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Background <p>The blue crab, <i>Callinectes sapidus</i>, exhibits a pelagic, planktonic larval, and benthic post-larval form before molting into a juvenile reminiscent of the adult body plan. This study examined the expression profile and genomic structure for key genes responsible for the adaptive functions involved in the blue crab at different developmental stages. The physiological behavior of each stage reflects unique life history strategies key for the successful recruitment and settlement of a species that supports one of the largest fisheries in the United States.</p> Results <p>The mRNA was sequenced from 5 developmental stages (zoea stage Z3, zoea stage Z5, post-larval stage megalopa, juvenile stage C2/3, and juvenile stage C4/5) from lab-reared animals. The reads were mapped to the current reference genome to determine gene expression patterns. Genes coding for cuticle proteins vary in expression at different life stages and account for a significant portion of the top differentially expressed genes. Opsin genes are significantly upregulated in the megalopa stage, with particularly high expression of opsins sensitive to wavelengths corresponding to blue/green light. The blue-light-sensitive opsin gene family is a set of 7 genes tandemly repeated along the genome with moderate conservation at the amino acid level and large differences in relative expression between gene copies. The 3 highly conserved pseudo-hemocyanin proteins are the most significantly upregulated genes in C4/5-stage juveniles. Phylogeny of decapod pseudo-hemocyanin suggests that duplication of this gene family occurred after species divergence and conservation of introns suggests that duplication within species occurred at the DNA level.</p> Conclusions <p>The orthology analysis provides a deeper context for the gene duplication patterns within decapods. The differential gene expression of specific members of the cuticle, opsin, and pseudo-hemocyanin gene families are strongly tied with the changes in habitat, adaptive behavior, and physiology during blue crab metamorphosis and development.</p>

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Relating differential gene expression and genomic analyses to functional adaptation at various developmental stages of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月28日

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  • Anne Baldino,
  • Tsvetan Bachvaroff,
  • J. Sook Chung

摘要

Background

The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, exhibits a pelagic, planktonic larval, and benthic post-larval form before molting into a juvenile reminiscent of the adult body plan. This study examined the expression profile and genomic structure for key genes responsible for the adaptive functions involved in the blue crab at different developmental stages. The physiological behavior of each stage reflects unique life history strategies key for the successful recruitment and settlement of a species that supports one of the largest fisheries in the United States.

Results

The mRNA was sequenced from 5 developmental stages (zoea stage Z3, zoea stage Z5, post-larval stage megalopa, juvenile stage C2/3, and juvenile stage C4/5) from lab-reared animals. The reads were mapped to the current reference genome to determine gene expression patterns. Genes coding for cuticle proteins vary in expression at different life stages and account for a significant portion of the top differentially expressed genes. Opsin genes are significantly upregulated in the megalopa stage, with particularly high expression of opsins sensitive to wavelengths corresponding to blue/green light. The blue-light-sensitive opsin gene family is a set of 7 genes tandemly repeated along the genome with moderate conservation at the amino acid level and large differences in relative expression between gene copies. The 3 highly conserved pseudo-hemocyanin proteins are the most significantly upregulated genes in C4/5-stage juveniles. Phylogeny of decapod pseudo-hemocyanin suggests that duplication of this gene family occurred after species divergence and conservation of introns suggests that duplication within species occurred at the DNA level.

Conclusions

The orthology analysis provides a deeper context for the gene duplication patterns within decapods. The differential gene expression of specific members of the cuticle, opsin, and pseudo-hemocyanin gene families are strongly tied with the changes in habitat, adaptive behavior, and physiology during blue crab metamorphosis and development.