Differential responses of the intestine and liver transcriptome to high levels of plant proteins in diets for large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea)

Qiaozhen Ke ¹ Yin Li ¹ Huasong Weng ² Baohua Chen ¹ Jiaying Wang ¹ Ji Zhao ¹ Pengxin Jiang ¹ Peng Xu ¹ Tao Zhou ^1*

• ¹ Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
• ² Ningde Fufa Fisheries Company Limited, Ningde, China, Ningde, China

Large yellow croaker is an economically important carnivorous marine fish species which has been widely cultured in southeast China. Increasing the conversion rate of compound feed would be crucial for the sustainable development of the large yellow croaker industry. However, the molecular mechanisms for the efficient utilization of compound feed in large yellow croaker are still unknown.During the 120-day trial, we formulated two groups of feed: standard commercial feed (CF) and a modified version in which 70% of the fish meal was replaced with plant protein (PF). The results showed that growth performance of CF and PF groups was comparable. The transcriptome of large yellow croaker was analyzed, revealing 557 and 308 differentially expressed genes in the liver and intestine, respectively. GO and KEGG enrichment results showed that significant enrichment of functions and pathways related to immune response, lipid metabolism, and signal transduction, suggesting their importance for the efficient utilization of compound feed in large yellow croaker. Importantly, our research identified five critical genes associated with metabolism and immune regulation. These findings underscore the potential of integrating plant protein into fish diets, which could significantly enhance sustainable practices in global aquaculture while reducing reliance on fish meal. Emphasizing this transition is crucial for fostering environmental sustainability and supporting the future of aquaculture.