Identification of differentially expressed genes in the developmental stages from olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus using an annealing control primer system

Abstract

We employed a new and improved differential display reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) method, which involves annealing control primers (ACPs), to identify the genes that are specifically or prominently expressed in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) juveniles (35 days post-hatch; dph) compared to larval-stage (dph 21) flounder. Using 60 ACPs, we identified eight differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) searches revealed eight known genes. Gene expression levels were confirmed by RT-PCR. Phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) was highly expressed at 21 dph, while nephrosin, myosin light chain (MLC), myosin heavy chain (MHC), carboxypeptidase A, chymotrypsin B, fish-egg protein, and matrix protein were expressed at 35 dph. PGI, MLC, and MHC expression was further analyzed by RT-PCR. The differentially expressed genes identified in this study may provide insights into the molecular basis of development in olive flounder.