Physiological and gene expression profiles of leg muscle provide insights into molting-dependent growth of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

AbstractSexual precocity is a serious and common biological phenomenon in animal species. Large amount of precocity individuals was identified in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, which caused huge economical loss every year. However, the underlying genetic basis of precocity in E. sinensis is still lack. In this study, histology observation, comparative transcriptome was conducted among different stages of precocious one-year old and normal two-year old E. sinensis, tissue-expression profiles of ovary, hepatopancreas, and eyestalk tissues were presented and compared. Genes associated with lipid metabolic process, lipid transport, vitelline membrane formation, vitelline synthesis and neuropeptide hormone related genes were upregulated in the ovary, hepatopancreas and eyestalk of precocious E. sinensis. Our results indicated eyestalk involved in neuroendocrine system providing neuropeptide hormone that may induce vitellogenesis in hepatopancreas and further stimulate ovary development. Hepatopancreas is a site for energy storage, vitellogenin synthesis and may assist to induce oogenesis through lipid transport in precocious E. sinensis. The genetic basis of precocity in E. sinensis is an integrated gene regulatory network of eyestalk, hepatopancreas, and ovary tissues. Our study provides effective convenient phenotype measurement method for identification of potential precocious E. sinensis detection, and valuable genetic resources and novel insights into the research of molecular mechanism of precocity in E. sinensis.

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cDNA cloning, characterization and mRNA expression of cryptocyanin from the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853

Crustaceana ◽

10.1163/15685403-00003522 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 89 (3) ◽

pp. 273-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Xingqiang Wang ◽

Lingling Wang ◽

Mengqiang Wang ◽

Huan Zhang ◽

Linsheng Song

Keyword(s):

Untranslated Region ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Vibrio Anguillarum ◽

Eriocheir Sinensis ◽

Amino Acid Residues ◽

Chinese Mitten Crab ◽

Reading Frame ◽

Mitten Crab ◽

Inflammatory Processes ◽

Moulting Cycle

Cryptocyanin is a copper-free non-respiratory protein and plays an important role in the physiological process of decapod crustaceans. In the present study, the full length cDNA encoding cryptocyanin (EsCc) was cloned from the haemocytes of the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis, which was 2630 bp, consisting of a 5′-untranslated region of 237 bp, a 3′-untranslated region of 359 bp, and an open reading frame of 2034 bp. The deduced protein possessed 678 amino-acid residues, and the predicted molecular mass was 79.09 kDa. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that it belonged to the arthropod haemocyanin superfamily and shared 78% homology to Dungeness crab Metacarcinus magister cryptocyanin subunit 2. The expression pattern of EsCc in five tissues was investigated in premoult, intermoult and postmoult stages to understand its role during the moulting cycle. In hepatopancreas, the significant up-regulation of EsCc expression was observed in both premoult and intermoult stages, while the significant change of EsCc expressions in muscle and haemocytes was only found in premoult stages. To gain insight into the antimicrobial activity of EsCc in inflammatory processes, its expression profiles in the haemolymph of Chinese mitten crab challenged with Vibrio anguillarum and Pichia pastoris were examined. The challenge of V. anguillarum induced higher expression of EsCc as early as 6 h post-infection. Instead, a significant up-regulation of EsCc transcript was observed at 12 h post P. pastoris challenge. The above results implied that crustacean cryptocyanin was involved in the new exoskeleton formation. Also, it might be induced to resist invasions of pathogens.

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