基于转录组分析揭示斑马鱼elov4b在LC-PUFAs生物合成过程中的作用
TRANSCRIPTOME ANALYSIS REVEALES THE ROLE OF ELOV4B IN LC-PUFAS BIOSYNTHESIS IN ZEBRAFISH
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摘要: 为探究脂肪酸延长酶4b (elovl4b)基因在淡水鱼长链多不饱和脂肪酸(LC-PUFAs)合成中的作用机制, 研究首先使用CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats /CRISPR-associated systems)系统成功构建elovl4b 基因第2外显子上缺失2个碱基的基因突变纯合子模型(elovl4b–/–), 并分析elovl4b基因敲除后斑马鱼肝脏的脂肪酸组成变化。分析发现, 相比于野生型(WT)斑马鱼, elovl4b–/–斑马鱼肝脏总脂肪酸占比、C22PUFA占比显著上升, 多种LC-PUFAs组成占比出现显著变化。进一步进行斑马鱼肝脏的转录组测序, 创建基因文库, 筛选出差异表达基因进行富集分析和数据库功能注释分析, 用qPCR技术对KEGG 通路中的差异表达基因(P<0.05)进行验证。结果显示, 基因表达谱变化显著, 共有809个基因表达出现显著性差异(485 个下调, 324 个上调), 包括磷酸戊糖途径在内的多条通路显著富集。脂肪酸合成等通路显著上调, 花生四烯酸代谢、初级胆汁酸合成等通路显著下调。随机选取12条基因通过qPCR (Real-time Quantitative PCR)进行验证, 基因的表达趋势与转录组测序所得结果基本一致。上述结果说明elovl4b缺失后, 机体内各类LC-PUFAs的组成及包括花生四烯酸代谢、脂肪酸代谢、脂肪生成和代谢在内的许多重要的机体生命过程发生了相应性的变化, 进一步揭示了elovl4b在LC-PUFAs合成过程中的作用, 能为相关的心血管、慢性肥胖等疾病的治疗提供理论依据。Abstract: In order to explore the role of fatty acid elongase 4b (elovl4b) gene in the synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) in freshwater fish, we utilized the CRISPR/Cas9 system to construct a gene mutation model with a 2-base deletion in exon 2 of the elovl4b–/– gene. The fatty acid composition of liver in elovl4b zebrafish was analyzed, revealing a significant increase in the total fatty acids and C22PUFA compared to wild-type (WT) zebrafish. Additionally, the proportions of various LC-PUFAs components showed significant changes. Further transcriptome sequencing of the zebrafish liver was conducted, resulting in the creation of gene libraries and the identification of differentially expressed genes. Enrichment analysis and functional annotation were performed using database resources, and significant differentially expressed genes in the KEGG pathway were verified by qPCR. The results showed substantial changes in gene expression profiles, and 809 genes showing significant differences in expression. Pathways such as the pentose phosphate pathway were notably enriched, while pathways involved in fatty acid synthesis were significantly up-regulated. Conversely, arachidonic acid metabolism and primary bile acid synthesis pathways were significantly down-regulated. Validation of twelve randomly selected genes using Real-time Quantitative PCR (qPCR) demonstrated consistency with the transcriptome sequencing results. These findings suggest that the deletion of elovl4b induces adaptive changes in critical biological processes, including arachidonic acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and fat production and metabolism. This study provides insights into the role of elovl4b in LC-PUFAs synthesis and offers a theoretical basis for treating related cardiovascular diseases, chronic obesity, and other conditions.