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Evolution of chitin-synthase in molluscs and their response to ocean acidification.
Peng, Maoxiao; Cardoso, João C R; Power, Deborah M.
Affiliation
  • Peng M; Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
  • Cardoso JCR; Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
  • Power DM; Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: dpower@ualg.pt.
Mol Phylogenet Evol ; 201: 108192, 2024 Sep 08.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39255869
ABSTRACT
Chitin-synthase (CHS) is found in most eukaryotes and has a complex evolutionary history. Research into CHS has mainly been in the context of biomineralization of mollusc shells an area of high interest due to the consequences of ocean acidification. Exploration of CHS at the genomic level in molluscs, the evolution of isoforms, their tissue distribution, and response to environmental challenges are largely unknown. Exploiting the extensive molecular resources for mollusc species it is revealed that bivalves possess the largest number of CHS genes (12-22) reported to date in eukaryotes. The evolutionary tree constructed at the class level of molluscs indicates four CHS Type II isoforms (A-D) probably existed in the most recent common ancestor, and Type II-A (Type II-A-1/Type II-A-2) and Type II-C (Type II-C-1/Type II-C-2) underwent further differentiation. Non-specific loss of CHS isoforms occurred at the class level, and in some Type II (B-D groups) isoforms the myosin head domain, which is associated with shell formation, was not preserved and highly species-specific tissue expression of CHS isoforms occurred. These observations strongly support the idea of CHS functional diversification with shell biomineralization being one of several important functions. Analysis of transcriptome data uncovered the species-specific potential of CHS isoforms in shell formation and a species-specific response to ocean acidification (OA). The impact of OA was not CHS isoform-dependent although in Mytilus, Type I-B and Type II-D gene expression was down-regulated in both M. galloprovincialis and M. coruscus. In summary, during CHS evolution the gene family expanded in bivalves generating a large diversity of isoforms with different structures and with a ubiquitous tissue distribution suggesting that chitin is involved in many biological functions. These findings provide insight into CHS evolution in molluscs and lay the foundation for research into their function and response to environmental changes.
Key words

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Language: En Journal: Mol Phylogenet Evol Year: 2024 Document type: Article

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Language: En Journal: Mol Phylogenet Evol Year: 2024 Document type: Article