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A comparative transcriptomic analysis provides new insights into the ecological adaptations in Ichthyophis bannanicus

ABSTRACT: Background Banna caecilian (Ichthyophis bannanicus) is the only species of Gymnophiona in China, with unique lifestyles and characteristics. Although there have been some studies on distribution and morphological characteristics in I. bannanicus, little research focused on the molecular level. A comprehensive analysis of gene expression profiling across tissues can provide necessary information for an in-depth understanding of their biological functions. Result To provide new insights into molecular mechanisms of ecological adaptation in I. bannanicus, we performed gene expression analysis across 10 tissues including skin, blood, spleen, liver, kidney, lung, heart, stomach, testis and ovary. By integrating 27 newly generated RNA-seq datasets with 21 publicly available transcriptomes, we performed a systematic gene expression analysis across tissues representing 19 major organ systems, thereby generating a comprehensive and high-resolution transcriptomic atlas for I. bannanicus. We identified 5,092 housekeeping genes (HKGs) and 2,169 tissue-specific genes (TSGs), and conducted weighted gene co-expression network analysis to determine the modules most relevant to each tissue. Functional enrichment indicated that HKGs support basic cellular activities, while TSGs and the module genes are associated with tissue differentiation and specific physiological processes. Our comparative genomic analysis of I. bannanicus and Xenopus tropicalis revealed genes potentially lost in I. bannanicus, including RCVRN.1, GNAT2, SAG, GRK7, SMURF1, NOG, and MAPK14, which may be associated with degeneration of its visual system and limb structures. Notably, cross-species comparison of HKGs, TSGs, and co-expression modules highlighted an enhanced and unique immune capacity in I. bannanicus. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that HKGs, TSGs, and co-expression module genes offer valuable perspectives on tissue specialization and evolutionary divergence. The comparative transcriptomic analysis across multiple species and diverse tissue types provides valuable clues into the molecular features that may contribute to ecological adaptation in I. bannanicus.

ORGANISM(S): Ichthyophis bannanicus

PROVIDER: GSE268543 | GEO | 2025/11/04

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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A comparative transcriptomic analysis provides new insights into the ecological adaptations in Ichthyophis bannanicus

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