Transcriptome Analysis of Red Swamp Crawfish Procambarus clarkii Reveals Genes Involved in Gonadal Development

Abstract

BackgroundThe red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii, has become one of the most economically important cultured species in China. Currently, little is known about the gonadal development of this species. Isolation and characterization of genes are an initial step towards understanding gonadal development of P. clarkii.ResultsUsing the 454 pyrosequencing technology, we obtained a total of 1,134,993 high quality sequence reads from the crawfish testis and ovary libraries. We aimed to identify different genes with a potential role in gonad development. The assembly formed into 22,652 isotigs, distributed by GO analysis across 55 categories in the three ontologies, ‘molecular function’, ‘cellular component’, and ‘biological processes’. Comparative transcript analysis showed that 1,720 isotigs in the ovary were up-regulated and 2138 isotigs were down-regulated. Several gonad development related genes, such as vitellogenin, cyclin B, cyclin-dependent kinases 2, Dmc1 and ubiquitin were identified. Quantitative real-time PCR verified the expression profiles of 14 differentially expressed genes, and confirmed the reliability of the 454 pyrosequencing.ConclusionsOur findings provide an archive for future research on gonadal development at a molecular level in P. clarkii and other crustacean. This data will be helpful to develop new ideas for artificial regulation of the reproductive process in crawfish aquaculture.

Male Sexual Development and the Androgenic Gland: Novel Insights through the de novo Assembled Transcriptome of the Eastern Spiny Lobster,<b><i> Sagmariasus verreauxi</i></b>

“…To this end, several studies have applied transcriptomics in the context of sexual development in the commercial Decapods, but the majority have done so through the isolated analyses of certain tissues, namely the gonads [Leelatanawit et al, 2009[Leelatanawit et al, , 2011Jung et al, 2011;Zhang et al, 2011;He et al, 2012;Gao et al, 2014;Jiang et al, 2014;Powell et al, 2015].…”

Transcriptomics in aquaculture: current status and applications

“…Important factors pertaining to red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii gonadal development were identified by transcriptome profiling of gonads using 454 pyro sequencing technology (Jiang et al . ). Putative genes involved in ovary development, ubiquitin proteasome pathway, cell cycle regulatory protein and testis development‐related genes such as vitellogenin (Vg), cyclin B, cyclin‐dependent kinases 2, Dmc1 and ubiquitin were identified.…”

Identification of peptides from sinus gland extracts in the red swampcrayfish Procambarus clarkii by mass spectrometry

“…The data have enlarged the number of fully characterized SG neuropeptides in P. clarkii, and thus provide a stronger framework for future investigations of the physiological roles which these molecules play in this species. Moreover, in combination with several recently constructed P. clarkii cDNA libraries with ESTs (Shen et al, 2014;Jiang et al, 2014), these data will provide a strong stimulus for future peptide discovery, as well as studies directed at the expression and regulation of peptide modulators/hormones in the crayfish.…”