Integrative Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Analysis of Body Color Formation in the Leopard Coral Grouper (Plectropomus leopardus)

Body color is an important economic and ecological trait in aquatic animals, which influence their values determine the animal ability to survive marine environment. Red-colored Plectropomus leopardus high demand owing its bright potential value for artificial breeding. High-throughput transcriptome sequencing liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approaches were used identify transcript metabolic differences between black-colored red-colored P. . Compared with group, 218 181 differentially expressed genes up- down- regulated, respectively, group. 425 56 significantly different metabolites identified LC-MS positive negative ion models, two colored groups. Based on integrative analysis, group exhibited greater carotenoid uptake, transport, accumulation activity than those may consume more arachidonic acid body formation. The showed melanin synthesis compared These results substantially improve understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying formation environment adaptation.