Logo image
Back
Assembly of Crustacean Armour: Genes Involved in Crustacean Exoskeleton Synthesis and Hardening
Abstract

Assembly of Crustacean Armour: Genes Involved in Crustacean Exoskeleton Synthesis and Hardening

Anna V Kuballa and Abigail Elizur
International Symposium on Biomineralization (Biomin): Building Bridges, 11th (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 10-Jul-2011–14-Jul-2011)
2011
url
http://www.usc.edu.au/View
Webpage

Abstract

Microbiology crustacean exoskeleton
Crustaceans represent an attractive model to study biomineralization and cuticle matrix formation, as these events are precisely timed to occur at certain stages of the moult cycle. Moulting, the process by which crustaceans shed their exoskeleton, involves the partial breakdown of the old exoskeleton and the synthesis of a new cuticle. This cuticle is subdivided into layers, some of which become calcified while others remain uncalcified. A holistic approach to examine differential gene expression profiles across all moult cycle stages was used in this study. Custom cDNA microarrays were developed for P. pelagicus to generate expression profiles of genes involved in exoskeletal formation across the moult cycle. The chips contained 5000 transcripts derived from both the whole organism, and from individual tissues such as the brain, eyestalk, mandibular organ and Y-organ from all moult cycle stages. Moult cycle-related differential expression profiles were observed for many transcripts. Of particular interest were those relating to the formation and hardening of the exoskeleton which were shown to be up-regulated at key stages of moulting. Transcripts involved in cuticle formation, such as crustacean cuticular proteins containing domains involved in calcium and chitin binding, that are associated with both the calcified and un-calcified regions of the exoskeleton, were found to be up-regulated in times of new cuticle synthesis. Exoskeletal hardening in crustaceans occurs through the mineralisation and sclerotization of the organic matrix. Glycosylation levels of proteins in an organic matrix have been attributed to the regulation of calcification. Two genes potentially involved in the recognition of glycosylation, the C-type lectin receptor and the mannose-binding protein, were found to display moult cycle-related differential expression profiles. C-type lectin receptor up-regulation was found to coincide with periods associated with new uncalcified cuticle formation, while the up-regulation of mannose-binding protein occurred only in the postmoult stage, during which calcification takes place, implicating both in the regulation of calcification.

Details

Metrics

2 File views/ downloads
634 Record Views
Logo image