Whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing revealed the roles of chitin-related genes in the eyestalk abnormality of a novel mud crab hybrid (Scylla serrata ♀ × S. paramamosain ♂)

Mar 30, 2022International journal of biological macromolecules

RNA sequencing shows how chitin-related genes are involved in eyestalk defects of a new mud crab hybrid

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Abstract

A total of 695 mRNAs, 10 miRNAs, 44 circRNAs, and 1957 lncRNAs were differentially expressed between normal and abnormal hybrids.

Morphological abnormalities were observed in some hybrid mud crabs produced from the interspecific hybridization of Scylla serrata and S. paramamosain.
Whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing was conducted to investigate the genetic basis for eyestalk abnormalities in these hybrids.
Differentially expressed genes related to chitin and cuticle metabolism include key enzymes such as chitin synthase and chitinase.
Functional analysis indicated that differentially expressed RNA types were enriched in pathways linked to amino acid, carbohydrate, and glycogen metabolism.
Changes in the biosynthesis of chitin and cuticle may be associated with the observed eyestalk abnormalities in hybrid crabs.

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Chitin is a kind of insoluble structural polysaccharide and plays different roles in different species. In crustaceans, it forms the structural components in the exoskeleton. In our previous studies, novel mud crab hybrids have been produced from the interspecific hybridization of Scylla serrata ♀ × S. paramamosain ♂. Some of the hybrid crabs have been found to be morphologically (eyestalk) abnormal, but the genetic mechanism remains unknown. To address this question, we performed whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing on the control group (normal hybrids), abnormal hybrids, and S. paramamosain to uncover the genetic basis underlying this morphological abnormality. A total of 695 mRNAs, 10 miRNAs, 44 circRNAs, and 1957 lncRNAs were differentially expressed between normal and abnormal hybrids. Several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with chitin and cuticle metabolism were identified, including chitin synthase, chitinase, chitin deacetylase, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, β-1,4-endoglucanase, N-alpha-acetyltransferase, cuticle proprotein, early cuticle protein, and arthrodial cuticle protein. Functional analysis showed that DE miRNAs, DE circRNAs, DE lncRNAs, and lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network were enriched in pathways related to the amino acid, carbohydrate, and glycogen metabolism. Considering the importance of the chitin and cuticle in exoskeleton formation, it can be concluded that the changes in the chitin and cuticle biosynthesis might have caused the eyestalk abnormality in hybrid crabs. These findings can lay the solid foundation for a better understanding of the important roles of chitin and cuticle related genes and the development of hybridization techniques in crustaceans.

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Whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing revealed the roles of chitin-related genes in the eyestalk abnormality of a novel mud crab hybrid (Scylla serrata ♀ × S. paramamosain ♂)

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