Project description:Electric catfishes evolved the substantial electric organ that can instantly release powerful high-voltage electricity. To better study the phylogenetic position of the electric fish (Malapterurus electricus) in catfishes, in this study, we presented the complete mitochondrial genome of M. electricus assembled by the next-generation sequencing data. The mitogenome has 16,504 bp and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, an L-strand replication origin (OL), and a control region (D-loop). The overall base composition is A 31.08%, C 27.54%, G 14.81%, and T 26.57%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 13 PCGs of 43 species from Siluriformes showed M.electricus belonging to the Malapteruridae displayed a close relationship with Siluridae. Taken together, the complete mitochondrial genome of M. electricus would be beneficial for the study of the phylogenetic relationship of Siluriformes.
Project description:The electric catfish (Malapterurus electricus), belonging to the family Malapteruridae, order Siluriformes (Actinopterygii: Ostariophysi), is one of the six branches that has independently evolved electrical organs. We assembled a 796.75 Mb M. electricus genome and anchored 88.72% sequences into 28 chromosomes. Gene family analysis revealed 295 expanded gene families that were enriched on functions related to glutamate receptors. Convergent evolutionary analyses of electric organs among different lineage of electric fishes further revealed that the coding gene of rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 4-like (arhgef4), which is associated with G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathway, underwent adaptive parallel evolution. Gene identification suggests visual degradation in catfishes, and an important role for taste in environmental adaptation. Our findings fill in the genomic data for a branch of electric fish and provide a relevant genetic basis for the adaptive evolution of Siluriformes.Supplementary informationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-023-00197-8.
Project description:The aquatic ecosystem is constantly being disturbed by rising levels of different classes of pollutants of human origin in the form of urban, agricultural and industrial discharges. In this study, the health of fish Malapterurus electricus was examined, to serve as a reflection of the impact of anthropogenic disturbances in the Lekki lagoon. Eighty six samples of the fish were analysed for parasitic infections, heavy metals, microorganisms in their internal and external body parts while the proximate composition and fish condition factor were also determined using conventional methods. One parasite species, a cestode Electrotaenia malapteruri was found to infect the fish. Total parasite load was eighty five with a total prevalence of infection of 36%. Elements detected in sediment were of the order of Al>Fe>Mn>Pb>Cr>Zn>Cd>Ba>Cu>Ni while in water, it is Mn>Fe>Zn>Ba>Cd>Cr>Al>Cu>Ni>Pb. Metals analysed in the fish tissues were generally low and below regulatory limits. In the proximate analysis, moisture content has a value of 80.7%, while ash content had a value of 1.26%. Eight bacterial and two fungal species were isolated from the fish. The condition factor of fish varied between 1 and 2. The study provides valuable information for monitoring and management of heavy metal pollution in the aquatic ecosystem.
Project description:The protective and therapeutic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potency of Malapterurus electricus (F. Malapteruridae) skin fish methanolic extract (FE) (300 mg/kg.b.wt/day for 7 days, orally) was tested in monosodium urate(MSU)-induced arthritic Wistar albino male rats' joints. Serum uric acid, TNF-α, IL-1β, NF-𝜅B, MDA, GSH, catalase, SOD, and glutathione reductase levels were all measured. According to the findings, FE significantly reduced uric acid levels and ankle swelling in both protective and therapeutic groups. Furthermore, it has anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating inflammatory cytokines, primarily through decreased oxidative stress and increased antioxidant status. All the aforementioned lesions were significantly improved in protected and treated rats with FE, according to histopathological findings. iNOS immunostaining revealed that protected and treated arthritic rats with FE had weak positive immune-reactive cells. Phytochemical analysis revealed that FE was high in fatty and amino acids. The most abundant compounds were vaccenic (24.52%), 9-octadecenoic (11.66%), palmitic (34.66%), stearic acids (14.63%), glycine (0.813 mg/100 mg), and alanine (1.645 mg/100 mg). Extensive molecular modelling and dynamics simulation experiments revealed that compound 4 has the potential to target and inhibit COX isoforms with a higher affinity for COX-2. As a result, we contend that FE could be a promising protective and therapeutic option for arthritis, aiding in the prevention and progression of this chronic inflammatory disease.
Project description:This study aims to investigate the DNA methylation patterns at transcription factor binding regions and their evolutionary conservation with respect to binding activity divergence. We combined newly generated bisulfite-sequencing experiments in livers of five mammals (human, macaque, mouse, rat and dog) and matched publicly available ChIP-sequencing data for five transcription factors (CEBPA, HNF4a, CTCF, ONECUT1 and FOXA1). To study the chromatin contexts of TF binding subjected to distinct evolutionary pressures, we integrated publicly available active promoter, active enhancer and primed enhancer calls determined by profiling genome wide patterns of H3K27ac, H3K4me3 and H3K4me1.