Project description:a salmonid microarray was used to characterize environmentally-regulated shifts in gene expression between ocean and river habitats in gill and liver tissues of wild migrating adult Pacific sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). To correlate gene expression with survival, non-lethal biopsy sampling of gill tissue and microarray-based profiling was combined with biotelemetry and genetic stock identification so that transcriptomic profiles could be compared between fish reaching spawning grounds and presumed mortalities.
Project description:a salmonid microarray was used to characterize environmentally-regulated shifts in gene expression between ocean and river habitats in gill and liver tissues of wild migrating adult Pacific sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). To correlate gene expression with survival, non-lethal biopsy sampling of gill tissue and microarray-based profiling was combined with biotelemetry and genetic stock identification so that transcriptomic profiles could be compared between fish reaching spawning grounds and presumed mortalities. Fish were captured fish at two marine sampling sites, one within Johnstone Strait (JS), BC. Canada and one within Juan De Fuca Strait (JDFS), BC Canada. Ocean sites were contrasted to fish sampled within the Fraser River at Whonnock (W), BC, Canada. Gill and liver tissues were dissected at each of these sites. Non-lethal biopsy sampling was performed on migrating sockeye salmon intercepted within the Fraser River at Mission, BC, Canada and genetically-based stock ID was used to determine the stock-specific spawning grounds for each fish, giving an intended end-point of migration for each of the stocks investigated in this study.Gene expression levels were determined by comparing the amount of mRNA transcript in the experimental samples relative to a reference sample. A total of 123 microarrays were used to generate the dataset, corresponding to individual hybridizations of both gill and liver samples collected from JS (gill n=14; liver n=15), JDFS (gill n=15; liver n=13), W (gill n=11; liver n=10), and biopsy sampled gill tissue collected at Mission (n=45).Total RNA was amplified (1 round) with MessageAmpTMII-96 kit (Ambion, TX, USA), and reverse transcribed to cDNA before labelling with ALEXA dyes using the Invitrogen Indirect Labelling Kit. The reference contained the combined aRNA of all individuals used in the experiment, excluding bioposy sampled fish. Individual samples were labelled with Alexa 555 and the reference control with Alexa 647, and no dye swaps were perfromed.
Project description:The main findings of the current study were that exposing adult sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka to a warm temperature that they regularly encounter during their river migration induced an mRNA-level heat shock response that is exacerbated with swimming. Similar immune defense-related responses were also observed. Microarray analyses revealed that 347 genes were differentially expressed between the cold (12-13° C) and warm (18-19° C) treated fish (P < 0.01), with stress response (GO:0006950; P = 0.014) and response to fungus (GO:0009620; P = 0.003) elevated with warm treatment, while expression for genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation (GO:0006119; P = 0.0019) and electron transport chain (GO:0022900; P = 0.00043) increased in cold-treated fish. By studying single genes with RT-qPCR, warm treatment fish from the Chilko population of O. nerka induced expression of heat shock protein (hsp) 90α, hsp90β and hsp30, as well as interferon-inducible protein (P < 0.05). A Nechako population of O. nerka with a narrower thermal tolerance window than the Chilko population showed even more pronounced responses to the warm treatment. In conclusion, it appears that during their once-in-the-lifetime migration these adult sockeye salmon encounter conditions that induce several cellular defense mechanisms. As river temperatures continue to increase, it remains to be seen whether or not these cellular defenses provide enough protection for all sockeye salmon populations.
Project description:The main findings of the current study were that exposing adult sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka to a warm temperature that they regularly encounter during their river migration induced an mRNA-level heat shock response that is exacerbated with swimming. Similar immune defense-related responses were also observed. Microarray analyses revealed that 347 genes were differentially expressed between the cold (12-13M-BM-0 C) and warm (18-19M-BM-0 C) treated fish (P < 0.01), with stress response (GO:0006950; P = 0.014) and response to fungus (GO:0009620; P = 0.003) elevated with warm treatment, while expression for genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation (GO:0006119; P = 0.0019) and electron transport chain (GO:0022900; P = 0.00043) increased in cold-treated fish. By studying single genes with RT-qPCR, warm treatment fish from the Chilko population of O. nerka induced expression of heat shock protein (hsp) 90M-NM-1, hsp90M-NM-2 and hsp30, as well as interferon-inducible protein (P < 0.05). A Nechako population of O. nerka with a narrower thermal tolerance window than the Chilko population showed even more pronounced responses to the warm treatment. In conclusion, it appears that during their once-in-the-lifetime migration these adult sockeye salmon encounter conditions that induce several cellular defense mechanisms. As river temperatures continue to increase, it remains to be seen whether or not these cellular defenses provide enough protection for all sockeye salmon populations. Two condition experiment; cold treated fish vs. warm treated fish, n=4 in both group
Project description:Facing warm temperatures during migration – cardiac mRNA responses of two adult sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka populations to warming and swimming challenges
Project description:We collected sockeye salmon from the Fraser River, British Columbia, and held them at ecologically relevant temperatures (14C and 19C) determine the effect of elevated water temperature on cellular processes in non-lethally sampled gill tissue and blood plasma over a period of seven days that represents a significant portion of their upstream migration. Time-matched fish that died prematurely over the course of the holding study were also sampled for gill tissue and the transcriptomic responses in moribund fish were compared with surviving fish. This is the first study to experimentally examine transcriptomic responses to high water temperature and premature mortality in wild-caught Pacific salmon and the results will help in understanding some of the cellular mechanisms involved in large-scale migration mortality in Pacific salmon during warm water periods and for predicting or understanding causes of mortality in naturally senescing adult Pacific salmon.