Genetically Determined Variation in Developmental Physiology of Bivalve Larvae (Crassostrea gigas).
Understanding the complex interactions that regulate growth and form is a central question in developmental physiology. We used experimental crosses of pedigreed lines of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, to investigate genetically determined variations in larval growth and nutrient transport. We show that (i) transport rates at 10 and 100 μM glycine scale differentially with size; (ii) size-specific maximum transport capacity (Jmax) is genetically determined; and (iii) Jmax serves as an early predictive index of subsequent growth rate. This relationship between genetically determined Jmax and growth suggests the potential use of transporter genes as biomarkers of growth potential. Analysis of the genome of C. gigas revealed 23 putative amino acid transporter genes. The complexity of gene families that underpin physiological traits has additional precedents in this species and others and warrants caution in the use of gene expression as a biomarker for physiological state. Direct in vivo measurements of physiological processes using species with defined genotypes are required to understand genetically determined variance of nutrient flux and other processes that regulate development and growth.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0371.
T-C
TC
Francis Pan
Scott L
SL
Applebaum
Donal T
DT
Manahan
D000818:Animals; D049896:Crassostrea / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016678:Genome; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D021381:Protein Transport
D005998:Glycine