Title:Evaluation of the Binding Affinity of a Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Analogue (GnRH-a) Buserelin through In silico and In vivo Testing in
Clarias magur
Volume: 19
Issue: 2
Author(s): Mukesh Kumar, Mukunda Goswami*, Sunil Kumar Nayak , P. Gireesh-Babu and Aparna Chaudhari
Affiliation:
- Fish Genetics & Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai - 400 061 India
Keywords:
Freshwater catfish, bioinformatics, protein modelling, ligand–receptor interaction, Clarias magur, buserelin.
Abstract:
Aim: To evaluate the binding affinity and biological potency of gonadotropin-releasing
hormone analogue (GnRHa) Buserelin (C60H86N16O13) based on in silico and in vivo testing for induced
breeding in Clarias magur.
Background: Many attempts have been made to induce C. magur, but encouraging results have
not yet been achieved. Hence, it is the need of the hour to find out more potent analogues or other
bio-molecules for induced breeding in C. magur to facilitate sustainable aquaculture.
Objective: To determine the binding affinity of C. magur GnRH receptor through in silico and to
validate it for induced breeding of C. magur.
Methods: Buserelin (C60H86N16O13) was selected as the potential GnRHa after screening several peptides
for their binding energy with the C. magur GnRH receptor. The induced breeding trial was set
up at ICAR-CIFE Powarkheda Centre, M.P. India, and Buserelin was administered in different doses
to the brooders along with the dopamine inhibitor domperidone. The standard treatment with the
commercial salmon GnRH (sGnRH) analogue Ovaprim® (Syndel, USA) was used as the control.
Results: The 3-D structure of C. magur GnRH receptor was generated using MODELLER software.
Molecular docking studies revealed the binding preference of the receptor as chicken (c) Gn-
RH-II > Buserelin > sGnRH > catfish (cf) GnRH > human (m) GnRH. Though Buserelin showed
better binding affinity compared to sGnRH, induced breeding experiments with magur showed similar
performance of the ligands at the equivalent dose of 20 μg/kg B.W., but the spontaneous release
of milt from the males was not observed in both cases. Significantly better reproductive parameters
were recorded with Buserelin at the dose of 30 μg/kg B.W.
Conclusion: The study revealed that that the GnRHa Buserelin can be used as an effective inducing
agent for breeding in C. magur.
