Transcriptome analysis reveals the potential mechanism of the albino skin development in pufferfish Takifugu obscurus.

Our aim was to explore the potential mechanism underlying albino in Takifugu obscurus. The transcriptome sequencing of the skin samples from normal T. obscurus and albino ones was conducted in this paper. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in albino fish compared with controls were assayed. The gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed to explore the differentially expressed gene (DEG)-related functions and pathways. A total of 32 genes were found to be differentially expressed, including eight upregulated ones and 24 downregulated ones. Five GO terms were significantly enriched such as hemoglobin complex and oxygen transporter activity. The significantly enriched pathways contained linoleic acid metabolism and arachidonic acid metabolism. Hemoglobin complex, linoleic, and arachidonic acid metabolism may dysregulated in albino fugu. Dietary control of the linoleic acid and arachidonic acid may be an effective management for mediating albino in T. obscurus.