BackgroundThe establishment of the bisexual fertile fish hybrid lineage including the allodiploid and allotetraploid hybrids, from interspecific hybridization of red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var. 2n = 100, 2n = AA) (♀) × common carp (Cyprinus carpio L. 2n = 100, 2n = BB) (♂), provided a good platform to investigate genetic relationship between the parents and their hybrid progenies.ResultsThe chromosomal inheritance of diploid and allotetraploid hybrid progenies in successive generations, was studied by applying 5S rDNA fluorescence in situ hybridization. Signals of 5S rDNA distinguished the chromosomal constitution of common carp (B-genome) from red crucian carp (A-genome), in which two strong signals were observed on the first submetacentric chromosome, while no major signal was found in common carp. After fish hybridization, one strong signal of 5S rDNA was detected in the same locus on the chromosome of diploid hybrids. As expected, two strong signals were observed in 4nF3 tetraploid hybrids offspring and it is worth mentioning that two strong signals were detected in a separating bivalent of a primary spermatocyte in 4nF3. Furthermore, the mitosis of heterozygous chromosomes was shown normal and stable with blastular tissue histological studies.ConclusionsWe revealed that 5S rDNA signal can be applied to discern A-genome from B-genome, and that 5S rDNA bearing chromosomes can be stably passed down in successive generations. Our work provided a significant method in fish breeding and this is important for studies in fish evolutionary biology.

BackgroundThe allotetraploid hybrid fish (4nAT) that was created in a previous study through an intergeneric cross between red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var., ♀) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio L., ♂) provided an excellent platform to investigate the effect of hybridization and polyploidization on the evolution of 5S rDNA. The 5S rDNAs of paternal common carp were made up of a coding sequence (CDS) and a non-transcribed spacer (NTS) unit, and while the 5S rDNAs of maternal red crucian carp contained a CDS and a NTS unit, they also contained a variable number of interposed regions (IPRs). The CDSs of the 5S rDNAs in both parental fishes were conserved, while their NTS units seemed to have been subjected to rapid evolution.ResultsThe diploid hybrid 2nF1 inherited all the types of 5S rDNAs in both progenitors and there were no signs of homeologous recombination in the 5S rDNAs of 2nF1 by sequencing of PCR products. We obtained two segments of 5S rDNA with a total length of 16,457 bp from allotetraploid offspring 4nAT through bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) sequencing. Using this sequence together with the 5S rDNA sequences amplified from the genomic DNA of 4nAT, we deduced that the 5S rDNAs of 4nAT might be inherited from the maternal progenitor red crucian carp. Additionally, the IPRs in the 5S rDNAs of 4nAT contained A-repeats and TA-repeats, which was not the case for the IPRs in the 5S rDNAs of 2nF1. We also detected two signals of a 200-bp fragment of 5S rDNA in the chromosomes of parental progenitors and hybrid progenies by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).ConclusionsWe deduced that during the evolution of 5S rDNAs in different ploidy hybrid fishes, interlocus gene conversion events and tandem repeat insertion events might occurred in the process of polyploidization. This study provided new insights into the relationship among the evolution of 5S rDNAs, hybridization and polyploidization, which were significant in clarifying the genome evolution of polyploid fish.

A feeding trial was performed to investigate the effects of dietary lysine levels on growth performance and antioxidative capacity of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets with 19.3 (the control), 20.5, 22.1, 23.1 and 24.4 g kg−1 of lysine were formulated. Results showed that compared with the control, 23.1 g kg−1 dietary lysine increased the weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR), and decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR; p < 0.05). Based on the quadratic regression analysis of SGR and FCR, the optimal dietary lysine level was 22.2 and 21.9 g kg−1, respectively. As dietary lysine levels increasing from 19.3 to 24.4 g kg−1, the catalase activity increased significantly, while the malondialdehyde content decreased (p < 0.05). The mRNA levels of antioxidative genes in liver were markedly upregulated with the increase of lysine levels (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the mRNA levels of target of rapamycin (TOR), kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein 1 (Keap1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) were increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, 22.2 and 21.9 g kg−1 dietary lysine could improve the growth performance of channel catfish. Besides, 24.4 g kg−1 dietary lysine enhanced antioxidative capacity via the TOR/Keap1/Nrf2 signalling pathway.

The formation of the allotetraploid hybrid lineage (4nAT) encompasses both distant hybridization and polyploidization processes. The allotetraploid offspring have two sets of sub-genomes inherited from both parental species, and therefore, it is important to explore its genetic structure. Herein, we construct a bacterial artificial chromosome library of allotetraploids, and then sequence and analyze the full-length sequences of 19 bacterial artificial chromosomes. Sixty-eight DNA chimeras are identified, which are divided into four models according to the distribution of the genomic DNA derived from the parents. Among the 68 genetic chimeras, 44 (64.71%) are linked to tandem repeats (TRs) and 23 (33.82%) are linked to transposable elements (TEs). The chimeras linked to TRs are related to slipped-strand mispairing and double-strand break repair while the chimeras linked to TEs benefit from the intervention of recombinases. In addition, TRs and TEs can also result in insertions/deletions of DNA segments. We conclude that DNA chimeras accompanied by TRs and TEs coordinate a balance between the sub-genomes derived from the parents. It is the first report on the relationship between formation of the DNA chimeras and TRs and TEs in the polyploid animals.

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