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Background <p>The leopard coral grouper is a valued aquaculture species whose market value is influenced by its body color. Current research on its coloration focuses on adults, leaving early developmental mechanisms unclear. Circular RNAs are important regulators in various processes, including pigmentation. This study aimed to explore the role of circRNAs in early color formation of leopard coral grouper.</p> Results <p>Using skin tissues from transparent (26 dph) and newly pigmented red (30 dph) juveniles, we identified 42 differentially expressed circRNAs. Their source genes were enriched in pathways like Hedgehog signaling, cAMP signaling, and carotenoid metabolism. Four key circRNAs were identified, and a circRNA-miRNA network analysis suggested their involvement in melanin synthesis, pigment cell development, and carotenoid metabolism. The qPCR verification results were consistent with the trends in the sequencing results.</p> Conclusions <p>This study provides the first circRNA profile during early color transition in leopard coral grouper, revealing a potential post-transcriptional regulatory network. The findings offer new insights into pigmentation mechanisms and provide valuable candidates for molecular-assisted breeding of color traits.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p> <p>Illustrated explanation: circRNA sequencing analysis was performed on <i>P. leopardus</i> samples PT (26-dph) and PR (30-dph). Differentially expressed circRNAs were identified through differential expression analysis and enriched in key biological pathways. By associating miRNAs with circRNAs, a miRNA-circRNA regulatory network was constructed and validated using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Image elements were provided by the BioGDP.com [<CitationRef CitationID="CR1">1</CitationRef>] platform.</p>

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Circular RNA profiling uncovers regulators of early body color transition in juvenile leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus)

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月4日

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  • Xianwu Deng,
  • Chenxian Huang,
  • Qiuyan Wu,
  • Silvana Rahayu,
  • Xi Liu,
  • Lei Pang,
  • Fen Hu,
  • Huapu Chen,
  • Chunhua Zhu,
  • Mouyan Jiang

摘要

Background

The leopard coral grouper is a valued aquaculture species whose market value is influenced by its body color. Current research on its coloration focuses on adults, leaving early developmental mechanisms unclear. Circular RNAs are important regulators in various processes, including pigmentation. This study aimed to explore the role of circRNAs in early color formation of leopard coral grouper.

Results

Using skin tissues from transparent (26 dph) and newly pigmented red (30 dph) juveniles, we identified 42 differentially expressed circRNAs. Their source genes were enriched in pathways like Hedgehog signaling, cAMP signaling, and carotenoid metabolism. Four key circRNAs were identified, and a circRNA-miRNA network analysis suggested their involvement in melanin synthesis, pigment cell development, and carotenoid metabolism. The qPCR verification results were consistent with the trends in the sequencing results.

Conclusions

This study provides the first circRNA profile during early color transition in leopard coral grouper, revealing a potential post-transcriptional regulatory network. The findings offer new insights into pigmentation mechanisms and provide valuable candidates for molecular-assisted breeding of color traits.

Graphical Abstract

Illustrated explanation: circRNA sequencing analysis was performed on P. leopardus samples PT (26-dph) and PR (30-dph). Differentially expressed circRNAs were identified through differential expression analysis and enriched in key biological pathways. By associating miRNAs with circRNAs, a miRNA-circRNA regulatory network was constructed and validated using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Image elements were provided by the BioGDP.com [1] platform.