Gene expression profiling of trout muscle during flesh quality recovery following spawning

ABSTRACT: Sexual maturation causes loss of fish muscle mass and deterioration of fillet quality attributes that prevent market purpose. We recently showed that fillet yield and flesh quality are recovered in female trout after spawning. To gain insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating flesh quality recovery we conducted a time-course analysis of large-scale gene expression in trout muscle from spawning to 33 weeks post-spawning. Using an Agilent-based microarray plate-form, we identified about 5500 unique genes that were differentially expressed during the post-spawning period. These genes segregated into four major clusters with distinct temporal expression profile and functional categories. A first cluster containing around 2000 genes down-regulated after 4 weeks after spawning was enriched in genes linked to mitochondrial ATP synthesis, fatty acid catabolism and proteolysis. A second cluster comprising about 1200 genes with early and transient induction between 2 to 8 weeks post-spawning was enriched in genes involved in RNA processing, translation, ribosome biogenesis and protein folding. A third cluster containing about 700 genes up-regulated from 4 weeks post-spawning onwards was enriched in genes encoding ribosomal subunits or regulating translation and cell cycle. At last a fourth cluster which contained about 1000 genes with late up-regulation from 13 weeks post- spawning onwards, was dominated by genes encoding myofibrillar proteins and matricial components and genes involved in glycolysis. On the whole our study indicates that muscle tissue restoration and flesh quality recovery occurring after spawning is mainly associated with anaerobic ATP production, muscle fibre hypertrophic growth, fatty acid metabolism and extracellular matrix remodelling. The generation of the first database of genes associated with post-spawning muscle recovery will allow future mechanistic studies and facilitate identification of genetic markers for fish muscle yield and quality traits.

ORGANISM(S): Oncorhynchus mykiss

PROVIDER: GSE165933 | GEO | 2021/03/29

REPOSITORIES: GEO