Transcriptome analysis of Japanese eel during metamorphosis induced by starvation

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26850133
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Aquatic life science
• Research Institution: Fisheries Research and Education Agency (2015-2016); Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology (2014)
• Principal Investigator: Sudo Ryusuke 国立研究開発法人水産研究・教育機構, 増養殖研究所, 研究員 (60722676)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: ニホンウナギ / 変態 / トランスクリプトーム解析 / レプトセファルス / 甲状腺ホルモン / 絶食

Outline of Final Research Achievements

For understanding of metamorphosis of eels, RNA-seq of head and whole body of eel larvae during metamorphosis was performed. Approximately 373 million reads were generated and assembled 320,321 transcripts. The results of comprehensive analysis of RNA-seq data showed that many genes were drastically changed during the early to late metamorphosis stages. From gene ontology analysis, it is revealed that the expression of genes for transcriptional elongation, regulation of myofibril size and glycolytic process was greatly changed. During metamorphosis, expression of thyroid hormone receptors increased, and thus eel larvae were exposed to thyroxine. All larvae exposed to thyroxine were induced metamorphosis. Therefore, thyroid hormone may also play important role for metamorphosis of eels.

Free Research Field

水圏生物学