Identification of fatty acid regulatory genes using in silico analysis from Ovary and Hepatopancreas ESTs and cDNA microarray in the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon)

Comparisons of gene expression profiles in hepatopancreas and ovary of domesticated broodstock at different ovarian maturation stages were made through a cDNA microarray in the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Differentially expressed genes were identified through the microarray analysis, and the microarray results were confirmed by real-time PCR. Selected genes were further characterized. A cDNA microarray was constructed from the EST libraries of P. monodon, consisting of 6826 features. RNA samples were extracted from both hepatopancreas and ovaries of pooled mature broodstock (11 month-old, pooled from n=10 ), individual broodstocks from Surath Thani Provice in Thailand. The RNA from ovaries and hepatopancreases of shrimp at week 0 (before the experiment began) were labeled with Cy3 dye as a reference and those of ovaries and hepatopancreas after treatment (4 weeks of feeding with polychaetes and unilateral eyestalk ablation) were labeled with Cy5 dye.