Zhu Qi, Wei Maolei, Chen Xinxin, Wu Xugan, Chen Xiaowu
Centre for Research on Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
Centre for Research on Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Certified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2025 Jul;305:111851. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111851. Epub 2025 Mar 29.
The carapace color of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) significantly influences consumer preference and market value, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, transcriptome sequencing coupled with weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to elucidate genetic and metabolic pathways involved in three genetically distinct carapace color phenotypes (red, white, and green). Hepatopancreatic transcriptome analyses across these color variants identified 910, 1555, and 1598 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in pairwise comparisons. Functional enrichment analyses revealed significant activation of oxidoreductase activity, retinol metabolism, and mitochondrial energy metabolism pathways in crabs with red carapaces. Notably, key pigmentation-associated genes, including ninaB (carotenoid isomerase) and sno1 (flavin monooxygenase), were markedly upregulated. Additionally, WGCNA identified a highly correlated (r = 0.97) red-specific gene module enriched predominantly with oxidative phosphorylation-related genes, such as atpsycf6 and ndufb4, emphasizing the energetic investment associated with pigment biosynthesis. Furthermore, retinol metabolism emerged as a pivotal pathway connecting carotenoid processes with immune and antioxidant functions, implying potential physiological trade-offs between pigmentation and stress resilience. Overall, this study advances our understanding of crustacean carapace coloration mechanisms and provides valuable genetic targets for selective breeding aimed at enhancing desirable color traits in E. sinensis.
中华绒螯蟹（Eriocheir sinensis）的甲壳颜色显著影响消费者偏好和市场价值，但其潜在的分子机制仍知之甚少。在本研究中，采用转录组测序结合加权基因共表达网络分析（WGCNA）来阐明三种遗传上不同的甲壳颜色表型（红色、白色和绿色）所涉及的遗传和代谢途径。对这些颜色变体进行的肝胰腺转录组分析在成对比较中分别鉴定出910、1555和1598个差异表达基因（DEG）。功能富集分析显示，红色甲壳螃蟹的氧化还原酶活性、视黄醇代谢和线粒体能量代谢途径显著激活。值得注意的是，包括ninaB（类胡萝卜素异构酶）和sno1（黄素单加氧酶）在内的关键色素沉着相关基因明显上调。此外，WGCNA鉴定出一个高度相关（r = 0.97）的红色特异性基因模块，主要富集了与氧化磷酸化相关的基因，如atpsycf6和ndufb4，强调了与色素生物合成相关的能量投入。此外，视黄醇代谢成为连接类胡萝卜素过程与免疫和抗氧化功能的关键途径，这意味着色素沉着和应激恢复能力之间可能存在生理权衡。总体而言，本研究推进了我们对甲壳类动物甲壳着色机制的理解，并为旨在增强中华绒螯蟹理想颜色性状的选择性育种提供了有价值的遗传靶点。
