Comprehensive Sequencing of Environmental RNA From Japanese Medaka at Various Size Fractions and Comparison With Skin Swab RNA

ABSTRACT Environmental RNA (eRNA) is emerging as a non‐invasive tool for assessing the molecular status and physiological responses of macro‐organisms, but key information on its origin and particle sizes remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimal filter pore size range for eR...

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Main Authors: Kyoshiro Hiki, Toshiaki S. Jo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Environmental DNA
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70137
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author Kyoshiro Hiki
Toshiaki S. Jo
author_facet Kyoshiro Hiki
Toshiaki S. Jo
author_sort Kyoshiro Hiki
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Environmental RNA (eRNA) is emerging as a non‐invasive tool for assessing the molecular status and physiological responses of macro‐organisms, but key information on its origin and particle sizes remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimal filter pore size range for eRNA analysis and evaluate the contribution of skin and mucus to eRNA profiles. We performed comprehensive RNA‐sequencing of eRNA (> 13 Gb/sample) collected from tank water containing Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), using sequential filtration through filters with pore sizes of 10, 3, and 0.4 μm. Fish skin and mucus RNA was collected using a cotton swab, then sequenced, and compared with eRNA. Our results showed that the 3–10 μm fraction contained the lowest relative abundance of microbial RNA, the highest amount of medaka eRNA, and the largest number of detected medaka genes (5398 genes), while the 0.4–3 μm fraction had the fewest (972 genes). Only a small number of genes (42 genes) were unique to the 0.4–3 μm fraction. These findings suggest that a 3 μm filter is optimal for eRNA analysis, as it allows for larger filtration volumes while maintaining the relative abundance of macro‐organism eRNA. Furthermore, 81% of the genes detected in eRNA overlapped with skin swab, indicating skin and mucus are major sources of fish eRNA.
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spelling doaj-art-4ac7118f7f60473c92255dd1ccf5dba82025-06-27T11:42:46ZengWileyEnvironmental DNA2637-49432025-05-0173n/an/a10.1002/edn3.70137Comprehensive Sequencing of Environmental RNA From Japanese Medaka at Various Size Fractions and Comparison With Skin Swab RNAKyoshiro Hiki0Toshiaki S. Jo1Health and Environmental Risk Division National Institute for Environmental Studies Tsukuba JapanResearch Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Chiyoda JapanABSTRACT Environmental RNA (eRNA) is emerging as a non‐invasive tool for assessing the molecular status and physiological responses of macro‐organisms, but key information on its origin and particle sizes remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimal filter pore size range for eRNA analysis and evaluate the contribution of skin and mucus to eRNA profiles. We performed comprehensive RNA‐sequencing of eRNA (> 13 Gb/sample) collected from tank water containing Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), using sequential filtration through filters with pore sizes of 10, 3, and 0.4 μm. Fish skin and mucus RNA was collected using a cotton swab, then sequenced, and compared with eRNA. Our results showed that the 3–10 μm fraction contained the lowest relative abundance of microbial RNA, the highest amount of medaka eRNA, and the largest number of detected medaka genes (5398 genes), while the 0.4–3 μm fraction had the fewest (972 genes). Only a small number of genes (42 genes) were unique to the 0.4–3 μm fraction. These findings suggest that a 3 μm filter is optimal for eRNA analysis, as it allows for larger filtration volumes while maintaining the relative abundance of macro‐organism eRNA. Furthermore, 81% of the genes detected in eRNA overlapped with skin swab, indicating skin and mucus are major sources of fish eRNA.https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70137biological monitoringenvironmental RNAOryzias latipesparticle size distributionRNA‐Seq
spellingShingle Kyoshiro Hiki
Toshiaki S. Jo
Comprehensive Sequencing of Environmental RNA From Japanese Medaka at Various Size Fractions and Comparison With Skin Swab RNA
Environmental DNA
biological monitoring
environmental RNA
Oryzias latipes
particle size distribution
RNA‐Seq
title Comprehensive Sequencing of Environmental RNA From Japanese Medaka at Various Size Fractions and Comparison With Skin Swab RNA
title_full Comprehensive Sequencing of Environmental RNA From Japanese Medaka at Various Size Fractions and Comparison With Skin Swab RNA
title_fullStr Comprehensive Sequencing of Environmental RNA From Japanese Medaka at Various Size Fractions and Comparison With Skin Swab RNA
title_full_unstemmed Comprehensive Sequencing of Environmental RNA From Japanese Medaka at Various Size Fractions and Comparison With Skin Swab RNA
title_short Comprehensive Sequencing of Environmental RNA From Japanese Medaka at Various Size Fractions and Comparison With Skin Swab RNA
title_sort comprehensive sequencing of environmental rna from japanese medaka at various size fractions and comparison with skin swab rna
topic biological monitoring
environmental RNA
Oryzias latipes
particle size distribution
RNA‐Seq
url https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70137
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