Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of fish physiological response to freshwater salinization: A comparative multi-tissue transcriptomic study in a river polluted by potash mining

作者：Camilo Escobar-Sierra, Miguel Cañedo‐Argüelles, Dolors Vinyoles, Kathrin P. Lampert · 发表于：Environmental Pollution · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124400 · 被引用次数：16 · 研究领域：Physiological and biochemical adaptations、Fish Ecology and Management Studies、Aquaculture disease management and microbiota

Freshwater salinization is an escalating global environmental issue that threatens freshwater biodiversity, including fish populations. This study aims to uncover the molecular basis of salinity physiological responses in a non-native minnow species (Phoxinus septimaniae x P. dragarum) exposed to saline effluents from potash mines in the Llobregat River, Barcelona, Spain. Employing high-throughput mRNA sequencing and differential gene expression analyses, brain, gills, and liver tissues collected from fish at two stations (upstream and downstream of saline effluent discharge) were examined. Salinization markedly influenced global gene expression profiles, with the brain exhibiting the most differentially expressed genes, emphasizing its unique sensitivity to salinity fluctuations. Pathway analyses revealed the expected enrichment of ion transport and osmoregulation pathways across all tissues. Furthermore, tissue-specific pathways associated with stress, reproduction, growth, immune responses, methylation, and neurological development were identified in the context of salinization. Rigorous validation of RNA-seq data through quantitative PCR (qPCR) underscored the robustness and consistency of our findings across platforms. This investigation unveils intricate molecular mechanisms steering salinity physiological response in non-native minnows confronting diverse environmental stressors. This comprehensive analysis sheds light on the underlying genetic and physiological mechan...