Identification of candidate genes and pathways related to spermatogonial rapid proliferation and differentiation in Piaractus mesopotamicus

• Grant number: 23/02050-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: July 30, 2023
• End date: July 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Inland Water Fishery Resources
• Principal Investigator: Rafael Henrique Nóbrega
• Grantee: Ivana Felipe da Rosa
• Supervisor: Changwei Shao
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, China
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/15237-0 - Development of testicular organoids and their use for potential sperm maturation in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), BP.DD

Abstract

The Piaractus mesopotamicus, popular named as Pacu, is a Neotropical freshwater fish with high value commercial and potential to fish farming. In captivity, the males of Pacu shows a pattern of gonadal maturation similar to that seen in nature, with late sexual maturity (2-3 years). Since we have a lack of genetic information and limited knowledge about P. mesopotamicus reproduction, further research on mechanisms involved in the regulation of gonadal maturation through lncRNA and miRNA-related pathways would advance our understanding of sexual development. In line with this, the aim of this project is to identify candidate genes and pathways related to spermatogonial rapid proliferation and differentiation in P. mesopotamicus. For this purpose, we will compare the gonads transcriptome profiling of immature and mature testis, using RNA-Seq technology. Therefore, transcriptome sequences will be mapped to the reference genome and transcripts will be quantified as expected read counts. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the prediction of lncRNA and miRNA targets and pathway analysis will be detected between the immature and mature groups. We expect to find differentially expressed lncRNA and miRNA genes associated to Pacu's maturation and expand our current understanding of spermatogenic pathways. (AU)