Temporal Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Dynamic Changes in Gene Expression of Giant Freshwater Prawn upon Acute Saline-Alkaline Stresses

Zheyan Chen; Shouhao Zhu; Bingbing Feng; Min Zhang; Jinhua Gong; Huangen Chen; Brian Pelekelo Munganga; Xianji Tao; Jianbin Feng

doi:10.1007/s10126-024-10314-y

Temporal Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Dynamic Changes in Gene Expression of Giant Freshwater Prawn upon Acute Saline-Alkaline Stresses

Mar Biotechnol (NY). 2024 May 15. doi: 10.1007/s10126-024-10314-y. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Zheyan Chen^#^{1

2}, Shouhao Zhu^#^{1

2}, Bingbing Feng³, Min Zhang³, Jinhua Gong⁴, Huangen Chen³, Brian Pelekelo Munganga^{1

2}, Xianji Tao^{5

6}, Jianbin Feng^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
² National Demonstration Centre for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
³ Jiangsu Fishery Technology Promotion Centre, Nanjing, 210036, China.
⁴ Jiangsu Dinghe Aquatic Technology Development Co, Ltd, Taizhou, 225311, Jiangsu, China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China. xjtao@shou.edu.cn.
⁶ National Demonstration Centre for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China. xjtao@shou.edu.cn.
⁷ Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China. jbfeng@shou.edu.cn.
⁸ National Demonstration Centre for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China. jbfeng@shou.edu.cn.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 38748059
DOI: 10.1007/s10126-024-10314-y

Abstract

Bicarbonate and sulfate are among two primary ion constituents of saline-alkaline water, with excessive levels potentially causing metabolic disorders in crustaceans, affecting their molting and interrupting development. As an economically important crustacean species, the molecular adaptive mechanism of giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in response to the stress of bicarbonate and sulfate remains unexplored. To investigate the mechanism underlying NaHCO₃, Na₂SO₄, and mixed NaHCO₃, Na₂SO₄ stresses, M. rosenbergii larvae were exposed to the above three stress conditions, followed by total RNA extraction and high-throughput sequencing at eight distinct time points (0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h). Subsequent analysis revealed 13, 16, and 13 consistently identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across eight time points under three stress conditions. These consistently identified DEGs were significantly involved in the Gene Ontology (GO) terms of chitin-based cuticle development, protein-carbohydrate complex, structural constituent of cuticle, carnitine biosynthetic process, extracellular matrix, and polysaccharide catabolic process, indicating that alkaline stresses might potentially impact the energy metabolism, growth, and molting of M. rosenbergii larvae. Particularly, the transcriptome data revealed that DEGs associated with energy metabolism, immunity, and amino acid metabolism were enriched across multiple time points under three stress conditions. These DEGs are linked to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, including glycolysis/glucogenesis, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and lysine degradation. Consistent enrichment findings across the three stress conditions support conclusions above. Together, these insights are instrumental in enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the alkaline response in M. rosenbergii larvae. Additionally, they offer valuable perspectives on the regulatory mechanisms of freshwater crustaceans amid saline-alkaline water development.

Keywords: Macrobrachium rosenbergii; Energy metabolism; RNA-seq; Sodium bicarbonate; Sodium sulfate.

Abstract

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