TY - JOUR

T1 - Differences in salinity tolerance and gene expression between two populations of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in response to salinity stress

A1 - Larsen,Peter Foged

A1 - Eg Nielsen,Einar

A1 - Meier,Kristian

A1 - Olsvik,P.A.

A1 - Hansen,M.M.

A1 - Loeschcke,V.

AU - Larsen,Peter Foged

AU - Eg Nielsen,Einar

AU - Meier,Kristian

AU - Olsvik,P.A.

AU - Hansen,M.M.

AU - Loeschcke,V.

PB - Springer New York LLC

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Populations of marine fish, even from contrasting habitats, generally show low genetic differentiation at neutral genetic markers. Nevertheless, there is increasing evidence for differences in gene expression among populations that may be ascribed to adaptive divergence. Studying variation in salinity tolerance and gene expression among Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from two populations distributed across a steep salinity gradient, we observed high mortality (45% North Sea cod and 80% Baltic Sea cod) in a reciprocal common garden setup. Quantitative RT-PCR assays for expression of hsp70 and Na/K-ATPase α genes demonstrated significant differences in gene regulation within and between populations and treatment groups despite low sample sizes. Most interesting are the significant differences observed in expression of the Na/K-ATPase α gene in gill tissue between North Sea and Baltic cod. The findings strongly suggest that Atlantic cod are adapted to local saline conditions, despite relatively low levels of neutral genetic divergence between populations

AB - Populations of marine fish, even from contrasting habitats, generally show low genetic differentiation at neutral genetic markers. Nevertheless, there is increasing evidence for differences in gene expression among populations that may be ascribed to adaptive divergence. Studying variation in salinity tolerance and gene expression among Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from two populations distributed across a steep salinity gradient, we observed high mortality (45% North Sea cod and 80% Baltic Sea cod) in a reciprocal common garden setup. Quantitative RT-PCR assays for expression of hsp70 and Na/K-ATPase α genes demonstrated significant differences in gene regulation within and between populations and treatment groups despite low sample sizes. Most interesting are the significant differences observed in expression of the Na/K-ATPase α gene in gill tissue between North Sea and Baltic cod. The findings strongly suggest that Atlantic cod are adapted to local saline conditions, despite relatively low levels of neutral genetic divergence between populations

U2 - 10.1007/s10528-011-9490-0

DO - 10.1007/s10528-011-9490-0

JO - Biochemical Genetics

JF - Biochemical Genetics

SN - 0006-2928

IS - 5-6

VL - 50

SP - 454

EP - 466

ER -