Identificação e diferenciação da expressão de genes em Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum CUVIER, 1818) alimentado com frutos e sementes da Amazônia

Abstract

Fruits play an important role in the Central Amazonia floodplain ecosystem, especially when considering the relation fish-plants. More than 110 plants species have been identified which produc fruits and seeds consumed by tambaqui in its natural environment. The knowledge of the food habits of these animals in nature, made possible the inclusion of fruits and seeds in the fish diet created when reared under captivity, aiming to decrease production costs, and keeping a satisfactory fish growth rate. However, the presence of antinutritional factors can limit the inclusion of certain vegetable products in the diet of these fishes. This work aims to evaluate, at a molecular level, the effect of the incorporation of the fruits ‘camu-camu’, ‘catoré’, ‘embaúba’, ‘jauari’ and ‘munguba’ seeds in tambaqui feeding, in the ratio of 1:1 with a commercial ration. The physiological, biochemical and cytogenotoxicity parameters were also evaluated for their effects in the fishes submitted to a period of 1, 15 and 30 days of modified feeding. The results demonstrated that fruits and seeds did not affect metabolic, enzymatic and cytogenotoxic alterations in the fishes during the tested periods. However, it was possible to verify a significant difference in the feeding period and food deprivation in subbimetted fishes. The gene differential expression showded fragments that presented similarity with Adenylate Kinase, Superoxide Dismutase, Apolipoprotein and Cytochrome P450 enziyme genes. Others seven expressed transcripts did not demonstrated similarity with enzymes deposited in the GenBank, and two fragments were characterized as products of proteins not identified thefore being candidates for future studies in order to understand the animals process metabolism when fed with supplemented rations with Amazonian fruits and seeds.