title: Characterization of seven cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcripts (CARTs) differentially expressed in the brain and peripheral tissues of Solea senegalensis (Kaup).
abstract: CART (cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript) is a peptide with neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine functions with several key roles, both centrally and peripherally. In mammals there is a single gene that produces two alternatively spliced variants in rat and a single transcript in human but in teleosts multiple genes have been found. In the present study we report the existence of seven transcripts in Senegalese sole and characterize their sequences and phylogenetic relationships, as well as their expression patterns in the brain and peripheral tissues, and in response to feeding. Both cart2a and cart4 showed a ubiquitous expression in the brain, while cart1a, cart1b and cart3a were similarly expressed and had higher transcript levels in the mesencephalon, followed by the diencephalon. On the other hand, cart2b showed a main expression in the olfactory bulbs, and cart3b was predominantly expressed in the spinal cord. The expression profile in peripheral tissues differed substantially between cart's, even between more recently duplicated genes. Collectively, all the tissues examined, except the muscle, express at least one of the different cart's, although the highest transcript levels were found in the brain, gonads (ovary and testis) and, in some cases, eye and kidney. Concerning the feeding response, only brain cart1a, cart2a and cart4 showed a significant postprandial regulation, although future studies are necessary to assess potential confounding effects of stress imposed by the force feeding technique employed. Senegalese sole exhibits the highest number of cart genes reported to date in a vertebrate species. Their differential expression patterns and feeding regulation suggest that multiple cart genes, resulting from at least 3 rounds of whole genome duplication, have been retained in fish genomes through subfunctionalization, or possibly even through neofunctionalization.
authors: IRTA, Ctra. Poble Nou km 5.5, 43540 Sant Carles de la Rápita, Spain.
authors: Kruno
authors: K
authors: Bonacic
authors: IRTA, Ctra. Poble Nou km 5.5, 43540 Sant Carles de la Rápita, Spain.
authors: Almudena
authors: A
authors: Martínez
authors: Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, Marine Campus of International Excellence (CEIMAR), E-11510 Puerto Real, Spain; INMAR-CACYTMAR Research Institutes, Puerto Real University Campus, E-11510 Puerto Real, Spain.
authors: Águeda J
authors: ÁJ
authors: Martín-Robles
authors: Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, Marine Campus of International Excellence (CEIMAR), E-11510 Puerto Real, Spain; INMAR-CACYTMAR Research Institutes, Puerto Real University Campus, E-11510 Puerto Real, Spain.
authors: José A
authors: JA
authors: Muñoz-Cueto
authors: IRTA, Ctra. Poble Nou km 5.5, 43540 Sant Carles de la Rápita, Spain. Electronic address: sofia.morais@irta.cat.
authors: Sofia
authors: S
authors: Morais
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006066:Gonads / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
keywords: Appetite; Fish; Gene evolution; Neuropeptide; Regulation of food intake; Tissue distribution