Protein profile expression of Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus bidorsalis and their reciprocal hybrids in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

Artificially propagated juveniles (comprising four samples from each mating combinations) reared for sixteen weeks were analyzed electrophoretically using 12% Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D SDS-PAGE). The relative concentrations of individual protein bands in relation to their molecular weights were analyzed using Total Lab™ 1D software. Electrophoregram were scored and subjected to cluster analysis. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th bands were detected across all mating combinations. The 5th band with molecular weight (78.58 KDa) distinguished C.gariepinus from H. bidorsalis while the 6th band with molecular weight (54.41 KDa) distinct reciprocal hyrids Clariabranchus from Heteroclarias. The 7th and 12th bands distinguished the pure breeds from the hybrids. The 7th band was present in both hybrids- Clariabranchus (49.50 KDa) and Heteroclarias (49.77 KDa) species but absent in the pure breeds while 12th bands was present in the pure breeds- C.gariepinus (19.92 KDa) and H. bidorsalis (20.29 KDa). The distinguishing 6th, 7th, and 12th bands were identified (using talgdent tool via Uniprot data base) corresponded to desmin, dystonin and myosin light chain II respectively. The study revealed the efficiency of protein profile in species identification over the widely used morphormetric tools.

Key Words: Pure clariid breeds, protein pattern, electrophoregram, Clariabranchus, Heteroclarias