Gene expression differences between abalone that are susceptible and resilient to a simulated heat wave event

Abstract

Sudden increases in water temperature can lead to mortality of cultured and wild mollusc communities during the summer months. The frequency and severity of mortality events are expected to increase as climate changes. The molecular basis for individual survival ability is poorly understood. To better understand signatures and mechanisms affecting survival we analyzed the gene expression profiles of greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata) classified as susceptible or resilient to laboratory induced heat stress both prior to, and at three time points throughout, the heat stress event. We detected 487 genes that were significantly differentially expressed between resilient and susceptible abalone (28 of these were significantly differentially expressed over all three time points and 26 were significantly differentially expressed throughout two of the three heat stress trial sampling points). These 54 genes also demonstrated a similar relative expression level difference between resilient and susceptible abalone in samples collected six months prior to the heat stress event. Three distinct co-expression networks incorporating these genes were also identified. The most informative transcriptomic differences between resilient and susceptible abalone throughout the heat stress trial were associated with metabolism (e.g. Mitofusin 1) and immune process (e.g. Multiple epidermal growth factor-like domain 10, Lysozyme). These functional mechanisms may enable resilient individuals to endure heat wave events. These signatures could be used to predict an individual's resilience. The findings have application in aiding stock selection for the aquaculture industry, to provide greater resilience to global climate change.