Genome-wide identification and expression profiling of Wnt gene family in Neocaridina denticulata sinensis

Abstract

Wnt proteins are a class of hydrophobic secreted glycoproteins involved in diverse important biological processes, such as tissue formation and regeneration, embryonic development and innate immunity. The Wnt gene family has an early origin and is present in all deuterostomes. In the process of evolution, the phenomenon of gene expansion, contraction and adaptive evolution occurs in the Wnt gene family. In the current study, eleven Wnt genes (NdWnt1-2, NdWnt4-7, NdWnt9-11, NdWnt16, and NdWntA) belonging to different subfamilies were obtained based on the genomic and transcriptomic data of Neocaridina denticulata sinensis. Then the expression patterns of all NdWnts were analyzed in various tissues, at different developmental stages and under different stresses. The expression profiles of NdWnts at different developmental stages showed that most NdWnt genes were initially expressed at gastrula stage, and the expression of NdWnt5 and NdWnt16 throughout all developmental stages. The spatial expression of NdWnt genes presented tissue specificity. They were mainly expressed in four tissues, namely gill, intestines, ovary and eyestalk. After Vibrio parahemolyticus infection and under copper exposure, the expression levels of five NdWnts (NdWnt1, NdWnt5, NdWnt10, NdWnt16 and NdWntA) were variable. Our findings enrich the research on the Wnt gene family of N. denticulata sinensis and provide valuable insights into relationship between structure and function of Wnt genes in crustaceans.