In Silico Protein Investigation and Correlation Analysis of Growth Hormone Gene and Growth Traits in European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

The growth hormone ( GH ) gene plays a regulatory role in postnatal somatic growth, metabolism, and development in vertebrates and fish. The genetic variations in a partial region of the GH gene and its associations with growth traits were studied using DNA sequencing in 200 European sea bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax ) individuals. We identified 5 haplotypes (HAP1-5) and 10 novel SNPs (g.1557 A > T, g.1611 T > C, g.1663 C > G, g.1799 T > C, g.1824 T > C, g.1912 T > A, and g.2052 G > C) in the GH gene in European sea bass. The genotypes of g.1611 T > C locus of the GH gene were found to be significantly associated with total weight, filet weight, and head length). The association between the GH g.1557A > T genotypes and preanal and abdominal length 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 should be used as a potential marker to improve the accuracy of selection in European sea bass in Mediterranean conditions.