Comparative proteomics elucidates the potential mechanism of heritable carapace color of three strains Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis

Dongdong Zhang; Yufei Liu; Xiaodong Jiang; Hewei Jiang; Xiaowu Chen; Xugan Wu

doi:10.1016/j.cbd.2023.101119

Comparative proteomics elucidates the potential mechanism of heritable carapace color of three strains Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis

Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics. 2023 Dec:48:101119. doi: 10.1016/j.cbd.2023.101119. Epub 2023 Aug 11.

Authors

Dongdong Zhang¹, Yufei Liu¹, Xiaodong Jiang¹, Hewei Jiang¹, Xiaowu Chen², Xugan Wu³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
² Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Centre for Research on Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China. Electronic address: xwchen@shou.edu.cn.
³ Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Centre for Research on Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China. Electronic address: xgwu@shou.edu.cn.

PMID: 37625236
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2023.101119

Abstract

The carapace coloration is important for the environmental adaptation and reproductive behaviors of crustaceans. We selected red, green and white three carapace color strains of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) strains. These three carapace colors have stable heritability, but the mechanism for their coloration remains unclear.Through histological observations, we have found significant differences in the composition of pigment cells and pigments within the inner membrane of the three color strains, which may be one of the reasons for the color variation. The levels of various carotenoids in both the shell and inner membrane tissues of red and green strains were significantly higher than those of the white strain, while there was no significant difference between the red and green strains. Proteomics studies have identified 2, 034 and 947 different proteins in the shell and inner membrane, respectively. In the shell, there were 18, 13 and 43 differential proteins between red and white strains, green and white strains and green and red strains, respectively. In the inner membrane, there were 44, 24 and 16 differential proteins between red and white strains, green and white strains and green and red strains, respectively. It is clear that the deposited quantity of carotenoids affects the shell formation of three color strains. Some members of the hemocyanin family showed significant variation among different strains. The study yielded two crustacyanin proteins, which were extracted from both the shell and membrane. Of the two proteins, only Crustacyanin-A1 expression showed a difference between the red and green shells strains. In conclusion, these results indicated that the carapace color formation of E. sinensis may be accomplished through pigment binding proteins (PBPs) and pigment cells, which enhance the understanding of color formation mechanism for crustacean.

Keywords: Different color strains; Eriocheir sinensis; Inner membrane; Pigment-binding proteins; Proteomics.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animal Shells*
Animals
Brachyura* / genetics
Carotenoids
Proteomics

Substances

Carotenoids