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Li Z, Xu C, Yu H, Kong L, Liu S, Li Q. Effects of Dietary Cystine and Tyrosine Supplementation on Melanin Synthesis in the Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas). MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 25:537-547. [PMID: 37369882 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-023-10223-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Melanogenesis is a multistep process to produce melanin for dark pigmentation in skin coloration. Previous studies in vertebrates demonstrated that cystine and tyrosine amino acids are involved in the melanin synthesis. However, very little is known about the melanogenesis in bivalve. In this study, cystine supplementation for 30 days significantly upregulated the expression of CgB-aat1, CgCbs and CgTyr and pheomelanin content in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) results revealed more melanosomes in the connective tissue and melanin granules were secreted in epithelium of mantle. In contrast, tyrosine supplementation had no clear effect on melanogenesis except the gene expression changes of CgB-aat1 and CgCbs. In addition, prolonged supplementation of cystine or tyrosine for 60 days had a negative impact on melanogenesis. Indeed, after 60 days, expression of most of the melanin synthesis-related genes under study was decreased, and melanin content was significantly reduced, indicating that cystine and tyrosine might inhibit production of eumelanin and pheomelanin, respectively. In addition, in vitro analysis using primary cell culture from mantle tissue indicated that incubation with cystine, tyrosine, or B-AAT1 polypeptide, CBS/TYR recombinant proteins induced the increase of CgB-aat1 and CgCbs expression in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting the presence of a regulatory network in response to cystine and tyrosine amino acids intakes in pheomelanin synthesis-related gene expression. Taken together, these data indicate that cystine-CgB-aat1-CgCbs-CgTyr axis is a potential regulator of the pheomelanin biosynthesis pathway, and thus plays an important role in the mantle pigmentation in C. gigas. This work provides a new clue for selective cultivation of oyster strains with specific shell colors in bivalve breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuanzhuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Chengxun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Lingfeng Kong
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Shikai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China.
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Wakamatsu K, Ito S. Recent Advances in Characterization of Melanin Pigments in Biological Samples. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098305. [PMID: 37176019 PMCID: PMC10179066 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The melanin pigments eumelanin (EM) and pheomelanin (PM), which are dark brown to black and yellow to reddish-brown, respectively, are widely found among vertebrates. They are produced in melanocytes in the epidermis, hair follicles, the choroid, the iris, the inner ear, and other tissues. The diversity of colors in animals is mainly caused by the quantity and quality of their melanin, such as by the ratios of EM versus PM. We have developed micro-analytical methods to simultaneously measure EM and PM and used these to study the biochemical and genetic fundamentals of pigmentation. The photoreactivity of melanin has become a major focus of research because of the postulated relevance of EM and PM for the risk of UVA-induced melanoma. Our biochemical methods have found application in many clinical studies on genetic conditions associated with alterations in pigmentation. Recently, besides chemical degradative methods, other methods have been developed for the characterization of melanin, and these are also discussed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazumasa Wakamatsu
- Institute for Melanin Chemistry, Fujita Health University, Toyoake 470-192, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shosuke Ito
- Institute for Melanin Chemistry, Fujita Health University, Toyoake 470-192, Aichi, Japan
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3
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Transcription factor CgPOU3F4-like regulates expression of pheomelanin synthesis related gene CgB-aat1 in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). Gene 2023; 861:147258. [PMID: 36754175 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Previous study has found that b (0, +) -type amino acid transporter 1 (CgB-aat1) plays an essential role on mantle pigmentation in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. However, the molecular regulation of CgB-aat1 gene expression remains unclear. Herein, three POU domain family members, CgPOU2F1, CgPOU3F4-like and CgPOU4F3-X1 were characterized and they all had POUs and HOX domains, respectively, which were important in transcriptional regulation. CgPOU3F4-like gene expression was the highest in mantle edge. Subsequently, the dual-luciferase reporter result showed that the core regulatory region of CgB-aat1 gene was from -632 to -350 bp of promoter. In transient co-transfection assays, the strongest activity was activated only by CgPOU3F4-like, suggesting CgPOU3F4-like was a valid transcriptional activator of CgB-aat1 gene promoter. And the structural integrity of CgPOU3F4-like was essential for its activation function. In addition, site directed mutagenesis assay was applied to detect three key binding sites between CgPOU3F4-like and core region of CgB-aat1 gene promoter, and this interaction was verified by ChIP test. Furthermore, CgPOU3F4-like knockdown by RNA interference led to obvious decreases in CgB-aat1 and cystathionine beta-synthase (CgCbs) expressions at both mRNA and protein levels. Collectively, these results indicate that CgPOU3F4-like positively regulate CgB-aat1 gene expression and it may be a critical upstream transcriptional regulation factor in pheomelanin synthesis in C. gigas.
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Islam ATMR, Shinzato K, Miyaoka H, Komaguchi K, Koike K, Arakawa K, Kitamura K, Tanaka N. Isolation and characterization of blackish-brown BY2-melanin accumulated in cultured tobacco BY-2 cells. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2023; 87:395-410. [PMID: 36592962 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbac214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The tobacco BY-2 cell line is one of the most utilized plant cell lines. After long-term culture, the cells turn brown to black, but the causal pigment is unknown. We successfully isolated a blackish-brown pigment from BY-2 cells cultured for 3 weeks. Morphological and spectroscopic analyses indicated that the pigment had similar features to a melanin-like substance reported previously. Furthermore, physicochemical analyses revealed that this pigment possessed most of the properties of melanin-like pigments. In addition, the high nitrogen content suggested that it differed from common plant melanins classified as allomelanins, suggesting a novel eumelanin-like pigment: "BY2-melanin". This is the first example showing that eumelanin-like pigments are produced in the cultures of plant cells for which the accumulation of melanin has not been reported. This tobacco BY-2 cell culture technique may represent a customizable and sustainable alternative to conventional melanin production platforms, with significant potential for industrial and pharmacological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abul Taher Mohammed Rafiqul Islam
- Genome Biotechnology, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Biosciences, University of Barishal, Barishal 8254, Bangladesh
| | - Keita Shinzato
- Advanced Materials Division, Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroki Miyaoka
- Advanced Materials Division, Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kenji Komaguchi
- Materials Analytical Chemistry, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kanae Koike
- Facility Management Division, Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kenji Arakawa
- Cell Biochemistry, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kenji Kitamura
- Genome Biotechnology, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Gene Science, Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Nobukazu Tanaka
- Genome Biotechnology, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Gene Science, Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
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Takemoto K, Murakami M, Tabuchi M, Ohta T. Spectroscopic studies for identifying the chemical states of the periostracum of the Corbicula species in Lake Biwa. J Struct Biol 2023; 215:107944. [PMID: 36841078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2023.107944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Corbicula clam shells consist of thin periostracum and calcareous layers made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Depending on habitat conditions, the shell exhibits various colorations, such as yellow, brown, and black. The chemical state of the periostracum of the Corbicula species in Lake Biwa was studied by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and Raman scattering spectroscopies. Fe K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) revealed that the Fe3+ intensity increases as the color of the shell changes from yellow to black. Raman spectra suggested that quinone-based polymers cover the yellow shell, and the black shell is further covered by dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) rings of amino acid derivatives. From Fe K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), it was found that Fe3+ in the periostracum was surrounded by five to six oxygen atoms with an average Fe-O ligand distance of 2.0 Å. Accordingly, a tris-DOPA-Fe3+ complex is formed, which is responsible for the periostracum's black color.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuniko Takemoto
- Department of Physics, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan.
| | - Masataka Murakami
- Toray Research Center, Inc., 3-3-7, Sonoyama, Otsu, Shiga 520-8567, Japan
| | - Masao Tabuchi
- Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Ohta
- The SR Center, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
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6
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Li Z, Hu B, Du L, Hou C, Li Q. Involvement of B-aat1 and Cbs in regulating mantle pigmentation in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:377-387. [PMID: 36335521 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-08037-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shell color formation is an important physiological process in bivalves, the molecular genetic basis has potential application in bivalve aquaculture, but there is still remaining unclear about this issue. The cystine/glutamate transporter (Slc7a11) and cystathionine beta-synthase (Cbs) are integral genes in pheomelanin synthesis pathway, which is vital to skin pigmentation. METHODS AND RESULTS Here, the sequences of b (0, +) -type amino acid transporter 1 (B-aat1) and Cbs in Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) (CgB-aat1, CgCbs) were characterized. Phylogenetically, the deduced amino acid sequences of CgB-aat1 and CgCbs both possessed conserved features. Genes were both ubiquitously expressed in six tested tissues with more abundant expression level in central mantle. Besides, the polyclonal antibodies of CgB-aat1, CgCbs, CgTyr, and CgTyrp2 were successfully prepared. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that CgB-aat1 and CgCbs proteins were both expressed in gill rudiments of eyed-larvae and concentrated mainly in cytoplasm of epithelial cell and nerve axons in mantle. Additionally, after CgB-aat1 or CgCbs silencing, expressions at mRNA and protein levels of CgB-aat1 and CgCbs involved in pheomelanin synthesis were significantly suppressed, and CgTyr, CgTyrp1 and CgTyrp2 related to eumelanin synthesis were also down-regulated but no apparent differences, respectively. Moreover, micrographic examination found less brown-granules at mantle edge in CgB-aat1 interference group. CONCLUSION These results implied that pheomelanin synthesis was possible induced by CgB-aat1-CgTyr-CgCbs axis, and it played an essential role on mantle pigmentation in the oysters. These findings provide the useful genetic knowledge and enrich the physiological information for the shell color formation in bivalve aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuanzhuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Biyang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Lijie Du
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Chunhao Hou
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China. .,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China.
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7
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Min Y, Li Q, Yu H. Heme-Peroxidase 2 Modulated by POU2F1 and SOX5 is Involved in Pigmentation in Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas). MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 24:263-275. [PMID: 35275290 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-022-10098-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Color polymorphism is frequently observed in molluscan shellfish, while the molecular regulation of shell pigmentation is not well understood. Peroxidase is a key enzyme involved in melanogenesis. Here, we identified a heme-peroxidase 2 gene (CgHPX2), and characterized the expression patterns and transcriptional regulation of CgHPX2 in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Tissues expression analysis showed that CgHPX2 was a mantle-specific gene and primarily expressed in the edge mantle in black shell color oyster compared with white shell oyster. In situ hybridization showed that strong signals for CgHPX2 were detected in the both inner and outer surface of the outer fold of mantle in the black shell color oyster, whereas positive signals in white shell oyster were mainly localized in the outer surface of the outer fold of mantle. In the embryos and larvae, a high expression level of CgHPX2 was detected in the trochophore stage in both black and white shell color oysters. The temporal localization of CgHPX2 was mainly detected in the shell gland and edge mantle of trochophore and calcified shell larvae, respectively. In addition, a 2227 bp of 5' flanking region sequence of CgHPX2 was cloned, which contained a presumed core promoter region and many potential transcription factor binding sites. Further luciferase assay experiment confirmed that POU domain, class 2, transcription factor 1 (POU2F1), and SRY-box transcription factor 5 (SOX5) were involved in transcriptional regulation of CgHPX2 gene through binding to its specific promoter region. After CgPOU2F1 and CgSOX5 RNA interference, the CgHPX2 gene expression was significantly decreased. These results suggested that CgPOU2F1 and CgSOX5 might be two important transcription factors that positively regulated the expression of CgHPX2 gene, improving our understanding of the transcriptional regulation of molluscan shell pigmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Min
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China.
| | - Hong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
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8
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Bonnard M, Boury B, Parrot I. Xanthurenic Acid in the Shell Purple Patterns of Crassostrea gigas: First Evidence of an Ommochrome Metabolite in a Mollusk Shell. Molecules 2021; 26:7263. [PMID: 34885845 PMCID: PMC8658808 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26237263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ommochromes are one of the least studied groups of natural pigments, frequently confused with melanin and, so far, exclusively found in invertebrates such as cephalopods and butterflies. In this study focused on the purple color of the shells of a mollusk, Crassostrea gigas, the first evidence of a metabolite of ommochromes, xanthurenic acid (XA), was obtained by liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). In addition to XA and various porphyrins previously identified, a second group of high molecular weight acid-soluble pigments (HMASP) has been identified with physicochemical and structural characteristics similar to those of ommochromes. In addition, fragmentation of HMASP by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) has revealed a substructure common to XA and ommochromes of the ommatin type. Furthermore, the presence of melanins was excluded by the absence of characteristic by-products among the oxidation residues of HMASP. Altogether, these results show that the purple color of the shells of Crassostrea gigas is a complex association of porphyrins and ommochromes of potentially ommatin or ommin type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Bonnard
- IBMM, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34095 Montpellier, France;
- TARBOURIECH-MEDITHAU, 34340 Marseillan, France
| | - Bruno Boury
- ICGM, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Isabelle Parrot
- IBMM, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34095 Montpellier, France;
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Zhu Y, Li Q, Yu H, Liu S, Kong L. Shell Biosynthesis and Pigmentation as Revealed by the Expression of Tyrosinase and Tyrosinase-like Protein Genes in Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) with Different Shell Colors. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 23:777-789. [PMID: 34490547 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-021-10063-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The widely recognized color polymorphisms of molluscan shell have been appreciated for hundreds of years by collectors and scientists, while molecular mechanisms underlying shell pigmentation are still poorly understood. Tyrosinase is a key rate-limiting enzyme for the biosynthesis of melanin. Here, we performed an extensive multi-omics data mining and identified two tyrosinase genes, including tyrosinase and tyrosinase-like protein 2 (Tyr and Typ-2 respectively), in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, and investigated the expression patterns of tyrosinase during adults and embryogenesis in black and white shell color C. gigas. Tissue expression analysis showed that two tyrosinase genes were both specifically expressed in the mantle, and the expression levels of Tyr and Typ-2 in the edge mantle were significantly higher than that in the central mantle. Besides, Tyr and Typ-2 genes were black shell-specific compared with white shell oysters. In situ hybridization showed that strong signals for Tyr were detected in the inner surface of the outer fold, whereas positive signals for Typ-2 were mainly localized in the outer surface of the outer fold. In the embryos and larvae, the high expression of Tyr mRNA was detected in eyed-larvae, while Typ-2 mRNA was mainly expressed at the trochophore and early D-veliger. Furthermore, the tyrosinase activity in the edge mantle was significantly higher than that in the central mantle. These findings indicated that Tyr gene may be involved in shell pigmentation, and Typ-2 is more likely to play critical roles not only in the formation of shell prismatic layer but also in shell pigmentation. In particular, Typ-2 gene was likely to involve in the initial non-calcified shell of trochophores. The work provides valuable information for the molecular mechanism study of shell formation and pigmentation in C. gigas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China.
| | - Hong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Shikai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Lingfeng Kong
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
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10
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Pardos-Blas JR, Irisarri I, Abalde S, Afonso CML, Tenorio MJ, Zardoya R. The genome of the venomous snail Lautoconus ventricosus sheds light on the origin of conotoxin diversity. Gigascience 2021; 10:giab037. [PMID: 34037232 PMCID: PMC8152183 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giab037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Venoms are deadly weapons to subdue prey or deter predators that have evolved independently in many animal lineages. The genomes of venomous animals are essential to understand the evolutionary mechanisms involved in the origin and diversification of venoms. RESULTS Here, we report the chromosome-level genome of the venomous Mediterranean cone snail, Lautoconus ventricosus (Caenogastropoda: Conidae). The total size of the assembly is 3.59 Gb; it has high contiguity (N50 = 93.53 Mb) and 86.6 Mb of the genome assembled into the 35 largest scaffolds or pseudochromosomes. On the basis of venom gland transcriptomes, we annotated 262 complete genes encoding conotoxin precursors, hormones, and other venom-related proteins. These genes were scattered in the different pseudochromosomes and located within repetitive regions. The genes encoding conotoxin precursors were normally structured into 3 exons, which did not necessarily coincide with the 3 structural domains of the corresponding proteins. Additionally, we found evidence in the L. ventricosus genome for a past whole-genome duplication event by means of conserved gene synteny with the Pomacea canaliculata genome, the only one available at the chromosome level within Caenogastropoda. The whole-genome duplication event was further confirmed by the presence of a duplicated hox gene cluster. Key genes for gastropod biology including those encoding proteins related to development, shell formation, and sex were located in the genome. CONCLUSIONS The new high-quality L. ventricosus genome should become a reference for assembling and analyzing new gastropod genomes and will contribute to future evolutionary genomic studies among venomous animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Ramón Pardos-Blas
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Iker Irisarri
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Applied Bioinformatics, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Goldschmidtstr. 1, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
- Campus Institute Data Science (CIDAS), Goettingen, Wilhelmsplatz 1, D-37073, Germany
| | - Samuel Abalde
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Zoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Frescativägen 40, 11418 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carlos M L Afonso
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005–139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Manuel J Tenorio
- Departamento CMIM y Q. Inorgánica-INBIO, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cadiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Rafael Zardoya
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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11
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Saenko SV, Schilthuizen M. Evo-devo of shell colour in gastropods and bivalves. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2021; 69:1-5. [PMID: 33388521 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2020.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Recent technical innovations are revealing surprising patterns in mollusc shell pigmentation, such as an unexpectedly modest role for melanins and rapid divergences in the mix of pigments used to achieve similar colour patterns. The elucidation of the molecular genetic basis of shell pigmentation has been slow, probably because of the high genome complexity of gastropods and bivalves. Recent work within the old field of evolutionary ecology of shell pigmentation allows a greater role for the analysis of large-geographic-scale patterns (sometimes employing citizen-science data), as well as experimental field studies. However, the field remains dominated by land snails as model organisms, while colour pattern evolution in marine gastropods and bivalves, particularly those not exposed to visual predators, remains mysterious.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne V Saenko
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333CR Leiden, The Netherlands; Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Menno Schilthuizen
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333CR Leiden, The Netherlands; Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333BE Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Chemical evidence of rare porphyrins in purple shells of Crassostrea gigas oyster. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12150. [PMID: 32699240 PMCID: PMC7376061 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69133-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The colour of oyster shells is a very diverse characteristic morphotype, forming intriguing vivid patterns both on the inside and outside of the shell. In the present study, we have identified for the first time, the presence of several porphyrins as constituents of the shell pigmentation of the Crassostrea gigas oyster consumed worldwide. The precise molecular structures of halochromic, fluorescent and acid-soluble porphyrins, such as uroporphyrin and turacin, are unambiguously determined by reverse phase liquid chromatography combined with high resolution mass spectrometry. Their presence account for the purple colouration of shells but also for the dark colouration of adductor muscle scars. We have also defined the endogenous origin of these porphyrins, specifically secreted or accumulated by the shell forming tissue. These findings are pioneering analytical proofs of the existence of the haem pathway in the edible oyster Crassostrea gigas, evidenced by the chemical identification of haem side-products and supported by the recent publication of the corresponding oyster genome.
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