Abstract
Porphyrins are a widespread group of pigments in nature which are believed to contribute to shell colors in mollusks. Previous studies have provided candidate genes for porphyrin shell coloration, however, the linkage analysis between functional genes and porphyrin pigmentation remains unclear in mollusks. RNA interference is a powerful molecular tool for analyzing the loss of functions of genes in vivo and alter gene expression. In this study, we used unicellular alga Platymonas subcordiformis and Nitzschia closterium f. minutissima as vectors to feed oysters with Escherichia coli strain HT115 engineered to express double-stranded RNAs targeting specific genes involved in porphyrin synthesis. A strain of Crassostrea gigas with orange shell was used to target key haem pathway genes expression using the aforementioned approach. We show here that feeding the oysters with E. coli, containing dsRNA targeting pigmentation genes, can cause changes in the color of the newly deposited shell. For example, the RNAi knockdown of CgALAS and CgPBGD resulted in the loss of uroporphyrin pigmentation from the shell due to the accumulation of the pigment in the oyster’s mantle. The study probed the crucial role of ALAS and PBGD genes potential functions of uroporphyrin production and shell color pigmentation in C. gigas.
Highlights
IntroductionThe diversity of mollusks shell colors has been well reported [1,2,3,4]
Porphyrins are a widespread group of pigments in nature which are believed to contribute to shell colors in mollusks [14], often leading to red, brown or purple shell pigmentation [3]
RNA interference (RNAi) method used in this study revealed the function of genes reThe bacteria-feeding RNAi method used in this study revealed the function of genes related lated to uroporphyrin pigmentation in C
Summary
The diversity of mollusks shell colors has been well reported [1,2,3,4]. Pigments deposited by mantle determined the shell color [5]. The outer fold of the mantle contributes to shell formation [6]. The dorsal mantle epithelium secretes the mollusk’s shell and controls pigmentation [7,8]. The formation of shell color has been studied in mollusks such as marine snails, Pacific oyster, pearl mussel and black-lipped pearl oyster [9,10,11,12]. Several lncRNA and mRNA transcripts associated with shell pigmentation have been identified which influence pigment biosynthesis including melanin, carotenoid and tetrapyrrole [13]
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