Pearl Sac Gene Expression Profiles Associated With Pearl Attributes in the Silver-Lip Pearl Oyster, Pinctada maxima

Abstract

Pearls are highly prized biomineralized gemstones produced by molluscs. The appearance and mineralogy of cultured pearls can vary markedly, greatly affecting their commercial value. To begin to understand the role of pearl sacs—organs that form in host oysters from explanted mantle tissues that surround and synthesize pearls—we undertook transcriptomic analyses to identify genes that are differentially expressed in sacs producing pearls with different surface and structural characteristics. Our results indicate that gene expression profiles correlate with different pearl defects, suggesting that gene regulation in the pearl sac contributes to pearl appearance and quality. For instance, pearl sacs that produced pearls with surface non-lustrous calcification significantly down-regulate genes associated with cilia and microtubule function compared to pearl sacs giving rise to lustrous pearls. These results suggest that gene expression profiling can advance our understanding of processes that control biomineralization, which may be of direct value to the pearl industry, particularly in relation to defects that result in low value pearls.

Immune and antioxidant responses of pearl oysterPinctada maximaexposed to acute salinity stress

“…In recent years, related research on P . maxima have focused on larval breeding (Ompi et al, 2018; Wang et al, 2017; Wullur et al, 2020), growth performance (Hao et al, 2019; Wang et al, 2019), pearl cultivation (McDougall et al, 2016, 2021; Wei et al, 2017), shell materials (Alakpa et al, 2018; Anggraini et al, 2019), disease (Goncalves et al, 2017) and genetic diversity (Lind et al, 2009; Nayfa & Zenger, 2016). Previous studies on the effects of salinity on P .…”

Transcriptomic stability or lability explains sensitivity to climate stressors in coralline algae

“…RNA was then used for preparation of cDNA libraries for sequencing and analyses. cDNA synthesis, library preparation, and sequencing followed the single-cell sequencing (CEL-Seq2) protocol detailed in Hashimonshony et al 2016 [40] and McDougall et al 2021 [41], which generates high sensitivity transcriptomes from low yield samples and utilised sample barcoding, 3' end-tagging, and the inclusion of unique molecular identifiers. 25 ng of CCA RNA (n = 39) and 0.5 µl of ERCC spike-in (1:10,000 dilution) were added to an initial RNA/primer/ ERCC/dNTP mix for each sample.…”

Proteomic changes associated with predator‐induced morphological defences in oysters

“…Originally identified in mammals (Apostolopoulos et al, 2001), this calcium-binding protein is hypothesized to play a direct role in the organization of the shell matrix in molluscs (Ganss & Hoffmann, 2009;Marie et al, 2010;Miyamoto et al, 2013). Lamin Dm0 was also upregulated by both oyster populations and expression of this protein is associated with variation in deposition of calcium carbonate in the silver lip oyster (Pinctada maxima; McDougall et al, 2021).…”