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Use of mTOR as a potential molecular marker to investigate the development of obesity in non‐model fish species
Author(s) -
Spainhour Rebekah,
Ball Jenna,
Kobayashi Yass
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.719.18
Subject(s) - catfish , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , biology , gene , protein kinase b , genetics , signal transduction , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery
Objectives of this study were to identify the genes encoding mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) in channel catfish and examine their tissue distribution. mTOR plays a key role in the regulation of protein synthesis, cell growth, cell proliferation, and nutrient metabolism. Therefore, functions of mTOR have been investigated in association with obesity and diabetes development. In channel catfish, genetic selection toward growth causes the development of obese‐like phenotype, which suggests that channel catfish can serve as an alternative model to investigate obesity and diabetes development. However, little is known about the role of mTOR in channel catfish. Genes encoding mTOR were identified by screening the channel catfish genome database. The expression of various mTOR mRNA was examined in the cDNA of brain, spleen, trunk kidney, liver, Brockmann body and muscle tissues using RT‐PCR. With the exception of the brain, mTOR mRNA expression was detectable in all tissues examined at varied degree. The nucleotide sequence of amplicon corresponding mTOR (480 bp) was highly similar to those of other fish (>80%), as well as that of mice (>78%), and humans (>79%). Currently, we are investigating changes in expression of mTOR mRNA in relation to changes in food intake and genetic selection toward growth in channel catfish. Support or Funding Information Supported by the Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (P20GM103418).