Differential gene expression in Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp in response to diet changes

We evaluated changes in gene expression of Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp in response to a change in diet by comparing specimens which were fed with an animal protein diet against those which underwent a change from an animal protein diet to a plant protein diet. In addition, we also compared specimens which were fed with a plant protein diet with another group which underwent a change from plant to animal protein diet. Results showed that, in the case of hepatopancreas tissue, a total of six genes were differentially expressed and exhibited a high degree of homology with sequences which codify for proteins related to metabolism, transcription regulation, and rRNA subunits. In the case of muscle tissue, four differentially expressed sequences were recorded which codified for proteins associated to the immune system response, as well as cell structure and signaling. By means of RT-PCR, we also detected differentially expressed chitinase transcripts (ΔCt). We observed ΔCt expression values of 0.49 when comparing specimens fed a plant diet to those which underwent a change from plant to an animal diet, while a ΔCt value of 0.52 was observed when comparing animals fed with an animal diet to specimens which underwent a change from an animal to a plant protein diet. Differential gene expression was not observed in specimens which did not undergo a change in diet during the experiment.