Biology subjects

Torgersen, J. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Torgersen, J. S..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

A major QTL for resistance against Salmonid Rickettsial Septicaemia in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) maps to a narrow region on chromosome 21, implicating two candidate genes

The facultative intracellular bacterium Piscirickettsia salmonis causes Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome (SRS) in Coho salmon, Atlantic salmon, and other salmonids. SRS causes large mortalities in Chilean aquaculture and leads to heavy usage of antibiotics. In Atlantic salmon SRS resistance is a polygenic trait with moderate to large heritability. In coho salmon a large QTL for SRS-resistance was earlier found on chromosome 21. In the present study we have further characterized genetic resistance to SRS in coho salmon and searched for putative candidate genes underlying the QTL. The mean heritability of survival was 0.31 and 0.58 on the observed and liability scale, respectively. The QTL on chromosome 21 explained from 26% to 97% of genetic variation within 12 different datasets. Two SNPs were substantially more significant compared to other SNPs and in very strong linkage disequilibrium with each other. The resistance allele was found to be dominant over the susceptibility allele at these SNPs. One of the two SNPs was located within the first exon of two genes which are transcribed in opposite directions: a histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 3 (hint3) gene and a gene (LOC109866666) encoding a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). Genotypes at the SNP were correlated with expression levels at both hint3 and the lncRNA gene, and the differential expression was manifested in both SRS-challenged and non-challenged fish. The exonic SNP is located 3 base pairs upstream of the start codon of the hint3 gene, at a position which is crucial for effective translation according to the rules of Kozak. The resistance allele at the SNP correlates to increased expression levels and increased translation levels at hint3, although the latter remains to be experimentally proven. Thus, it seems plausible that the QTL is due to the action of the hint3 gene and/or the gene lncRNA gene encoded by LOC109866666. The hint3 gene on chromosome 21 is different from homologs in Atlantic salmon, and no Atlantic salmon homologs of LOC109866666 were found. Thus, it might be possible to increase SRS-resistance of Atlantic salmon by inserting the coho gene(s) through gene editing.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2022

Efficient transfection of Atlantic salmon primary hepatocyte cells for functional assays and gene editing

The expansion of genomic resources for Atlantic salmon over the past half decade has enabled efficient interrogation of genetic traits by large-scale correlation of genotype to phenotype. Moving from correlation to causation will require genotype-phenotype relationships to be tested experimentally in a cost-efficient and cell context relevant manner. To enable such future experiments, we have developed a method for the isolation and genetic manipulation of primary hepatocytes from Atlantic salmon for use in heterologous expression, reporter assay, and gene editing experiments. We chose the liver as the tissue of interest because it is the metabolic hub and many current Atlantic salmon research projects focus on understanding metabolic processes to improve traits such as growth rate, total fat content, and omega-3 content. We find that isolated primary hepatocytes are optimally transfected with both plasmid and ribonucleoprotein using a Neon electroporator at 1400 V, 10 ms, and 2 pulses. Transfection efficiency with plasmid and cutting efficiency with ribonucleoprotein was optimally 46% and 60%, respectively. We also demonstrate a 26-fold increase in luciferase expression under the promoter of the key liver metabolic gene, elovl5b, compared to empty vector, in line with expected liver-specific expression. Taken together, this work provides a valuable resource enabling transfection and gene editing experiments in a context relevant and cost-effective system.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Targeted mutagenesis of {triangleup}5 and {triangleup}6 fatty acyl desaturases induce multiplex-mutagenesis and lipogenesis in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

With declining wild fish populations, farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) has gained popularity as a source for healthy long-chain highly unsaturated fatty acids (LC-HUFA) including 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3. However, the introduction of plant-based oil in fish diets has reduced the content of these beneficial LC-HUFA. The capability of biosynthesis of LC-HUFAs depends on fatty acids supplied in diets and the genetic potential residing in the fish. Key proteins involved in LC-HUFA synthesis in salmon include fatty acid desaturases 2 (Fads2). In a recent study we used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate two F0 mutant strains of salmon, 1){Delta} 6abc/5Mt with mutations in{Delta} 5fads2, {Delta}6fads2-a, {Delta}6fads2-b and {Delta}6fads2-c genes, and 2){Delta} 6bcMt with mutations in{Delta} 6fads2-b and {Delta}6fads2-c genes. The CRISPR mutated salmon (crispants) had reduced levels of LC-HUFA and expression of targeted fads2 genes. In present study we apply whole transcriptome analysis on these fads2 crispants. Our purpose is to evaluate the genetic mosaicism in fads2 crispants and the effect these mutations had on other lipid metabolism pathways in fish. Both{Delta} 6abc/5Mt and{Delta} 6bcMt crispants demonstrated high percentage of indels within all intended target genes, though different indel types and percentage were observed between individuals. Skipping of a CRISPR-targeted exon was observed in{Delta} 6fads2-a gene of{Delta} 6abc/5Mt salmon. The{Delta} 6abc/5Mt fish also displayed several disruptive indels which resulted in over 100 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in lipid metabolism pathways in liver. This includes up-regulation of srebp1 genes as well as genes involved in fatty acid de-novo synthesis, fatty acid {beta}-oxidation and lipogenesis. Both elovl5 and elovl2 genes were not changed, suggesting that the genes were not targeted by Srebp1. The mutation of{Delta} 6bcMt surprisingly resulted in over 3000 DEGs which were enriched in factors encoding genes involved in mRNA regulation and stability.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Genomic and functional gene studies suggest a key role of beta-carotene oxygenase 1 like (bco1l) gene in salmon flesh color.

Red coloration of muscle tissue (flesh) is a unique trait in several salmonid genera, including Atlantic salmon. The color results from dietary carotenoids deposited in the flesh, whereas the color intensity is affected both by diet and genetic components. Herein we report on a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic variation underlying this trait. Two SNPs on ssa26 showed strong associations to the flesh color in salmon. Two genes known to be involved in carotenoid metabolism were located in this QTL-region: beta-carotene oxygenase 1 (bco1) and beta-carotene oxygenase 1 like (bco1l). To determine whether flesh color variation is caused by one, or both, of these genes, several functional studies were carried out including mRNA and protein expression in fish with red and pale flesh color. The catalytic abilities of these two genes were also tested with different carotenoids. Our results suggest bco1l to be the most likely gene to explain the flesh color variation observed in this population.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2017

Transcriptional development of phospholipid and lipoprotein metabolism in different intestinal regions of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fry

BackgroundIt has been suggested that the high phospholipid (PL) requirement in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fry is due to insufficient intestinal de-novo synthesis causing low lipoprotein (LP) production and reduced transport capacity of dietary lipids. However, there has not been performed any in-depth ontological analysis of intestinal PL and LP synthesis with development of salmon. Therefore in this paper we used RNA-seq technology to test the hypothesis that the high PL requirement in salmon fry was associated with undeveloped PL synthesis and LP formation pathways in intestine. There was a special focus on the understanding homologous genes, especially from salmonid-specific fourth vertebrate whole-genome duplication (Ss4R), contribution to salmonid specific features of regulation of PL metabolic pathways. The study was performed in stomach, pyloric caeca and hindgut at 0.16g (1 day before first-feeding), 2.5g and 10g of salmon.\n\nResultsIn general, we found an up-regulation of de-novo phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) synthesis, phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) and LP formation pathways in pyloric caeca of salmon between 0.16g and 10g. Thirteen genes in these pathways were highly (q<0.05) up-regulated in 2.5g salmon compared to 0.16g, while only five more significant (q<0.05) genes were found when the fish grew up to 10g. Different homologous genes were found dominating in stomach, pyloric caeca and hindgut. However, the expression of dominating genes in PL and LP synthesis pathways was much higher in pyloric caeca than stomach and hindgut. Salmon-specific homologous (Ss4R) genes had similar expression during development, while other homologs had more diverged expression.\n\nConclusionsAn increasing capacity for PL synthesis and LP formation was confirmed in pyloric caeca. The up-regulation of the de-novo PtdCho pathway confirms that the salmon fry have increasing requirement for dietary PtdCho compared to adult. The similar expressions between Ss4R homologous genes suggest that the functional divergence of these genes was incomplete compared to homologs derived from other whole genome duplication. The results of the present study have provided new information on the molecular mechanisms of phospholipid synthesis and lipoprotein formation in fish.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Diet And Life Stage Associated Remodeling Of Lipid Metabolism Regulation In The Duplicated Atlantic Salmon Genome

Atlantic salmon migrates from rivers to sea to feed, grow and develop gonads before returning to spawn in freshwater. These habitat shifts require great phenotypic plasticity. To address the unresolved question of how the shift in diet between fresh and saltwater affects the regulation of metabolic function, we fed salmon contrasting diets in each of the two life stages. Combining transcriptomics with comparative genomics, we found that lipid metabolism undergoes a concerted shift between fresh- and saltwater stages. Lipogenesis and lipid transport become less active in liver after transition to saltwater, while genes for lipid uptake in gut are more expressed in lipid-rich seawater environments. We assess how the whole-genome duplication that gave rise to the salmonids has impacted the evolution of lipid metabolism, and find signatures of pathway-specific selection pressure on gene duplicates, as well as a limited number of cases of increased gene dosage.

evolutionary biology↗