The cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme FAXDC2 couples Wnt/β-catenin to RTK/MAPK signaling.

Wnts, cholesterol, and MAPK signaling are essential for development and adult homeostasis. Here, we report that fatty acid hydroxylase domain containing 2 (FAXDC2), a previously uncharacterized enzyme, functions as a methyl sterol oxidase catalyzing C4 demethylation in the Kandutsch-Russell branch of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. FAXDC2, a paralog of MSMO1, regulated the abundance of the specific C4-methyl sterols lophenol and dihydro-T-MAS.

Genome size estimation and its associations with body length, chromosome number and evolution in teleost fishes.

Precise estimation of genome size (GS) is vital for various genomic studies, such as deciding genome sequencing depth, genome assembly, biodiversity documentation, evolution, genetic disorders studies, duplication events etc. Animal Genome Size Database provides GS of over 2050 fish species, which ranges from 0.35 pg in pufferfish (Tetraodon nigroviridis) to 132.

Activin receptor type IIB in rohu (Labeo rohita): molecular characterization, tissue distribution and immunohistochemical localization during different stages of gonadal maturation.

Activin receptor type IIB (ActRIIB) is a transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptor which plays a pivotal role in regulating the reproduction in vertebrates including teleost. Earlier studies have documented its importance in governing gonadal maturation in higher vertebrates. However, reports on the regulation of fish reproductive system by ActRIIB gene are still limited.

WNT inhibition creates a BRCA-like state in Wnt-addicted cancer.

Wnt signaling maintains diverse adult stem cell compartments and is implicated in chemotherapy resistance in cancer. PORCN inhibitors that block Wnt secretion have proven effective in Wnt-addicted preclinical cancer models and are in clinical trials. In a survey for potential combination therapies, we found that Wnt inhibition synergizes with the PARP inhibitor olaparib in Wnt-addicted cancers.

The genome of walking catfish Clarias magur (Hamilton, 1822) unveils the genetic basis that may have facilitated the development of environmental and terrestrial adaptation systems in air-breathing catfishes.

The walking catfish Clarias magur (Hamilton, 1822) (magur) is an important catfish species inhabiting the Indian subcontinent. It is considered as a highly nutritious food fish and has the capability to walk to some distance, and survive a considerable period without water. Assembly, scaffolding and several rounds of iterations resulted in 3,484 scaffolds covering ∼94% of estimated genome with 9.

Molecular characterization of Activin Receptor Type IIA and its expression during gonadal maturation and growth stages in rohu carp.

Activin receptor type IIA (ActRIIA), a transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptor is an important regulator of physiological traits, viz., reproduction and body growth in vertebrates including teleosts. However, existing knowledge of its role in regulating fish physiology is limited.

Low-depth shotgun sequencing resolves complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Labeo rohita.

Labeo rohita, popularly known as rohu, is a widely cultured species in whole Indian subcontinent. In the present study, we used in-silico approach to resolve complete mitochondrial genome of rohu. Low-depth shotgun sequencing using Roche 454 GS FLX (Branford, Connecticut, USA) followed by de novo assembly in CLC Genomics Workbench version 7.

Assembly and variation analyses of Clarias batrachus mitogenome retrieved from WGS data and its phylogenetic relationship with other catfishes.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) using next generation sequencing technologies paves the way to sequence the mitochondrial genomes with greater ease and lesser time. Here, we used the WGS data of Clarias batrachus, generated from Roche 454 and Ion Torrent sequencing platforms, to assemble the complete mitogenome using both de novo and reference based approaches. Both the methods yielded almost similar results and the best assembled mitogenome was of 16,510 bp size (GenBank Acc.

Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Heteropneustes fossilis obtained by paired end next generation sequencing.

In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Heteropneustes fossilis is reported using massive parallel sequence technology. The complete mitogenome of H. fossilis is obtained by de novo assembly of paired end Illumina sequences using CLC Genomics Workbench version 7.