title: Differential Gene Expression during Larval Metamorphic Development in the Pearl Oyster,Pinctada fucata, Based on Transcriptome Analysis.
abstract: P. fucataexperiences a series of transformations in appearance, from swimming larvae to sessile juveniles, during which significant changes in gene expression likely occur. Thus,P. fucatacould be an ideal model in which to study the molecular mechanisms of larval metamorphosis during development in invertebrates. To study the molecular driving force behind metamorphic development in larvae ofP. fucata, transcriptomes of five larval stages (trochophore, D-shape, umbonal, eyespots, and spats) were sequenced using an Illumina HiSeq™ 2000 system and assembled and characterized with the transcripts of six tissues. As a result, a total of 174,126 unique transcripts were assembled and 60,999 were annotated. The number of unigenes varied among the five larval stages. Expression profiles were distinctly different between trochophore, D-shape, umbonal, eyespots, and spats larvae. As a result, 29 expression trends were sorted, of which eight were significant. Among others, 80 development-related, differentially expressed unigenes (DEGs) were identified, of which the majority were homeobox-containing genes. Most DEGs occurred among trochophore, D-shaped, and UES (umbonal, eyespots, and spats) larvae as verified by qPCR. Principal component analysis (PCA) also revealed significant differences in expression among trochophore, D-shaped, and UES larvae with ten transcripts identified but no matching annotations.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510300, China; Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
authors.forename: Haimei
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3025-1671
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510300, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510300, China.
authors.forename: Guiju
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510300, China.
authors.forename: Baosuo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510300, China.
authors.forename: Sigang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China.
authors.forename: Dongling
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510300, China.
authors.forename: Dahui
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0748-4792
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yu