Sugar transporter genes in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus): molecular cloning, characterization, and expression in response to different stocking densities

Glucose and fructose play a central role in the metabolism and cellular homeostasis of organisms. Their absorption is co-mediated by two families of glucose transporters, Na+-coupled glucose co-transporters (SGLTs) and facilitative Na+-independent sugar carriers (GLUTs), in the intestine. However, limited information has been available on these transporters in fish. Therefore, we studied glut2, sglt1, and sglt4 genes in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). The full-length cDNAs of glut2 was 2308 bp, with an open reading frame (ORF) of 503 amino acids (AAs). The full-length cDNAs of sglt1 was 2890 bp, with an ORF of 658 AAs. Additionally, the full-length cDNAs of sglt4 was 2090 bp, with an ORF encoding 659 AAs. The three deduced AA sequences showed high homology between grass carp and other cyprinid fish species. Based on homology modeling, three-dimensional models of GLUT2, SGLT1, and SGLT4 proteins were created and transmembrane domains were noted. glut2, sglt1, and sglt4 were abundantly expressed in the anterior and mid intestine. In particular, glut2 was markedly expressed in liver (P < 0.05). Additionally, the results indicated that different stocking densities (0.9 or 5.9 kg m−2) did not alter intestinal section-dependent expression patterns of the three transporter genes. However, high stocking density impacted segmental mRNA expression levels. This work demonstrated that mRNA expression of sugar transporter genes in the fish intestine was segment specific, and crowding stress may affect the activity of intestinal sugar transporters. These results provided new insights into the relationship between crowding stress and intestinal sugar transporters in fish.