| Summary: | 6th Genomics in Aquaculture Symposium (GIA2020), 5-7 May 2021 Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that are involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation in many cellular functions and are conserved throughout evolution. In teleost fish species, miRNAs are believed to play a role in the reproductive system. Understanding the different expression patterns of miRNAs between females and males will help provide insight in the epigenetic events occurring in the gonads, but also develop epimarkers to improve aquaculture production. The aim of this study was identifying miRNAs that are conserved in the ovaries and in the testes of several teleost species. Further, target genes with which miRNAs interact were identified. Available gonadal miRNA data from five different species (Atlantic cod, catfish, Nile tilapia, European sea bass and zebrafish) were obtained together with unpublished zebrafish miRNA data from our lab. Approximately, 3000 published sequences were used for comparisons. Normalized differentially expressed (normalized reads>100) miRNAs were selected among all the available data. Comparison results showed that 31 miRNAs were conserved in all species in both gonads. Additionally, five ovary-specific and five testis-specific miRNAs were identified. Target genes of those 10 sex-specific conserved miRNAs was performed by in silico analysis. Using the MiRanda algorithm (score > 140, energy < -25) and biomaRt package in R, between 9 and 118 genes were identified as potential targets per each miRNA. To confirm target interactions and functionality of the miRNAs in the gonads, in vitro gonadal studies in zebrafish with miRNA inhibitors and mimics have started. Studying the in vitro functionality of the conserved sexspecific miRNAs will provide an insight in the molecular mechanisms behind these miRNAs and their role in the fish gonads. Here we have identified miRNAs that are specific for the ovaries or the testes in several teleost species, some very important for aquaculture. Thus, ...
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