Multi-tissue transcriptome of Brycon amazonicus (Spix & Agassiz, 1829): insights into lipid metabolism in an Amazonian fish

Abstract

Brycon amazonicus (Spix & Agassiz, 1829), commonly known as matrinxã, is a widely distributed Amazonian native fish species with significant aquacultural importance, being the second most produced native fish in Brazil. Despite its economic relevance, omics resources are scarce, limiting advances in aquaculture and nutrition research. Here, we present the first comprehensive transcriptome for the species, generated using RNA-seq data from three tissues, i.e., liver, kidney, and gill. Our analysis yielded a high-quality transcriptome assembly, with 65,454 transcripts, a N50 of 1959 bp, and 34,548 functionally annotated protein-coding genes. To explore lipid metabolism, we identified key genes involved in the biosynthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), namely the orthologues of the fatty acyl desaturase fads2 and the elongases elovl2 and elovl5. Comparative evolutionary and structural analyses revealed that B. amazonicus shares conserved features with other Amazonian fish, reinforcing its capacity for LC-PUFA biosynthesis. Overall, the results represent a significant advance in the genetic knowledge of this Brazilian emblematic fish, providing a valuable resource for future studies and ultimately helping to promote more sustainable fish farming practices.