Integrated bioinformatics and qRT-PCR analyses identify candidate genes associated with seasonal thermal variation in Rutilus frisii (Pisces: Leuciscidae)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Fisheries Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, P.O Box 1144, Sowmehsara, Iran

2 Shahid Motahary Cold-water Fishes Genetic and Breeding Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Sciences Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Yasouj, Iran

10.22124/cjes.2026.9901

Abstract

Heat stress adversely affects fish physiology and survival, underscoring the need to identify heat-stress candidate biomarkers for conservation and aquaculture management. This study aimed to identify such biomarkers and characterize gene regulatory networks associated with thermal adaptation in Caspian kutum (Rutilus kutum). Since no transcriptomic datasets were available for this non-model species, a comparative transcriptomic approach was used, drawing on publicly available datasets from zebrafish (Danio rerio) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Differential expression analysis, functional enrichment, and protein interaction network analyses were conducted to identify key heat-responsive genes and hub regulators. Candidate genes were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in liver tissues from male and female broodstock Caspian kutum collected during the spawning season. Functional enrichment analysis indicated significant involvement of biological processes related to stress response, protein folding, immune regulation, and cellular homeostasis. Experimental validation confirmed significant differential expression of hsp90ba, grp94, hsp90aa1, and trap1, aligning with bioinformatic predictions. These results indicate that these genes serve as candidate heat-stress-responsive markers and provide a preliminary molecular framework for broodstock monitoring and conservation of Caspian kutum populations under climate change scenarios.

Keywords

Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 05 September 2026

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