Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly and Comparative Transcriptome Analyses Identified Energy Conservation as a Key Strategy for Anadromous Adaptation of the Hilsa Shad, (Clupeiformes: Dorosomatidae).
Kishor Kumar Sarker, Liang Lu, Roland Nathan Mandal, Md Rashedur Rahman, Anirban Sarker, Mohammad Abdul Baki, Chenhong Li
Author Information
Kishor Kumar Sarker: Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
Liang Lu: Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
Roland Nathan Mandal: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
Md Rashedur Rahman: Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
Anirban Sarker: Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, 9-10 Chittaranjan Ave, Dhaka 1100, Bangladesh.
Mohammad Abdul Baki: Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, 9-10 Chittaranjan Ave, Dhaka 1100, Bangladesh.
Chenhong Li: Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China. ORCID
Anadromous migration toward riverine tributaries is often challenged by altered environmental cues, food scarcity, and energy demands, sometimes at the expense of life itself. (Clupeiformes: Dorosomatidae), the national fish of Bangladesh, an anadromous shad, offers a model for understanding the molecular mechanisms of migration. To this end, we present a chromosome-level genome of and compare its transcriptomic imprints from muscle and liver across environments to trace the physiological shifts driving the migration. We observed rapid expansion of gene families to facilitate efficient signaling and osmotic balance, as well as a substantial selection pressure in metabolism regulatory genes, potentially relevant to a highly anadromous fish. We detected 1298 and 252 differentially expressed transcripts between sea and freshwater in the liver and muscle of , respectively, reflecting habitat and organ-specific adaptations. Co-expression analysis led us to hypothesize that the strength required for breeding migration toward upstream rivers is fueled by muscle protein catabolism forming ubiquitin-proteasomal complexes. In the liver, we observed a group of genes promoting fatty acid (FA) synthesis significantly in the riverine habitat. Regulation of FADS2 and ELOVL2 in the river reasoned the natural abundance of LC-PUFAs with better energy utilization in . Moreover, active gluconeogenesis and reduced insulin signaling in the liver are possibly linked to glucose homeostasis, potentially induced by prolonged starvation during migration. These genomic resources will accelerate the future evolutionary and functional genomics studies of .
