Veterinary Research Forum
Vet Res Forum

Correlation analysis of growth hormone gene and growth traits and in silico protein investigation in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Emel Özcan-Gökçek 1
Raziye Işık Kalpar 2
Bilge Karahan 1
Kutsal Gamsız 1
Yusuf Sürmeli 2

1 Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Aquaculture, İzmir, Türkiye

2 Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Tekirdağ, Türkiye

10.30466/vrf.2025.2065009.4820
Abstract
Genetic variations within a partial region of the growth hormone (GH) gene and their associations with growth traits were investigated in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) using DNA sequencing. Five haplotypes and ten novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the GH gene of European sea bass. In silico analysis revealed two amino acid substitutions between the reference and our partial protein sequence, specifically S24L and S42T. Both variations were located within the α1 helix, which also contains H34, a zinc-binding residue. The genotypes at the g.1611T>C locus of the GH gene were found to be significantly associated with total weight, fillet weight, and head length. Additionally, the association between GH g.1557A>T genotypes and both preanal and abdominal lengths was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Similarly, the genotypes of g. 1857 C>T loci having the synonymous mutation in phenylalanine amino acid were significantly associated with standard length (P < 0.05). HAP4 reported the highest weight and length traits than the other haplotypes (P<0.05). It is suggested that HAP4 could be used as a potential genetic marker for selective breeding programs of European sea bass under Mediterranean conditions.

Keywords

Dicentrarchus labrax
growth hormone
candidate gene
SNP
polymorphism
Subjects
Veterinary Research Forum

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 14 June 2026

  • Receive Date 07 July 2025
  • Revise Date 14 October 2025
  • Accept Date 10 December 2025

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