Crustacean vitellogenesis is a process that involves Vitellin, produced via endoproteolysis of its precursor, which is designated as Vitellogenin (Vtg). The Vtg gene, mRNA and protein regulation involve several environmental factors and physiological processes, including gonadal maturation and moult stages, among others. Once the Vtg gene, mRNAs and protein are obtained, it is possible to establish the relationship between the elements that participate in their regulation, which could either be species-specific, or tissue-specific. This work is a systematic analysis that compares the similarities and differences of Vtg genes, mRNA and Vtg between the crustacean species reported in databases with respect to that obtained from the transcriptome of Callinectes arcuatus, C. toxotes, Penaeus stylirostris and P. vannamei obtained with MiSeq sequencing technology from Illumina. Those analyses confirm that the Vtg obtained from selected species will serve to understand the process of vitellogenesis in crustaceans that is important for fisheries and aquaculture. RESUMENLa vitelogénesis de los crustáceos es un proceso que involucra la vitelina, producida a través de la endoproteólisis de su precursor llamado Vitelogenina (Vtg). La regulación del gen Vtg, los ARNm y la Vtg involucra factores ambientales y procesos fisiológicos, incluyendo: maduración gonadal, etapas de muda, entre otros. Con el gen Vtg, los ARNm y la proteína obtenidos, es posible correlacionar los elementos que participan en su regulación, pudiendo ser especie-específicos o tejido-específicos. Este trabajo es un análisis sistemático que compara las similitudes y diferencias

Shrimp fisheries are among the most important fisheries worldwide, and shrimp culture has increased considerably in recent years. Most current studies on reproduction-related genes have been conducted on cultured shrimp. However, gene expression is intimately linked to physiological and environmental conditions, and therefore an organism’s growth environment has a great influence on reproduction. Thus, gene expression profiling, should be applied in fisheries studies. Here, we identified the expression patterns of 76 reproduction-related genes in P. vannamei via the analysis of pooled transcriptomes from a time-series experiment encompassing a full circadian cycle. The expression patterns of genes associated both directly (Vtg, ODP, and ProR) and indirectly (FAMet, CruA1, and CruC1) with reproduction were evaluated, as these genes could be used as molecular markers of previtellogenic and vitellogenic maturation stages. The evaluated genes were prominently upregulated during vitellogenic stages, with specific expression patterns depending on the organism’s environment, diet, and season. Vtg, ProR, ODP, and FaMet could serve as molecular markers for both wild and cultured organisms.

In tropical countries, a large number of finfish species and invertebrates are captured as by-catch, including several species of crustaceans, due to the low selectivity of the fishing methods. By-catch presents and optimal opportunity to study populations of crustaceans. Here, the goal was to determine the community structure, specifically through the size structure, as well as the average sizes at first maturity of crustacean species present in the shrimp by-catch caught aboard a fishing vessel operating in the Mexican Pacific, from Sinaloa to Guerrero, Mexico. From the 18 crustaceans found in this study, the crabs Euphylax robustus and Achelous asper were the dominant species, whereas four species were considered casual (i.e., not frequent). Interestingly, more than 40% of the organisms analysed were in the juvenile stage, and 19% were ovigerous females. The results demonstrate the negative impact of the low selectivity of shrimp trawls on the communities of species of Crustacea.