Evolutionary relationship of three mitten crabs(Eriocheir sp)revealed by mitogenome and 5S ribosomal DNA analysis

To reveal the evolutionary relationship of three mitten crabs(Eriocheir sinensis,E.hepuensis,and E.japonica),complete mitogenomes and nuclear 5S rDNA sequences were analyzed.Sequencing revealed that the mitogenomes analyzed shared conserved organization of the coding and non-coding regions but genetic variation was identified.Among the three mitten crabs distinct tandem repeats were identified in the mitochondrial D-loop region.The 5S gene(5S rDNA)sequence was highly conserved across the three species,whereas non-transcribed spacer(NTS)region exhibit high levels of variation including insertions,deletions and point mutations.Cluster analysis suggested that the three mitten crabs had their own independent 5S rDNA sequence variation and evolutionary pattern.Both mitogenome and 5S rDNA sequence analysis revealed significant genetic variation across the mitten crabs species.Phylogenetic analysis using mitogenome and 5S rDNA sequences demonstrated that E.japonica was relatively more distant from E.sinensis and E.hepuensis.This study extended our previous knowledge and confirmed that the three mitten crabs are likely to be genetically differentiated species.In addition,our study also provided insights into the conservation of pure natural resources of E.sinensis,an important aquaculture species.

Global Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles Provides Novel Insights into the Development and Evolution of the Large Crustacean Eriocheir sinensis

Chinese mitten crab(Eriocheir sinensis) is an important aquaculture species in Crustacea.Functional analysis, although essential, has been hindered due to the lack of sufficient genomic or transcriptomic resources. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was conducted on 59 samples representing diverse developmental stages(fertilized eggs, zoea, megalopa, three sub-stages of larvae,juvenile crabs, and adult crabs) and different tissues(eyestalk, hepatopancreas, and muscle from juvenile crabs, and eyestalk, hepatopancreas, muscle, heart, stomach, gill, thoracic ganglia, intestine, ovary, and testis from adult crabs) of E. sinensis. A comprehensive reference transcriptome was assembled, including 19,023 protein-coding genes. Hierarchical clustering based on 128 differentially expressed cuticle-related genes revealed two distinct expression patterns during the early larval developmental stages, demonstrating the distinct roles of these genes in "crab-like" cuticle formation during metamorphosis and cuticle calcification after molting. Phylogenetic analysis of1406 one-to-one orthologous gene families identified from seven arthropod species and Caenorhabditis elegans strongly supported the hypothesis that Malacostraca and Branchiopoda do not form a monophyletic group. Furthermore, Branchiopoda is more phylogenetically closely related to Hexapoda, and the clade of Hexapoda and Branchiopoda and the clade of Malacostraca belong to the Pancrustacea. This study offers a high-quality transcriptome resource for E. sinensis and demonstrates the evolutionary relationships of major arthropod groups. The differentially expressed genes identified in this study facilitate further investigation of the cuticle-related gene expression networks which are likely associated with "crab-like" cuticle formation during metamorphosis and cuticle calcification after molting.