title: Transcriptional response of yellow perch to changes in ambient metal concentrations-A reciprocal field transplantation experiment.
abstract: Recent local adaptation to pollution has been evidenced in several organisms inhabiting environments heavily contaminated by metals. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation to high metal concentrations are poorly understood, especially in fishes. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) populations from lakes in the mining area of Rouyn-Noranda (QC, Canada) have been faced with metal contamination for about 90 years. Here, we examine gene transcription patterns of fish reciprocally transplanted between a reference and a metal-contaminated lake and also fish caged in their native lake. After four weeks, 111 genes were differentially transcribed in metal-naïve fish transferred to the metal-contaminated lake, revealing a plastic response to metal exposure. Genes involved in the citric cycle and beta-oxidation pathways were under-transcribed, suggesting a potential strategy to mitigate the effects of metal stress by reducing energy turnover. However, metal-contaminated fish transplanted to the reference lake did not show any transcriptomic response, indicating a reduced plastic response capability to sudden reduction in metal concentrations. Moreover, the transcription of other genes, especially ones involved in energy metabolism, was affected by caging. Overall, our results highlight environmental stress response mechanisms in yellow perch at the transcriptomic level and support a rapid adaptive response to metal exposure through genetic assimilation.
authors: Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec (Québec) G1V 0A6, Canada. Electronic address: berenice.bougas.1@ulaval.ca.
authors: Bérénice
authors: B
authors: Bougas
authors: Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec (Québec) G1V 0A6, Canada.
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Normandeau
authors: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Eau Terre Environnement 490, rue de la Couronne, Québec (Québec) G1K 9A9, Canada.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Grasset
authors: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Eau Terre Environnement 490, rue de la Couronne, Québec (Québec) G1K 9A9, Canada.
authors: Michel A
authors: MA
authors: Defo
authors: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Eau Terre Environnement 490, rue de la Couronne, Québec (Québec) G1K 9A9, Canada.
authors: Peter G C
authors: PGC
authors: Campbell
authors: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Eau Terre Environnement 490, rue de la Couronne, Québec (Québec) G1K 9A9, Canada.
authors: Patrice
authors: P
authors: Couture
authors: Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec (Québec) G1V 0A6, Canada.
authors: Louis
authors: L
authors: Bernatchez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity*; D010471:Perches / Q000235:genetics*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D029941:Fish Proteins; D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Caging; Metal exposure; Reciprocal transplantation; Transcriptome; Yellow perch