Sex-specific transcript expression in the hepatopancreas of the banana shrimp (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis)

Abstract

The banana shrimp, Fenneropenaeus merguiensis, is a commercially important species of marine crustacean that, like other penaeids, exhibit a female-superior sexual dimorphism with respect to growth rate, making this species an attractive candidate for all-female (monosex) culture. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underpinning this characteristic, an analysis of gene expression was performed to compare digestive gland tissue from 14 male and 14 female banana shrimp (n = 28) larger than 10 g body weight. Female banana shrimp samples were found to have an increased expression of transcripts coding for chitin catabolism and binding. A novel transcript was also identified that displayed a distinct female-specific expression. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) from female samples revealed that this novel transcript was highly connected within a gene module containing an abundance of transcripts with homology to transcription factors and genes associated with growth regulation.