Project description:Omics approaches are broadly used to explore endocrine and toxicity-related pathways and functions. Nevertheless, there is still a significant gap in knowledge in terms of understanding the endocrine system and its numerous connections and intricate feedback loops, especially in non-model organisms. The fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) is a widely used small fish model for aquatic toxicology and regulatory testing, particularly in North America. A draft genome has been published but the amount of available genomic or transcriptomic information is still far behind that of other more broadly studied species, such as the zebrafish. Here, we surveyed the tissue-specific proteome and transcriptome profiles in adult male fathead minnow. To do so, we generated a draft transcriptome using short and long sequencing reads. We also performed RNA sequencing and proteomics analysis on the telencephalon, hypothalamus, liver, and gut of male fish. The main purpose of this analysis was to generate tissue-specific omics data in order to support future aquatic ecotoxicogenomic and endocrine-related studies as well as to improve our understanding of the fathead minnow as an ecological model.
Project description:Characterization of the renal transcriptomic response to Yersinia ruckeri/Conseuqences of early life stage thyroid suppression on long-term immune function and the immune response in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)
Project description:A growing number of studies have examined transcriptional responses to sex steroids along the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in teleost fishes. However, data is are lacking on the molecular signaling cascades that underlie progesterone signaling. The objectives of the present study were to characterize the transcriptional response in the ovary of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) (FHM) in response to progesterone (P4) using transcriptomics. Female FHM ovaries were exposed in vitro to 500 ng P4/L. Germinal vesicle migration and breakdown (GVBD) was observed and microarrays were used to identify gene cascades affected by P4. Microarray analysis identified 1,265 differentially expressed transcripts after P4 treatment (p < 0.05). Functional enrichment analysis revealed that transcripts involved in the molecular functions of protein serine/threonine kinase activity, ATP binding, and activity of calcium channels were increased in the female ovary after P4 treatment. There was an overwhelming response of genes involved in structural constituent of ribosome to bethat were down-regulated with P4. There was also evidence for gene changes in steroid and maturation-related transcripts. Pathway analyses identified cell cycle regulation, insulin action, hedgehog, and B cell activation as pathways containing an over-representation of highly regulated transcripts. Significant regulatory sub-networks of P4-mediated transcripts included genes regulated by tumor protein p53 and E2F transcription factor 1, suggesting that downstream expression targets of these two proteins may be preferentially involved in P4-mediated GVBD. These data provide novel insight into the molecular signaling cascades that may underlie P4-signaling in the ovary and identifies genes and processes that may indicate premature GVBD due to environmental pollutants that mimic progestins. 3 control and 4 treatment; biological replicates
Project description:A growing number of studies have examined transcriptional responses to sex steroids along the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in teleost fishes. However, data is are lacking on the molecular signaling cascades that underlie progesterone signaling. The objectives of the present study were to characterize the transcriptional response in the ovary of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) (FHM) in response to progesterone (P4) using transcriptomics. Female FHM ovaries were exposed in vitro to 500 ng P4/L. Germinal vesicle migration and breakdown (GVBD) was observed and microarrays were used to identify gene cascades affected by P4. Microarray analysis identified 1,265 differentially expressed transcripts after P4 treatment (p < 0.05). Functional enrichment analysis revealed that transcripts involved in the molecular functions of protein serine/threonine kinase activity, ATP binding, and activity of calcium channels were increased in the female ovary after P4 treatment. There was an overwhelming response of genes involved in structural constituent of ribosome to bethat were down-regulated with P4. There was also evidence for gene changes in steroid and maturation-related transcripts. Pathway analyses identified cell cycle regulation, insulin action, hedgehog, and B cell activation as pathways containing an over-representation of highly regulated transcripts. Significant regulatory sub-networks of P4-mediated transcripts included genes regulated by tumor protein p53 and E2F transcription factor 1, suggesting that downstream expression targets of these two proteins may be preferentially involved in P4-mediated GVBD. These data provide novel insight into the molecular signaling cascades that may underlie P4-signaling in the ovary and identifies genes and processes that may indicate premature GVBD due to environmental pollutants that mimic progestins.