Isolation and partial characterization of Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) Vitellogenin

A study was conducted to isolate, partial characterize Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) vitellogenin (vtg). Two-year-old juvenile L. calcarifer (n = 10) were given three intraperitoneal injections of 17-β estradiol (E2) at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight to induce vitellogenesis. Blood was collected 3 days after the last injection, and plasma was purified through gel filtration chromatography. A broad single symmetrical peak consisting of vtg molecule was produced. Protein concentration was 0.059 mg/ml as determined by Bradfrod assay using bovine serum albumin as a standard. The protein appeared as one circulating form in Native PAGE considering the dimeric form of putative vtg with molecular weight of 545 kDa. In SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions, two major bands appeared at 232.86 and 118.80 kDa and minor bands at 100.60, 85.80 and 39.92 kDa, respectively. The purified vtg was used to generate a polyclonal antibody, and the specificity of antibody was assessed by Western blot analysis. Two major bands were immunoreacted, but no cross-reactivity was observed with plasma from non-induced males. The protein was characterized as phosphoglycolipoprotein as it positively stained for the presence of lipid, phosphorus and carbohydrate using Sudan Black B, methyl green and periodic acid/Schiff reagent solution, respectively. The amino acid composition was analyzed by high sensitivity amino acid analysis that showed high percentage of non-polar amino acids (~48 %). The results suggest the potential utilization of vtg as a basis tool to further study about reproductive physiology of this important economical species.

Segregation and genetic linkage analyses of river catfish, Mystus nemurus, based on microsatellite markers

The river catfish Mystus nemurus is an important fresh water species for aquaculture in Malaysia. We report the first genetic linkage map of M. nemurus based on segregation analysis and a linkage map using newly developed microsatellite markers of M. nemurus. A total of 70 of the newly developed polymorphic DNA microsatellite markers were analyzed on pedigrees generated using a pseudo-testcross strategy from 2 mapping families. In the first mapping family, 100 offspring were produced from randomly selected dams of the same populations; dams of the second family were selected from 2 different populations, and this family had 50 offspring. Thirty-one of the 70 markers segregated according to the Mendelian segregation ratio. Linkage analysis revealed that 17 microsatellite markers belonging to 7 linkage groups were obtained at a logarithm of the odds score of 1.2 spanning 584 cM by the Kosambi mapping function, whereas the other 14 remained unlinked. The results from this study will act as primer to a more extensive genetic mapping study aimed towards identifying genetic loci involved in determining economically important traits.

Distribution and conservation of endangered Temoleh, Probarbus jullieni (Sauvage, 1880)

The freshwater fish, Probarbus jullieni (Sauvage), locally referred to as "Temoleh", is a high-valued freshwater fish in Malaysia and has both cultural and conservational significance. It is widely distributed in the North-east Asian countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia. During the recent past, the natural stocks of P. jullieni have been decreased severely due to habitat degradation and man-induced hazards in aquatic ecosystem. Despite the vast research that has been conducted on various carp species, little attention has been given to P. jullieni. This study reviewed the published information on the status, distribution, reproduction and biodiversity of this commercially important fish species. The findings would greatly be helpful towards the species conservation and aquaculture development of the highly endangered P. jullieni.

Food assimilated by two sympatric populations of the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Delphacidae) feeding on different host plants contaminates insect DNA detected by RAPD-PCR analysis

Contamination of insect DNA for RAPD-PCR analysis can be a problem because many primers are non-specific and DNA from parasites or gut contents may be simultaneously extracted along with that of the insect. We measured the quantity of food ingested and assimilated by two sympatric populations of brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, one from rice and the other from Leersia hexandra (Poaceae), a wetland forage grass, and we also investigated whether host plant DNA contaminates that of herbivore insects in extractions of whole insects. Ingestion and assimilation of food were reduced significantly when individuals derived from one host plant were caged on the other species. The bands, OPA3 (1.25), OPD3 (1.10), OPD3 (0.80), OPD3 (0.60), pUC/M13F (0.35), pUC/M13F (0.20), BOXAIR (0.50), peh#3 (0.50), and peh#3 (0.17) were found in both rice-infesting populations of brown planthopper and its host plant (rice). Similarly, the bands, OPA4 (1.00), OPB10 (0.70), OPD3 (0.90), OPD3 (0.80), OPD3 (0.60), pUC/ M13F (0.35), pUC/M13F (0.20), and BOXAIR (0.50) were found in both Leersia-infesting populations of brown planthopper and the host plant. So, it is clear that the DNA bands amplified in the host plants were also found in the extracts from the insects feeding on them.

Association of annual hormonal profile with gonad maturity of mahseer (Tor tambroides) in captivity

Annual gonad hormonal profile of wild, matured mahseer (29 males and 23 female) averaging in weight between 0.95±0.26 and 1.19±0.23 kg for males and females, respectively, were investigated from November 2007 to November 2008 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Blood was collected from caudal vein, monthly and plasma separation by centrifugation was done to measure reproductive hormones: 17β-estradiol (E(2)), testosterone (T), and 11-keto-testosterone (11KT). Gonads were sampled for histology processing to observe their maturity. Highest T level in females and males was recorded at 0.22±0.016 and 0.88±0.014 ng/ml, respectively. The 11KT showed several peaks and the highest value was noted at 0.7±0.018 ng/ml in November 2008. The female E(2) initially was at 1.48±0.16 ng/ml and significantly increased (P<0.05) to 1.53±0.39 ng/ml in November 2008. Ovaries were laden with oocytes in several stages in all the samples while testes gonad showed a high level of spermatids throughout the year. Changes in plasma level of the gonadal hormones were correlated with the ovarian and testes maturities. In conclusion, the study suggests that mahseer can be categorized as asynchronized and multiple spawner. The information gathered is important for appropriate breeding and conservation programs of the Malaysian mahseer.

Telescopium telescopium as potential biomonitors of Cu, Zn, and Pb for the tropical intertidal area

The distributions of Cu, Zn, and Pb concentrations in the selected soft tissues (foot, cephalic tentacle, mantle, muscle, gill, digestive caecum, and remaining soft tissues) and shells of the mud-flat snail Telescopium telescopium were determined in snails from eight geographical sites in the south-western intertidal area of Peninsular Malaysia. Generally, the digestive caecum compared with other selected soft tissues, accumulated higher concentration of Zn (214.35+/-14.56 microg/g dry weight), indicating that the digestive caecum has higher affinity for the essential Zn to bind to metallothionein. The shell demonstrated higher concentrations of Pb (41.23+/-1.20 microg/g dry weight) when compared to the selected soft tissues except gill from Kuala Sg. Ayam (95.76+/-5.32 microg/g dry weight). The use of different soft tissues also can solve the problem of defecation to reduce error in interpreting the bioavailability of heavy metals in the intertidal area.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the Malaysian giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Eight single locus microsatellite markers were developed to characterize the Malaysian giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii. These microsatellites were isolated from an enriched genomic library contained by using a 5'-anchored polymerase chain reaction technique. Primers were designed to flank the repeat sequences and subsequently used to characterize 30 unrelated individuals of the giant freshwater prawn. The polymerase chain reaction amplification products of these eight microsatellite loci were polymorphic with the number of alleles ranging from two to 10 alleles per locus while the levels of heterozygosity ranged from 0.6333 to 0.8667.

Isolation of trinucleotide microsatellite markers for Mystus nemurus

Twelve single locus trinucleotide microsatellite markers were developed to characterize the Asian river catfish, Mystus nemurus, an important food fish in South East Asia. They were obtained by using a rapid method namely the 5' anchored PCR enrichment protocol. The specific primers were designed to flank the repeat sequences and these were subsequently used to characterize 90 unrelated fish from Malaysia. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 (MnVj2-281) to 12 (MnBp8-4-43b) while the levels of heterozygosity ranged from 0.0444 (MnVj2-1-19) to 0.7458 (MnVj2-291).

Population structure of the Southeast Asian river catfish Mystus nemurus

A total of 143 microsatellites were isolated from Mystus nemurus using a 5' anchored polymerase chain reaction technique or the random amplified hybridization microsatellite method, the first set of microsatellite markers developed for the Southeast Asian river catfish. Twenty polymorphic microsatellite loci were used as markers for population characterization of M. nemurus from six different geographical locations in Malaysia (Perak, Kedah, Johor, UPM, Sarawak and Terengganu). The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 11 with 6.3 as the average number of alleles per locus. Characterization of the populations showed relatively high levels of genetic variation compared with previous studies using allozyme markers. The highest genetic similarity was found between Perak and Kedah, while the highest genetic distance was found between Terengganu and Kedah. The majority of clustering was in accordance with geographical locations and the histories of the populations. Microsatellite analysis indicated that the Sarawak population might be genetically closer to the Peninsular Malaysian populations than has been previously shown by other molecular marker studies.

Biochemical polymorphism in yellow catfish, Mystus nemurus (C&V), from Thailand

Yellow catfish, Mystus nemurus (Cuv. & Val.), is becoming one of the major freshwater species farmed by aquaculturists in Southeast Asia. It was of interest to examine levels of genetic subpopulation differentiation among samples of this species obtained from parts of its range, as well as to compare the genetics of wild and hatchery-bred fish. Horizontal starch gel electrophoresis and histochemical staining techniques were used to examine genetic variation within and among eight wild and one hatchery populations of M. nemurus from northern, northeastern, central and southern Thailand. Four tissues (heart, liver, kidney, and muscle) from individual specimens were used to analyze variations at 23 protein-coding loci. Fifteen of the 23 loci examined (65.22%), namely, ACP*, AAT-1*, EST-1*, EST-2*, GPI*, IDH-1*, IDH-2*, MDH-1*, MDH-2*, MDH-3*, ME*, PGM*, 6PGD*, SOD*, and HB*, were polymorphic at the 0.95 level. Observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.041 to 0.111, with an average of 0.068 +/- 0.028. Genetic distances ranged from 0.005 to 0.164. The greatest genetic distance was found between the Chainat and the Suratthani populations (0.164), a level indicative of subspecific differentiation in M. nemurus from within Thailand.

Identification and characterization of Malaysian river catfish, Mystus nemurus (C&V): RAPD and AFLP analysis

This work represents the first application of the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique and the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique in the study of genetic variation within and among five geographical populations of M. nemurus. Four AFLP primer combinations and nine RAPD primers detected a total of 158 and 42 polymorphic markers, respectively. The results of AFLP and RAPD analysis provide similar conclusions as far as the population clustering analysis is concerned. The Sarawak population, which is located on Borneo Island, clustered by itself and was thus isolated from the rest of the populations located in Peninsular Malaysia. Both marker systems revealed high genetic variability within the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Sarawak populations. Three subgroups each from the Kedah, Perak, and Sarawak populations were detected by AFLP but not by RAPD. Unique AFLP fingerprints were also observed in some unusual genotypes sampled in Sarawak. This indicates that AFLP may be a more efficient marker system than RAPD for identifying genotypes within populations.