Genome wide transcriptional changes underlie gradual and recurrent adaptation to protein malnutrition in zebrafish.

Gradual and recurrent adaptation to protein malnutrition in zebrafish involves upregulation of intestinal endocytic components and immune genes over generations.

• Why it matters: Understanding how organisms adapt to nutrient deficiencies can reveal mechanisms of resilience and inform nutritional interventions. This work addresses the gap in knowledge about genetic and transcriptional changes underlying long-term adaptation to protein malnutrition.
• What they did: Researchers compared adapted and wild type zebrafish, including newly generated mutants, using transcriptome profiling and protein absorption assays to identify changes in intestinal cell function across generations.
• The result: Adapted pllp mutants show increased expression of endocytic and immune genes, correlating with enhanced protein absorption and survival, demonstrating that genome-wide transcriptional changes support stable adaptation to low-protein diets.