Cloning and identification of 240bp gene fragment amplified from muscle tissue of omega-3 enriched african catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Abstract

A study was done to clone and identify a 240bp partial gene fragment which was highly expressed in muscle tissue of omega-3 enriched African catfish. RNA was extracted from muscle tissue of African catfish using TRI-Reagent method and DD RT-PCR was conducted using arbitrary primer 14. This study had successfully cloned the 240bp fragment obtained and later sent for sequencing. After the sequence of the 240bp fragment obtained, it was sent for blast in the GenBank and 240bp fragment had high similarities with cytochrome b gene from Clarias gariepinus ( 4e- 3 l ). This shows that the 240bp fragment is probably a cytochrome b gene. Cytochrome b is one type of cytochrome and a type of protein. Since it was highly expressed in muscle tissue of omega-3 enriched African catfish, further study need to be done to characterize the expressed gene and by doing this, it can lead to a better understanding about the gene and its regulation in African catfish muscle tissue.