[Introduction]: Very long‐chain (˃C24) fatty acids (VLC‐FA) play critical roles during early development of vertebrates. However, studies on VLC‐FA in fish are scarce. The biosynthesis of VLC‐FA is mediated by Elovl4 proteins. Such ability is itself dependent on the complement of elovl4 genes and the functions of their corresponding encoded enzymes. For a better understanding of the metabolism and the potential tissue‐specific requirements of VLC‐FA in marine teleosts, the present study aimed to determine the tissue‐expression pattern of genes that coding for both Elovl4 isoforms, elovl4a and elovl4b, in different windows of development (larvae and adults) of S. aurata and S. senegalensis.

[Results and Discussion]: S. aurata larvae: in agree with the observed in Danio rerio larvae [1], elovl4a was widely distributed in the head region (Fig. 1B). Moreover, elovl4b was specifically expressed in the eyes (Fig. 2C) showing a strong signal in the retinal epithelium (Fig. 2D). No signal was detected for sense control probes of elovl4a (Fig. 1A) and elovl4b (Fig. 2A, B) genes.

[Materials and methods]: Tissue expression of elovl4 genes in 24 hours post‐hatching (hph) larvae. Whole‐mount in situ hybridization (WISH). Tissue expression of elovl4 genes in adult fish. RT‐PCR (screening) and qPCR (selected tissues).

Póster presentado en el X Foro Iberoamericano de los Recursos Marinos y la Acuicultura, celebrado en modalidad virtual del 7 al 12 de febrero de 2021.

AGL2013‐40986‐R,AGL2011‐ 23502 (MINECO) and PROMETEO II / 2014/085 (G.V.).

Peer reviewed