Adaptation of visual spectra and opsin genes in seabreams.

Three species of seabreams, Acanthopagrus berda, Acanthopagrus schlegelii and Pagrus major, living at different depths, were chosen to investigate how visual spectra and opsin genes evolve in response to various photic environments. The lambda max of photoreceptors and opsin genes were measured and cloned from these species. Eight to twelve nm spectral shifts in the rod and blue cone cells were observed between the deep-sea, P.

Evidence for positive selection in the TLR9 gene of teleosts.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been identified as key sensors of invading microbes by identifying pathogen-associated molecular patterns and activating innate immune responses. Whereas purifying selection has been suggested in mammalian TLR9, evolutionary features of TLR9 in teleosts have not been investigated in detail. We therefore analysed TLR9 DNA sequences of eight teleost species, including zebrafish (Danio rerio), Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes), and five seabreams.