Transcriptome analysis provides insights into adaptive response to hypoxia in Gymnocypris eckloni

Schizothoracine fish endemic to the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau are comparatively well adapted to aquatic environments with low oxygen partial pressures. However, few studies come from the perspective of transcriptome profiling in schizothoracine fish tissues and their adaptive response to hypoxia stress. This study compared the differential transcriptomic responses of Gymnocypris eckloni maintained for 72 h under hypoxia (DO =3.0±0.1 mg/L) and under normoxia (DO =8.4±0.1 mg/L). Muscle, liver, brain, heart and blood from each treatment were collected for RNA-seq analysis to identify potential genes and pathways responding to hypoxia stress.