High-Throughput Identification of Putative Antimicrobial Peptides from Multi-Omics Data of the Lined Seahorse (Hippocampus erectus)

Abstract

Lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus), the most widely cultivated seahorse in China, has been in short supply because of its important medicinal value; meanwhile, unnatural deaths caused by various diseases (especially enteritis) have limited their practical large-scale aquaculture. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), as the best alternative to antibiotics, have been extensively applied in agricultural practices. In this study, we identified 290 putative AMP sequences from our previously published genome and transcriptome data of the lined seahorse. Among them, 267 are novel, and 118 were validated by our proteome data generated in the present study. It seems that there is a tissue preference in the distribution of AMP/AMP precursor transcripts, such as lectins in the male pouch. In addition, their transcription levels usually varied during development. Interestingly, the representative lectins kept extremely high levels at the pre-pregnancy stage while at relatively lower levels at other stages. Especially Lectin25, with the highest transcription levels and significant developmental changes, has been reported to be involved in seahorse and human pregnancy. The comparison of transcriptome data between one-day and three-month juveniles indicated that Hemoglobin2 (Hemo2) was significantly upregulated in the body, haslet, and brain. Our proteome data of female and male individuals revealed three putative AMP precursors with sexual specificity, including two male-biased cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK-like16 and CDK-like23) and one female-biased bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor 2 (BPTI2). In conclusion, our present high-throughput identification of putative AMP sequences from multi-omics (including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics) data provides an overview of AMPs in the popular lined seahorse, which lays a solid foundation for further development of AMP-based fish food additives and human drugs.

Trimetazidine and exercise provide comparable improvements to high fat diet-induced muscle dysfunction through enhancement of mitochondrial quality control

“…The E3 ubiquitin ligases Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 are two key players to promote the degradation of proteins and contribute to skeletal muscle dysfunction. In aminal models, metabolic abnormalities induced by saturated fatty acid were accompanied by muscle dysfunction in mice 5 , 8 , 29 . Our present study revealed that high palmitic acid or a high caloric diet rich in palmitic acid promoted muscle dysfunction characterized by a reduction in muscle mass and muscle fiber size.…”

“…In obesity, mitochondrial dysfunction and damage due to excessive fatty acid infiltration and accumulation in skeletal muscle may contribute to muscle atrophy 4 – 6 . Mitochondrial dysfunction triggers catabolic signaling pathways to induce and/or exacerbate muscle atrophy 7 , 8 . Mitochondrial integrity relies on the efficiency of mitochondrial quality control (MQC) processes, and their morphology is regulated by continuous fusion, fission, and mitophagy 9 – 13 .…”

Comprehensive Transcriptional Changes in the Liver of Kanglang White Minnow (Anabarilius grahami) in Response to the Infection of Parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis

“…AMPs usually have specific gene structures or come from the hydrolysis of some immune-related proteins, like histone, hemoglobin, thrombin, etc. [24]. In recent years, many AMPs have been identified by us through genome and transcriptome screening in fishes, such as amphibious mudskippers [25], line seahorse [24] and giant grouper [26].…”

“…[24]. In recent years, many AMPs have been identified by us through genome and transcriptome screening in fishes, such as amphibious mudskippers [25], line seahorse [24] and giant grouper [26]. Interestingly, our previous antibacterial experiments using AMPs/AMP precursors from mudskippers have revealed their efficiencies in inhibiting the growth of Micrococcus luteus [25], which suggested that AMPs might play some roles in KWM against infectious pathogens such as Ich.…”

Genetics of Marine Organisms Associated with Human Health

“…Furthermore, differential expression between male and female individuals was also analyzed for potential sexual variances and specificity. The data provides an overview of AMPs in the popular lined seahorse, which is a solid foundation for further investigation on development of AMP-based fish food and human drugs [7].…”