Meeting Abstract

LBS4.6  Sunday, Jan. 6  Global transcriptional profiles are molt-stage dependent in the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister PHILLIPS, M.R.*; TERWILLIGER, N.B.; JOHNSON, E.A.; Inst. Mol. Bio., Univ. Oregon, Eugene; Inst. Marine Bio., Univ. Oregon, Charleston; Inst. Mol. Bio., Univ. Oregon, Eugene mphilli4@uoregon.edu

We have been using a functional genomics approach to investigate the molecular mechanisms that underlie the physiology of molting and environmental stress responses in the decapod crustacean, Cancer magister. The complex physiological transformations that occur throughout the crustacean molt cycle require precise temporal and spatial regulation. We used cDNA microarray analysis to examine gene expression profiles that vary as a function of the molt cycle from late pre-molt megalopa to 2nd instar juvenile. We observed distinct periods of coordinated expression in large suites of genes across the molt cycle that had not been recognized previously. We also identified 18 unique genes encoding cuticle proteins with differential expression during molting in C. magister. These genes are thought to be both structural and regulatory elements of the crustacean exoskeleton, and our expression data indicate that some cuticle proteins may play different roles during the molt cycle of C. magister than in other crab species. Additionally, our data support previous work on the hemolymph proteins hemocyanin and cryptocyanin indicating that these genes are independently regulated during molting. Further, our data also support a role for cryptocyanin in generation of the new exoskeleton in C. magister. Our results provide a broad overview of the complex transcriptional patterns that take place during the dynamic process of molting. This information is crucial for understanding and interpreting gene expression data in crustaceans and provides a foundation for future studies into other physiological responses.