Abstract
BackgroundCopepods are fundamental components of pelagic food webs, but reports on how molecular responses link to reproductive success in natural populations are still scarce. We present a de novo transcriptome assembly and differential expression (DE) analysis in Temora stylifera females collected in the Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean Sea, where this copepod dominates the zooplankton community. High-Throughput RNA-Sequencing and DE analysis were performed from adult females collected on consecutive weeks (May 23rd and 30th 2017), because opposite naupliar survival rates were observed. We aimed at detecting key genes that may have influenced copepod reproductive potential in natural populations and whose expression was potentially affected by phytoplankton-derived oxylipins, lipoxygenase-derived products strongly impacting copepod naupliar survival.ResultsOn the two sampling dates, temperature, salinity, pH and oxygen remained stable, while variations in phytoplankton cell concentration, oxylipin concentration and oxylipin-per-diatom-cell production were observed. T. stylifera naupliar survival was 25% on May 23rd and 93% on May 30th. De novo assembly generated 268,665 transcripts (isoforms) and 120,749 unique ‘Trinity predicted genes’ (unigenes), of which 50% were functionally annotated. Out of the 331 transcript isoforms differentially expressed between the two sampling dates, 119 sequences were functionally annotated (58 up- and 61 down-regulated). Among predicted genes (unigenes), 144 sequences were differentially expressed and 31 (6 up-regulated and 25 down-regulated) were functionally annotated. Most of the significantly down-regulated unigenes and isoforms were A5 Putative Odorant Binding Protein (Obp). Other differentially expressed sequences (isoforms and unigenes) related to developmental metabolic processes, protein ubiquitination, response to stress, oxidation-reduction reactions and hydrolase activities. DE analysis was validated through Real Time-quantitative PCR of 9 unigenes and 3 isoforms.ConclusionsDifferential expression of sequences involved in signal detection and transduction, cell differentiation and development offered a functional interpretation to the maternally-mediated low naupliar survival rates observed in samples collected on May 23rd. Down-regulation of A5 Obp along with higher quantities of oxylipins-per-litre and oxylipins-per-diatom-cell observed on May 23rd could suggest oxylipin-mediated impairment of naupliar survival in natural populations of T. stylifera. Our results may help identify biomarker genes explaining variations in copepod reproductive responses at a molecular level.
Highlights
Copepods are fundamental components of pelagic food webs, but reports on how molecular responses link to reproductive success in natural populations are still scarce
Differential expression of sequences involved in signal detection and transduction, cell differentiation and development offered a functional interpretation to the maternally-mediated low naupliar survival rates observed in samples collected on May 23rd
Down-regulation of A5 Odorant Binding Protein (Obp) along with higher quantities of oxylipinsper-litre and oxylipins-per-diatom-cell observed on May 23rd could suggest oxylipin-mediated impairment of naupliar survival in natural populations of T. stylifera
Summary
Copepods are fundamental components of pelagic food webs, but reports on how molecular responses link to reproductive success in natural populations are still scarce. We aimed at detecting key genes that may have influenced copepod reproductive potential in natural populations and whose expression was potentially affected by phytoplankton-derived oxylipins, lipoxygenase-derived products strongly impacting copepod naupliar survival. Marine and freshwater copepods represent one of the most morphologically and functionally diverse groups [1], playing a central role in food web dynamics and biogeochemical cycles [2]. In this perspective, assessment of biotic and abiotic factors influencing copepod populations can be of primary importance to understand marine pelagic food web functioning. The de novo assembled transcriptome of copepod females feeding on oxylipinproducing diatoms has been generated [33]
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