Taste receptors and gustatory associated G proteins in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus.
Taste sensation plays a pivotal role in nutrient identification and acquisition. This is particularly true for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) that live in turbid waters with limited visibility. This biological process is mainly mediated by taste receptors expressed in taste buds that are distributed in several organs and tissues, including the barbels and skin. In the present study, we identified a complete repertoire of taste receptor and gustatory associated G protein genes in the channel catfish genome. A total of eight taste receptor genes were identified, including five type I and three type II taste receptor genes. Their genomic locations, phylogenetic relations, orthologies and expression were determined. Phylogenetic and collinear analyses provided understanding of the evolution dynamics of this gene family. Furthermore, the motif and dN/dS analyses indicated that selection pressures of different degrees were imposed on these receptors. Additionally, four genes of gustatory associated G proteins were also identified. It was indicated that expression patterns of catfish taste receptors and gustatory associated G proteins across organs mirror the distribution of taste buds across organs. Finally, the expression comparison between catfish and zebrafish organs provided evidence of potential roles of catfish skin and gill involved in taste sensation.
The Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Aquatic Genomics Unit, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
Sen
S
Gao
The Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Aquatic Genomics Unit, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
Shikai
S
Liu
The Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Aquatic Genomics Unit, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
Jun
J
Yao
The Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Aquatic Genomics Unit, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
Tao
T
Zhou
The Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Aquatic Genomics Unit, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
Ning
N
Li
Key Laboratory of Mariculture of the Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
Qi
Q
Li
The Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Aquatic Genomics Unit, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
Rex
R
Dunham
The Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Aquatic Genomics Unit, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. Electronic address: liuzhan@auburn.edu.
Zhanjiang
Z
Liu
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / Q000379:methods; D007059:Ictaluridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000378:metabolism*; D000098706:Taste Receptors, Type 2
D029941:Fish Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C431926:taste receptors, type 1; D000098706:Taste Receptors, Type 2
Barbel; Catfish; Evolution; Skin; Taste receptor