acid degradation. Twist2 and Daam1, genes related to osteoblast development, were up-regulated in high-phospholipids group. BGLAP, gene associated with the skeletal development and osteohormatology, was also up-regulated in high-phospholipids group. PCOLCE b, a gene related to the development of gristle, was up-regulated in high-phospholipids group. Higher expression of SCPP1 and SCPP7 in high-phospholipids group was associated with tooth and bone development. The trend changes in the above genes all indicated that the lack of phospholipids might affect the skeletal development through the above genes. In summary, these results provided valuable information about the reduction of deformity rates in largemouth bass and contributed to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and regulative pathways regulating skeletal growth in teleosts.