title: First feed affects the expressions of microRNA and their targets in Atlantic cod.
abstract: To our knowledge, there is no report on microRNA (miRNA) expression and their target analysis in relation to the type of the first feed and its effect on the further growth of fish. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae have better growth and development performance when fed natural zooplankton as a start-feed, as compared with those fed typical aquaculture start-feeds. In our experiment, two groups of Atlantic cod larvae were fed reference feed (zooplankton, mostly copepods, filtered from a seawater pond) v. aquaculture feeds: enriched rotifers (Brachionus sp.) and later brine shrimp (Artemia salina). We examined the miRNA expressions of six defined developmental stages as determined and standardised by body length from first feeding for both diet groups. We found eight miRNA (miR-9, miR-19a, miR-130b, miR-146, miR-181a, miR-192, miR-206 and miR-11240) differentially expressed between the two feeding groups in at least one developmental stage. We verified the next-generation sequencing data using real-time RT-PCR. We found 397 putative targets (mRNA) to the differentially expressed miRNA; eighteen of these mRNA showed differential expression in at least one stage. The patterns of differentially expressed miRNA and their putative target mRNA were mostly inverse, but sometimes also concurrent. The predicted miRNA targets were involved in different pathways, including metabolic, phototransduction and signalling pathways. The results of this study provide new nutrigenomic information on the potential role of miRNA in mediating nutritional effects on growth during the start-feeding period in fish larvae.
authors: 1Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture,Nord University,Postbox 1490,8049 Bodø,Norway.
authors: Teshome Tilahun
authors: TT
authors: Bizuayehu
authors: 2Institute of Marine Research,Postbox 1870,Nordnes,5817 Bergen,Norway.
authors: Tomasz
authors: T
authors: Furmanek
authors: 3Institute of Marine Research,Austevoll Research Station,5392 Storebø,Norway.
authors: Ørjan
authors: Ø
authors: Karlsen
authors: 3Institute of Marine Research,Austevoll Research Station,5392 Storebø,Norway.
authors: Terje
authors: T
authors: van der Meeren
authors: 2Institute of Marine Research,Postbox 1870,Nordnes,5817 Bergen,Norway.
authors: Rolf Brudvik
authors: RB
authors: Edvardsen
authors: 5Department of Biology,University of Bergen,Postbox 7803,5020 Bergen,Norway.
authors: Ivar
authors: I
authors: Rønnestad
authors: 6National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research,Postbox 2029,Nordnes,5817 Bergen,Norway.
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Hamre
authors: 1Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture,Nord University,Postbox 1490,8049 Bodø,Norway.
authors: Steinar D
authors: SD
authors: Johansen
authors: 1Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture,Nord University,Postbox 1490,8049 Bodø,Norway.
authors: Igor
authors: I
authors: Babiak
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000379:methods; D001156:Artemia; D004032:Diet; D048389:Gadus morhua / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D054647:Nutrigenomics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012403:Rotifera; D015048:Zooplankton
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Artemia; Atlantic cod; Brachionus; Calml4
                  
                    calmodulin-like protein 4; Copepods; IGF insulin-like growth factor; KEGG Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; Live feed; Nutrigenomics; UTR untranslated regions; acid-labile subunit; c-myb
                  
                    transcriptional factor myb; dph day post-hatch; dusp5
                  
                    dual-specificity phosphatase 5; igfals
                  
                    insulin-like growth factor binding protein; miRNA microRNA; microRNA