Deciphering the molecular adaptation of the king scallop (Pecten maximus) to heat stress using transcriptomics and proteomics

Background The capacity of marine species to survive chronic heat stress underpins their ability to survive warming oceans as a result of climate change. In this study RNA-Seq and 2-DE proteomics were employed to decipher the molecular response of the sub-tidal bivalve Pecten maximus, to elevated temperatures. Results Individuals were maintained at three different temperatures (15, 21 and 25 °C) for 56 days, representing control conditions, maximum environmental temperature and extreme warming, with individuals sampled at seven time points. The scallops thrived at 21 °C, but suffered a reduction in condition at 25 °C. RNA-Seq analyses produced 26,064 assembled contigs, of which 531 were differentially expressed, with putative annotation assigned to 177 transcripts. The proteomic approach identified 24 differentially expressed proteins, with nine identified by mass spectrometry. Network analysis of these results indicated a pivotal role for GAPDH and AP-1 signalling pathways. Data also suggested a remodelling of the cell structure, as revealed by the differential expression of genes involved in the cytoskeleton and cell membrane and a reduction in DNA repair. They also indicated the diversion of energetic metabolism towards the mobilization of lipid energy reserves to fuel the increased metabolic rate at the higher temperature. Conclusions This work provides preliminary insights into the response of P. maximus to chronic heat stress and provides a basis for future studies examining the tipping points and energetic trade-offs of scallop culture in warming oceans

Approche intégrative de la réponse d'un organisme marin face au changement climatique : la coquille Saint-Jacques Pecten maximus et les stress thermique et hypoxique

Coasts are among the most vulnerable ecosystems to the ongoing global changes, which result in increased water temperatures and frequencies of hypoxic episodes. The great scallop, Pecten maximus, is a subtidal species living at depths of 2-210 m. In spite of its commercial and major ecological values, only few studies at the molecular level were performed on this species. This thesis aimed at characterizing the molecular mechanisms implied in acclimation of this species to thermal and hypoxia stresses. We first characterized the changes of expression of the genes / proteins in response to a long-term thermal stress (56 days), by using both a transcriptomic- (RNAseq) and a proteomic- (2-DE based) approaches, in the mantle tissue of scallops. This allowed us to identify key regulatory pathways (eg., AP-1), the major functions (eg., cytoskeleton) and processes (eg., apoptosis) involved in the response, but also to observe the main orientations of metabolism (eg., degradation of lipid reserves). The response of organisms to hypoxia depends on how they cope with low oxygen availability. Therefore, we first carried out a comparative approach with an intertidal species, the mussel (Mytilus spp.) to characterize the physiological response of P. maximus to hypoxia. Of note, we could determine its oxyregulatory parameters, particularly its critical point in 02 (Pc02). Then, coupling the effects of temperature and of hypoxia, we developed a proteomic approach that allowed us to identify several proteins (CK2, GLN, etc.) potentially involved in the response at the molecular level. Finally, in an effort to better understand the particular physiology of these mollusks in their natural environment, we compared the proteomic signatures of two populations of P. maximus living in highly contrasted ecosystems, ie in the northern limit- (Norway) and the center- (Brest) of the biogeographical distribution of this species. The results suggest major differences between the two populations, especially at the cytoskeleton level. In all, this work opens new avenues for understanding the molecular mechanisms governing the adaptation of mollusks to heat and hypoxia, two stresses that will most probably greatly influence the lifestyle of marine organisms and populations in future years.Les écosystèmes côtiers sont parmi les plus vulnérables aux changements globaux actuels, qui entraînent notamment une augmentation de la température de l'eau, ainsi que de la fréquence des épisodes hypoxiques. La coquille Saint-Jacques, Pecten maximus, est une espèce subtidale évoluant à des profondeurs de 2 à 210 m. Malgré son intérêt commercial et un intérêt écologique majeur, cette espèce n'a fait l'objet que de peu d'études au niveau moléculaire. L'objectif de cette thèse était de caractériser les mécanismes moléculaires régissant l'acclimatation de cette espèce aux contraintes thermique et hypoxique. Nous avons dans un premier temps caractérisé les modifications d'expression des gènes/protéines, par des approches transcriptomiques (RNAseq) et protéomiques (2-DE), dans un tissu, le manteau, d'animaux exposés à une contrainte thermique prolongée (56 jours). Nous avons ainsi pu identifier les voies majeures de régulation (eg., AP-1), les grandes fonctions (eg., cytosquelette) et processus (eg., apoptose) impliqués dans la réponse, mais également d'observer les grandes orientations du métabolisme (eg., dégradation des lipides de réserve). La réponse des organismes à l'hypoxie dépend de leur manière de gérer les faibles teneurs en oxygène. Nous avons d'abord, par une approche comparative avec une espèce intertidale, la moule (Mytilus spp.), caractérisée la réponse physiologique de la coquille Saint-Jacques à l'hypoxie. Nous avons pu ainsi déterminer ses paramètres d'oxyregulation, plus particulièrement son Point critique en 02 (Pc02). Le développement d'une approche protéomique, couplant l'effet de la température et de l'hypoxie, nous a ensuite permis d'identifier plusieurs protéines (CK2, GLN, etc.) potentiellement impliquées dans la réponse au niveau moléculaire. Enfin, dans l'optique de mieux comprendre la physiologie particulière de ces mollusques dans leur environnement naturel, nous avons comparé les signatures protéomiques de deux populations de P. maximus évoluant dans des écosystèmes contrastés, i.e. en limite nord- (Norvège) et au centre- (Brest) de l'aire de répartition de l'espèce. Les résultats suggèrent des différences majeures entre les deux populations au niveau du cytosquelette. En conclusion, ce travail ouvre des perspectives nouvelles pour la compréhension des mécanismes moléculaires régissant l'adaptation des mollusques aux contraintes thermiques et hypoxiques, deux stress particulièrement importants pour les organismes marins dans le contexte du changement global

Pecten maximus EST database

<p>The EST database was constructed by combining P. maximus sequences from Illumina RNAseq sequenced from mantle tissues (Artigaud et al., 2014), and from hemocyte cells (Pauletto et al., 2014). Overall, the database included a total of 252 888 P. maximus EST.</p

2-DE Gels of Pecten maximus gills at three different temperatures and two O2 levels (normoxia or hypoxia)

<p>IPG strips (pH 4–7, 13 cm; GE Healthcare) were passively rehydrated with 250 µl of protein solution in wells for 14 h. Isoelectric focusing was conducted using the following protocol: 250 V for 15 min, 500 V for 2 h, gradient voltage increased to 1 000 V for 1 h, gradient voltage increased to 8 000 V for 2,5 h, 8 000 V for 3 h, and finally reduced to 500 V (Ettan IPGphor3, GE Healthcare). To prepare for the second-dimension SDS-PAGE, strips were incubated in equilibration buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.8, 6 M urea, 30% glycerol, 2% SDS and 0.002% Bromophenol Blue) for two 15 min periods, first with 1 g.l-1 dithiothreitol and then with 48 g.l-1 iodoacetamide. IPG strips were placed on top of 12% polyacrylamide gels, which were run in thermo-regulated electrophorese unit at 10°C (SE 600 Ruby, Amersham Biosciences) at 10 mA per gel for 1 h and then 30 mA per gel until complete migration. Gels were subsequently stained with “Blue Silver” (Candiano et al., 2004) and destained with Milli-Q water for 48 h. The resulting gels were scanned with a transparency scanner (Epson Perfection V700) in gray scale with 16-bit depth and a resolution of 400 dpi.</p

Respiratory response to combined heat and hypoxia in the marine bivalves Pecten maximus and Mytilus spp.

International audienceCoastal ecosystems are increasingly disturbed by the increase of mean sea surface temperature and expansion of hypoxic areas. The objectives of the present work were to describe and compare the respiratory responses to combined heat and hypoxia in two bivalve species (Pecten maximus and Mytilus spp.) living in two contrasted coastal habitats (subtidal and intertidal, respectively). Results were consistent with the vertical zonation of both species. Mytilus spp. seemed to cope better with a temperature increase than P. maximus, which was found to be outside of its optimal thermal window at 25°C. Concerning respiratory responses to hypoxia at a given temperature, P. maximus displayed greater oxyregulation capacity that was maintained over a larger range of O2 levels, as compared to Mytilus spp. When acclimation temperatures increased, both species showed a decrease in their oxyregulation capacities alongside a reduction in aerobic performance, especially in P. maximus. The comparison between species suggests that subtidal species, such as P. maximus, might be more vulnerable to a combination of heat and hypoxia than intertidal species, such as Mytilus spp. Lastly, this study highlighted the utility of segmented linear models to estimate PcO2 and regulation percentages in marine organisms exposed to hypoxi

In Silico Analysis of Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) Transcriptome over Developmental Stages Reveals Candidate Genes for Larval Settlement

WOS:000459747700197International audienceFollowing their planktonic phase, the larvae of benthic marine organisms must locate a suitable habitat to settle and metamorphose. For oysters, larval adhesion occurs at the pediveliger stage with the secretion of a proteinaceous bioadhesive produced by the foot, a specialized and ephemeral organ. Oyster bioadhesive is highly resistant to proteomic extraction and is only produced in very low quantities, which explains why it has been very little examined in larvae to date. In silico analysis of nucleic acid databases could help to identify genes of interest implicated in settlement. In this work, the publicly available transcriptome of Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas over its developmental stages was mined to select genes highly expressed at the pediveliger stage. Our analysis revealed 59 sequences potentially implicated in adhesion of C. gigas larvae. Some related proteins contain conserved domains already described in other bioadhesives. We propose a hypothetic composition of C. gigas bioadhesive in which the protein constituent is probably composed of collagen and the von Willebrand Factor domain could play a role in adhesive cohesion. Genes coding for enzymes implicated in DOPA chemistry were also detected, indicating that this modification is also potentially present in the adhesive of pediveliger larvae

Genomic factors underlying resistance to Brown Ring Disease in the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum

International audienc