Gender and sexual behavior modulate the composition of serum lipocalins in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

In tilapia species, plasma lipoproteins with high electrophoretic mobility function in intra- and intergender communication. Blood samples taken at onset and peak of daily sexual activity from dominant and subordinate Oreochromis niloticus males and females were fractionated by native gel electrophoresis and the fast-migrating proteins were subjected to mass spectrometry. Mining the sequence data of the Cichlid Genome Consortium, we identified 11 proteins from the lipocalin super-family and characterized their genes' structures. Phylogenetic and structural analyses subdivided these genes into two classes: (I) 3-coding-exon apolipoproteins and (II) more complex 6-coding-exon sulfide-bond-containing lipocalins. Five apolipoproteins and PTGDSL1, TBTBP, and MSP proteins were modulated by gender and sexual behavior. PTGDSL1 protein was only observed in the plasma serum of dominant males. However, the cysteine residue in the position that is crucial for synthetase activity in mammalian prostaglandin D synthetases was not conserved in PTGDSL1 or PTGDSL2 proteins. In line with previous reports suggesting their involvement in male functions as pheromone transporters, TBTBP and MSP proteins were not detected in females at the onset of daily activity. Their increasing amount in males was concordant with the increase in apolipoproteins AFP4L, APOA4a, APOA4b, APO14kD and APOC2, which were detected exclusively in dominant males, indicating a possible role in mobilization of the energy required to maintain their social hierarchy.     

四个罗非鱼选育品种抗链球菌病能力差异研究

为筛选出抗病力优良的罗非鱼品种, 以奥利亚罗非鱼“夏奥1号”、尼罗罗非鱼“99”埃及品系、吉富罗非鱼“中威1号”和奥尼罗非鱼为研究对象, 33℃水温暂养7d后分别进行无乳链球菌人工感染实验, 连续7d统计累计死亡率, 并于人工感染后0、24h、48h和72h采集血液和组织样本, 研究这4个罗非鱼选育品种抗链球菌病能力的差异。结果显示: 感染7d后奥尼罗非鱼的累计死亡率最低; 奥尼罗非鱼的谷草转氨酶(AST)感染前后始终都低于其余3个品种罗非鱼(P<0.05); 埃及尼罗和奥尼在感染72h后球蛋白(GLO)分别显著升高1.13倍和1.41倍; 奥尼罗非鱼白蛋白/球蛋白(A/G)在感染前后没有显著性变化(P>0.05), 而其余3个品种罗非鱼A/G比值在感染后都显著性降低(P<0.05); 埃及尼罗的碱性磷酸酶(AKP)在感染72h后显著降低(P<0.05), 奥利亚和吉富的AKP表现为先上升后下降, 奥尼的AKP感染前后没有显著性变化(P>0.05); 各品种罗非鱼血清中的乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)感染后都显著升高(P<0.05); 奥利亚、吉富和奥尼罗非鱼的超氧化歧化酶(SOD)感染48h时都显著升高(P<0.05); 奥尼罗非鱼在感染前后溶菌酶(LZM)活性都显著高于其余3个品种罗非鱼(P<0.05)。组织病理学结果显示:吉富和奥尼肝细胞水肿变性, 而奥利亚和埃及尼罗出现大面积肝细胞脂肪变性; 每个品种罗非鱼均呈现严重的脾炎, 奥利亚、埃及尼罗和吉富的脾脏中大量铁血黄素沉积; 每种罗非鱼呈现不同程度的肾小球萎缩, 肾小管上皮细胞变性、坏死。研究表明奥尼罗非鱼抗链球菌病能力最强, 感染后血清中AST水平与肝受损程度呈一定的正相关, LZM水平和罗非鱼抗链球菌病能力呈一定的正相关。     

Male-specific protein (MSP): a new gene linked to sexual behavior and aggressiveness of tilapia males

MSP is a male-specific protein initially identified in the serum of sexually active Sarotherodon galilaeus males, and is shown herein to be present in the serum of sexually mature males, but not females, of three other tilapia species. Cloning of the MSP cDNA and analysis of its predicted amino-acid sequence revealed that it is an outlier lipocalin that contains a signal peptide in its N-terminal region. The abundance of highly homologous sequences found in fish and the monophyletic relationship to tetrapod Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) places it as a clade XII lipocalin. MSP was shown to undergo major N-glycosylation, characteristic of many lipocalins. The expression pattern of MSP, as determined at both the RNA and protein levels, points to the liver, head kidney and testis as production tissues, and resembles a pattern typical of some hormones. We found that MSP is secreted in urine and seminal fluids, and is present in the skin mucus of socially dominant males. Moreover, we discovered a positive correlation between MSP levels in the serum and the dominance and aggressive behavior displayed by socially dominant males. Based on these data, we suggest that MSP is a novel male-specific lipocalin that may function in intra and inter-sex communication.     

Effect of the hydrostatic pressure on otolith growth of early juveniles of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus early juveniles were maintained for 2 weeks in a pressurized system under a controlled photoperiod, at constant salinity and temperature. Groups of fish were exposed to one of three absolute hydrostatic pressure (HP) regimes: (1) a constant normal atmospheric pressure (100 kPa), (2) a constant 40 m pressure (500 kPa) or (3) a semi-diurnal cyclic vertical migration (100-500 kPa). No significant differences were detected in otolith size and incremental periodicity among the three HP treatments, suggesting that HP does not affect otolith growth of early juveniles O. niloticus.     

Substratum choice for nesting in male Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

Four substrata were offered to groups of adult Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (one male and two females) simultaneously: pure sand, a mixture of sand and shells, stones and no substratum. The results showed that males chose to dig nests in a lighter and more homogeneous substratum.     

Agonistic and reproductive behaviors in males of red hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) x O. mossambicus (Peters, 1852) (Osteichthyes: Cichlidae).

The red hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) x O. mossambicus (Peters, 1852) is a fertile hybrid used in the semi-intensive level of fish culture in the Northeast of Brazil. It is a territorial cichlid and is highly aggressive towards conspecifics during the breeding season. The purpose of this study was to investigate and describe the aggressive behaviour displayed by the males of this hybrid in non-reproductive and reproductive contexts. Behavioural observations revealed that aggression displayed by the reproductive males of red hybrid tilapia included threatening, undulation, parallel, lateral and frontal attacks, chasing, escape and submission. Possession of a territory influenced male aggressiveness, which was more intense in their own territory than that observed in a neutral situation. The males built nests, irrespective of female presence. All the behavioural patterns were in accordance with those previously described for one parental species, the Nile tilapia, O. niloticus.     

Complete mitochondrial genome of blackchin tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron (Perciformes, Cichlidae)

Blackchin tilapia, Sarotherodon melanotheron, is a highly salt-tolerant species in tilapias. In this paper, the complete mitochondrial genome of S. melanotheron was determined first. The mitogenome (16,627 bp) had the typical vertebrate mitochondrial gene arrangement, including 13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 putative control region. It shared 95.1%, 93.2%, and 92.2% mitogenome sequence with Oreochromis aureus, Oreochromis niloticus, and Oreochromis mossambicus, respectively.     

罗非鱼胰蛋白酶ⅠmRNA克隆与分析

应用3′/5-′RACE方法对尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)和奥利亚(Oreochromis aureus)罗非鱼胰蛋白酶ⅠmR-NA进行了克隆和测序,序列分析表明,尼罗罗非鱼和奥利亚罗非鱼胰蛋白酶ⅠmRNA序列全长分别为863bp和858bp,序列中均含有738个核苷酸组成的开放阅读框,编码长度为245个氨基酸残基的胰蛋白酶Ⅰ。胰蛋白酶Ⅰ氨基末端均存在信号肽和激活肽序列,序列中均具有与催化活性必须的高度保守的催化三联体氨基酸残基(His、Asp、Ser)和构成二硫键的12个半胱氨酸残基,以及决定底物特异性的保守性氨基酸残基即天冬氨酸残基和S1结合袋。南极鱼(Patanotothenia magellanica)、大西洋鲑(Salmo salar)、日本鲽(Paralichthys olivaceus)、大西洋鳕(Gadusmorhua)、牛和人类胰蛋白酶mRNA序列以及氨基酸序列与奥利亚罗非鱼相比较同源性分别为58.3%—72.5%和63.3%—76.1%,与尼罗罗非鱼相比较同源性分别为59.1%—73.1%和63.6%—75.6%。奥利亚罗非鱼和尼罗罗非鱼胰蛋白酶mRNA序列以及氨基酸序列同源性分别为96.2%和99.2%。       

Ghrelin gene in cichlid fish is modulated by sex and development

We have identified the complementary and genomic DNA sequences of the novel growth hormone-releasing peptide, ghrelin, in the cichlid fish (tilapia Oreochromis niloticus). The tilapia ghrelin precursor cDNA was 855 bp long, consisting of 119 bp of 5(')-untranslated region, 324 bp open reading frame, and 412 bp of 3(')-untranslated region. The serine residues at positions 2 and 3 of the "active core" (GSSF) of the ghrelin mature peptide are conserved between tilapia and the mammalian species. The tilapia ghrelin gene has four exons and three introns and resembles the structure of other known ghrelin genes. RT-PCR analysis revealed ghrelin mRNA predominantly expressed in the stomach but absent in the brain, pituitary, heart, kidney, ovary, and testis. Real-time PCR analysis showed an age/body size dependent increase in gastric ghrelin, which stagnated at 7 cm body size (onset of maturation). Ghrelin mRNA levels were unchanged in food-deprived sexually mature animals but were significantly higher in females compared to males. The present study shows that the structure of ghrelin peptide is highly conserved, and the reported differences in somatic and gonadal growth in tilapia could be a consequence of age- and sex-related synthesis of gastric ghrelin.     

Predation by Nile perch Lates niloticus (L.) on Oreochromis niloticus (L.), Cyprinus carpio (L.), Mugil sp. and its role in controlling tilapia recruitment in Egypt

Vulnerability of three fish groups (tilapia, common carp, mullet) to predation by Nile perch Lates niloticus was evaluated. The study was conducted in aquaria and in cages placed in concrete ponds. Common carp Cyprinus curpio was the more vulnerable to predation by Nile perch followed in order by mullet ( Mugil cephulus and M. cupito ) and Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloricus . Medium-size Nile perch (30–32 cm t.l. ) were able to consume tilapia up to 14 cm t.l. , while tilapia of 15 cm total length were not eaten. Ratios of 1 : 10 to 1 : 15 between Nile perch and ready-to-spawn females of O. niloticus were found to be adequate to control tilapia reproduction.     

Molecular-cytogenetic analysis reveals sequence differences between the sex chromosomes of Oreochromis niloticus: evidence for an early stage of sex-chromosome differentiation

Sex determination in the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is primarily genetic, with XX females and XY males. A candidate sex-determining region in the terminal region of the largest chromosome pair has been identified by analysis of meiotic chromosomes. This region shows an inhibition of pairing and synapsis in the XY genotype, but not in XX or YY genotypes, suggesting that recombination is inhibited. Here we show that chromosome microdissection and subsequent amplification by degenerate oligonucleotide-primed PCR (DOP-PCR) can be used to produce in situ hybridization probes to this largest pair of O. niloticus chromosomes. Furthermore, analysis of the comparative hybridization of X and Y chromosome-derived probes to different genotypes provides the first demonstration that sequence differences exist between the sex chromosomes of O. niloticus. This provides further support for the theory that this chromosome pair is related to sex determination and further suggests that the sex chromosomes are at a very early stage of divergence.     

吉富罗非鱼IGF2基因分离及其单核苷酸多态性与体型、增重相关性

胰岛素样生长因子2(insulin-like growth factor2,IGF2)是控制动物生长和脂肪沉积的重要基因之一。本文采用PCR方法分离了吉富罗非鱼(GIFT strain Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus)IGF2基因5475bp,包含由4个外显子组成的整个阅读框669bp以及3个内含子。通过比对吉富罗非鱼10个个体IGF2序列,共发现11处单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)位点,本文检测了内含子1的621nt(C/T)和外显子3的161nt(A/G)两位点在192尾吉富罗非鱼中的基因型分布,并分析不同基因型与体型、增重的相关性。使用四引物扩增受阻体系PCR检测内含子1的621nt基因型,结果显示,CC、CT、TT基因型频率在雄鱼中分别为0.32、0.32、0.36,在雌鱼中分别为0.38、0.38、0.24;与体型、增重的相关性分析表明,此位点不同基因型只与雄鱼体型(体高/体长)显著相关(P0.05),CC型个体显著高于CT和TT型个体。外显子3的A/G转换导致了MSPⅠ酶切位点改变,使用PCR-RFLP法检测该位点基因型,结果显示整个群体中不存在AA基因型,在雄鱼中,GG、AG基因型频率分别为0.71、0.29,而雌鱼中则为0.75和0.25;与体型、增重的相关性分析表明,此位点不同基因型只与雄鱼增重极显著相关(P0.01),GG型的雄鱼明显较AG型增重快。     

A comparative study of phagocytic activity and lymphoproliferative response in five varieties of tilapia Oreochromis spp.

The immunological status of three native species of tilapia Oreochromis spp. and two hybrids were compared, showing a greater potential of the hybrid strain O. niloticus Rocky Mountain for aquaculture and a better capacity to resist the stressful conditions of a fish farm.     

Dynamics of 5S rDNA in the tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) genome: repeat units,inverted sequences,pseudogenes and chromosome loci

In higher eukaryotes, the 5S ribosomal DNA (5S rDNA) is organized in tandem arrays with repeat units composed of a coding region and a non-transcribed spacer sequence (NTS). These tandem arrays can be found on either one or more chromosome pairs. 5S rDNA copies from the tilapia fish, Oreochromis niloticus, were cloned and the nucleotide sequences of the coding region and of the non-transcribed spacer were determined. Moreover, the genomic organization of the 5S rDNA tandem repeats was investigated by fluorescence IN SITU hybridization (FISH) and Southern blot hybridization. Two 5S rDNA classes, one consisting of 1.4-kb repeats and another one with 0.5-kb repeats were identified and designated 5S rDNA type I and type II, respectively. An inverted 5S rRNA gene and a 5S rRNA putative pseudogene were also identified inside the tandem repeats of 5S rDNA type I. FISH permitted the visualization of the 5S rRNA genes at three chromosome loci, one of them consisting of arrays of the 5S rDNA type I, and the two others corresponding to arrays of the 5S rDNA type II. The two classes of the 5S rDNA, the presence of pseudogenes, and the inverted genes observed in the O. niloticus genome might be a consequence of the intense dynamics of the evolution of these tandem repeat elements.     

奥利亚罗非鱼DMRT1,DMO基因片段的克隆及序列分析

根据其他鱼类DMRT基因中的保守序列设计了一对简并引物,利用RT-PCR扩增了雌雄奥利亚罗非鱼的DMRT基因,并对其扩增产物进行了克隆与测序。结果在雌雄奥利亚罗非鱼个体中获得了两个不同的片段,分别命名为DMO,DMRT1基因。序列同源性分析表明,奥利亚罗非鱼DMRT1,DMO cNA系列的同源性为61.78%,氨基酸同源性为86%,说明了DMRT基因存在性别差异。与尼罗罗非鱼、红鳍东方豚、虹鳟、青鱼将等鱼类DM保守区相比,氨基酸序列同源性为86%-100%,这充分显示了DM-RT基因在进化上的高度保守性。     

Transgenic tilapia and the tilapia genome

The tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) has an important place in the aquaculture of the developing world. It is also a very useful laboratory animal, and readily lends itself to the transgenic technology. Through the use of reporter genes, a range of potential gene promoters have been tested in tilapia, both through transient and stable expression of the reporter construct. Using the transgenic technology, growth enhanced lines of tilapia have been produced. These fish have no abnormalities and offer a considerable growth advantage for future exploitation. It is however crucial that transgenic fish, to be exploited in aquaculture, be sterile, and various methods of achieving sterility are considered. These include triploidy, gene knock out of crucial hormone encoding genes via homologous recombination, and knock down of the function of the same genes via ribozyme or antisense technologies.Transgenic tilapia also offer the potential for exploitation as biofactories in the production of valuable pharmaceutical products, and this is also discussed.     

Masculinization of genetic female nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) by dietary administration of an aromatase inhibitor during sexual differentiation

A series of experiments was carried out in which genetically female Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry were treated with Fadrozole, a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor (AI), in the diet during the period of sexual differentiation. Batches of tilapia fry treated with AI during the first 30 days following yolk-sac resorption (7-37 days post hatch, dph) showed a dose-dependent increase in the percentage of males from 0 to 200 mg. kg(-1). The percentage of males remained approximately constant (92.5-96.0%) from 200 to 500 mg. kg(-1). Any continuous 2- or 3-week treatment with 500 mg. kg(-1) AI in this 4-week period successfully masculinized the majority of the treated fish (>80%). Treatments of 1 week duration revealed that the most sensitive time to AI lies in the first week (between 7 and 14 dph). Progeny testing of males from AI-treated groups gave results indicating that these were XX males, as expected. These experiments strongly implicate aromatase activity as a key factor in sexual differentiation in the Nile tilapia.     

Complete Genome Sequence of Streptococcus agalactiae ZQ0910, a Pathogen Causing Meningoencephalitis in the GIFT Strain of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus [GBS]) is a pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Here, we reported the complete genome sequence of S. agalactiae strain ZQ0910, which was isolated from the GIFT strain of Nile tilapia in Guangdong, China.     

Microsatellite marker based genetic linkage maps of Oreochromis aureus and O. niloticus (Cichlidae): extensive linkage group segment homologies revealed

Partial genetic linkage maps, based on microsatellite markers, were constructed for two tilapia species, Oreochromis aureus and Oreochromis niloticus using an interspecific backcross population. The linkage map for O. aureus comprised 28 markers on 10 linkage groups and covered 212.8 CM. Nine markers were mapped to four linkage groups on an O. niloticus female linkage map covering 40.6 CM. Results revealed a high degree of conservation of synteny between the linkage groups defined in O. aureus and the previously published genetic linkage map of O. niloticus.