Biol. Bull. 207: 168. (October 2004)
© 2004 Marine Biological Laboratory
Genes Differentially Expressed in Growth Hormone Transgenic Salmon
Kristen M. Ettensohn1,2,
Peggy Biga3,
Christina Romano1,
Robert H. Devlin4 and
Steven B. Roberts1
1 Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts
2 Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
3 Great Lakes WATER Institute, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
4 Fisheries and Oceans Canada, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Genes differentially expressed in liver and adipose tissue of growth hormone transgenic coho salmon, compared to wild-type controls, were identified using differential display (GeneFishing DEG System; SeeGene). Previous research has shown that these transgenic salmon grow at a significantly greater rate, with hyperplasia the primary factor influencing increased growth. Two genes identified with differential display include complement factor Bf-2 and methionine adenyltransferase. Complement factor Bf-2 was downregulated in transgenic liver tissue compared to the wild-type liver tissue. In several fish species, complement factor Bf-2 has been shown to activate the complement factor system via both alternative and classical pathways. Methionine adenyltransferase was up-regulated in transgenic adipose tissue compared to wild-type controls. Other researchers have shown that methionine adenyltransferase is associated with the stress responses. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis (Brilliant SYBR Green QRT-PCR Master Mix Kit, 1-Step, Stratagene) in the Opticon Continuous Fluorescence Detection System (MJ Research Inc.) was used to verify differential expression. The combined data suggest that over-expression of growth hormone and/or faster growth rates observed in transgenic salmon influence liver and adipose gene expression.
