Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi)

Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) is one of the most economically important fish in China. It is becoming increasingly popular with consumers due to its delicate and tasty meat. However, mandarin fish has very peculiar food habits that it feeds solely on live prey fish since first-feeding, and refuses dead prey fish or artificial diets. The stable supply of palatable live prey fish for mandarin fish resulted in high farming costs. After specific training procedure, partial individuals could accept dead prey fish, then accept artificial diets well. In our previous studies, we found that DNA methylation plays important roles in feeding habit domestication in mandarin fish. In the present study, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing was performed between artificial diets nonfeeders and feeders. Differentially methylated regions and genes were identified. These differentially methylated genes could be candidate genes for intake and utilization of artificial diets in mandarin fish.