Cold tolerant gene identified in Snowtrout

A group of scientists from Directorate of Cold Water Fisheries Research, Bhimtal led by Dr. Ashoktaru Barat, Principal Scientist, have identified and characterized Glycerol phosphate Dehydrogenase (GPDH) gene in Snowtrout species. The gene is supposed to play a key role as protective mechanism against extreme cold condition at high altitude Himalayan Rivers. Level of Gene expression increases 19 fold at low temperature (50C) in comparison to a relatively higher temperature (150C) and highest in muscle of the fish. The expression profile of GPDH gene among co generic species of genus Schizothorax showed that GPDH cDNA expression was highest in S. richardsonii and lowest in S. esocinus which gives an indication of species specific adaptation in relation to different geographical areas. These research observations have been published in Molecular Biology Reports (DOI 10.1007/s11033-012-1980-6). The work has been supported technically and financially by National Agricultural Innovative Project (NAIP-ICAR) in a project entitled “Bioprospecting of genes and allele mining for abiotic stress tolerance.”

Species Name Collection Site

Dal Lake, Kashmir
(34°7.0’N, 74°52.0’E,
Altitude – 1775 m asl)