Pinctada martensii is an important shellfish for the production of sea pearls in China.To improve the growth performance of P.martensii,we successfully established three complete diallel crosses using three new variet...Pinctada martensii is an important shellfish for the production of sea pearls in China.To improve the growth performance of P.martensii,we successfully established three complete diallel crosses using three new varieties of P.martensii,which were named Haiyou No.1,Haixuan No.1,and Nanke No.1,to investigate the growth performance of each self-cross line and hybrid line in Beihai,Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,China.Generally,high fertilization and hatching rates were observed in the experiment,suggesting that there was no sperm-egg recognition barrier among these three P.martensii varieties.The survival rate of the self-cross lines was relatively higher than that of hybrid lines,and♀‘Haixuan No.1’×♂‘Haiyou No.1’maintained a high survival rate during the grow-out stage.The shell length and width were affected by the genotypes as well as the interaction between the genotypes and environmental factors on day 400.The variances of the general combining abilities(GCA)and specific combining abilities(SCA)for shell length and width were the result of both additive genetic variance and nonadditive genetic variance.When Haixuan No.1 was the female parent and Nanke No.1 was the male parent,the GCA for shell length and width were both positive on day 400.The heterosis of Haixuan No.1 and Nanke No.1 in terms of shell length and width was positive.From the resulting combining ability and heterosis,♀‘Haixuan No.1’×♂‘Nanke No.1’was considered an ideal hatchery method to improve the growth performance of P.martensii.Our results therefore demonstrated that crossbreeding among these three new varieties can further improve the growth performance of P.martensii.展开更多
In May of 2007,the second generation selected (SS) and control (SC) groups of pearl oyster Pinctada martensii were established by selecting 10% breeders with the largest and mean shell length,respectively,from the...In May of 2007,the second generation selected (SS) and control (SC) groups of pearl oyster Pinctada martensii were established by selecting 10% breeders with the largest and mean shell length,respectively,from the first generation selected group.Growth performance of the SS and SC groups were compared on the basis of measurement data at Days 8,18,60,95,195 and 365.On Day 365,100 individuals (60.0–75.0 mm at shell length) were sampled from each group and then subjected to the experiment where physiological parameters such as filtrate rate,oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion were measured at 15,20,25 and 30°C.The results show that the SS group had significantly larger mean shell length and shell height than the SC group at Days 8,18,60,95,195 and 365 (P 0.05).The genetic gains at different ages varied from 6.0% to 17.0% for shell length and 5.7% to 14.6% for shell height,respectively.At 15,20,25 and 30 ° C,the SS groups had significantly larger filtrate rate than the SC group (P 0.05).At 15 and 25 °C,the differences in oxygen consumption rate between the SS and SC groups were not significant (P 0.05).At 20 and 30 °C,however,the oxygen consumption rate of the SS group was significantly larger than the SC group (P 0.05).At 15,20,25 and 30 °C,there were no significant differences in ammonia excretion rate between the SS and SC groups (P 0.05).The present results indicate that there existed considerable genetic variability in the base population and a further selection could be likely fruitful.Mass selection for faster growth might produce animals that had higher intake of metabolizable energy by virtue of faster filtrating behavior.展开更多
The mechanisms of sex determination and sex differentiation in the pearl oyster P inctada fucata are currently poorly understood. We therefore investigated the roles of orthologs of the D mrt gene family, key players ...The mechanisms of sex determination and sex differentiation in the pearl oyster P inctada fucata are currently poorly understood. We therefore investigated the roles of orthologs of the D mrt gene family, key players in male gonad differentiation in mammals, in P. fucata sex diff erentiation and sexual development. Pf-Dmrt4 exhibits features typical of the D mrt family, and displays significant homologies to the DMRT4 cluster. Pf-Dmrt4 mRNA expression in the gonads during a gametogenic cycle, measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, was maximal in mature individuals. P f-Dmrt4 expression, demonstrated by in situ hybridization, was localized in the spermatozoa, spermatids, oocytes and vitellogenic oocytes. Knockdown of Pf-Dmrt4 with double-stranded RNA resulted in decreased mRNA expression levels. And Pf-Dmrt4-dsRNA-injected groups showed spawning-stage male gonads, with ruptured follicles and released spermatozoa. Our results enhance the understanding of sex determination and differentiation in P. fucata and suggest that Pf-Dmrt4 could be involved in male gonadal development, and maintenance of male gonadal function.展开更多
The epidemiological investigations on the disease and death in mature eggs, embryonic de- velopmental periods and larvae populations [including oocytes, fertilized ovum, early embryonic phase larvae (6 h), D-shaped ph...The epidemiological investigations on the disease and death in mature eggs, embryonic de- velopmental periods and larvae populations [including oocytes, fertilized ovum, early embryonic phase larvae (6 h), D-shaped phase larvae (24 h), early umbo phase larvae, umbo phase larvae, post um- bo phase larvae and eyespot phase larvae] in the Luhuitou Pearl Oyster Mariculture Farm of Sanya City, Hainan Province in April 1995 showed that there were two peaks of mortality rates which occurred in early umbo phase or umbo phase and post umbo phase (Figs 3-5 and Table 1) respectively from pre- embryonic developmental periods to larvae phases. It indicated that the onset and death of Pinctada maxima larvae populations followed a pattem of outbreak. Between the prevalence, intensity of RLO infection and the mortality rates of larvae populations were of obvious positively correlations. Generally, every peak of RLO infection is always follwed by a peak of mortality rate of larvae hosts, and the mor- tality rates of larvae hosts declined with the decreased RLO infection (see Figs 3-5 ). Under the trans- mission electron microscopy (TEM), no rickettsia-like organisms were discovered in oocytes, fertilized ovum and early embryonic phase larvae (6 h). The RLO inclusions occurred first in the D-shaped phase larvae (24 h) under histological examination. Absences of RLO in transmission electron exami- nation of oocytes of RLO-infected adult females, ferilized ovum and early embryonic phase larvae (6 h) indicated that RLO may not be transmitted transovarially. But RLO for host infection may be trans- mitted by contact transmission since RLO inclusions were first identified regularly in D-shaped phase larvae (24 h), while these D-shaped phase larvae were still unable to take food during hatching 24 hours. In addition, the result of epidemiological investigation showed that no odservable death occurred in D-shaped larvae populations, but early obvious death occurred in larvae populations in the seventh day after fertilization, in a rate of about 21. 8%. It indicated that there was a incubation peried from RLO infection for host (D-shaped phase larvae) to host onset and death occurred clinically.展开更多
The death which occurred in juvenile population was a severe problem in the course ofPinctada maxima artificial culture. With the methods of field investigation, histological study and statistic analyses, the epidemio...The death which occurred in juvenile population was a severe problem in the course ofPinctada maxima artificial culture. With the methods of field investigation, histological study and statistic analyses, the epidemiological study was carried out on the disease and death in juvenile populations of Pinctada maxima in the Xinying Pearl Oyster Mariculture Farm of Lingao County (for the A, B and C batches of cultured juveniles hanged in the sea) and the Xincun Pearl Oyster Mariculture Farm of Lingshui County (for the D batch of cultured juvenile hanged in the pond), Hainan Province from November 1993 to April 1995.The results show that the deaths which occurred in juvenile populations of Pinctada maxima presented an outbreak pattern. The peak of mortality rates, in general, occurred in 4-to 6-month old pearl oyster juveniles, and the mortality rates gradully declined with the extention of pearl oyster age after cul-turing 8 months. The correlation between the mortality rates of juvenile populations and mean body lengths of juvenile populations show that the mortality rate become higher under 4 cm of mean body lengths of juvenile population and become obvious declined over 5 cm of mean body lengths. The peak of mortality rate occurred in 1-3 cm of mean body lengths. The results of histological observation showed that rickettsia-like organism inclusions were common, histological widespread infective agent among every batches (A, B, C and D) of cultured juvenile populations. The mean severity indices (SI) of rickettsia-like organism (RLO) infection were positively correlated with mortality rates of juvenile populations. After or within every peaks of RLO infection were all accompanied with the peaks of mortality rates of host populations and the mortality rates declined with decreased RLO infection. So the evidences of histological observation and epidemiology in this study indicated that rickettsia-like organism (RLO) may be as an important pathogenic organism of disease and death of cultured Pinctada maxima. In addition, a few ciliates were discovered only in part of batch A of cultured juvenile population. The mortality rates in juvenile populations were not correlated with the weekly mean temperature and salinity of sea water.展开更多
Aneuploidy embryos of Pinctada martensii Dunker are produced during tetraploid induction by inhibiting the first polar body in eggs from triploid fertilized with haploid sperms with cytochalasin B treatment. Chromosom...Aneuploidy embryos of Pinctada martensii Dunker are produced during tetraploid induction by inhibiting the first polar body in eggs from triploid fertilized with haploid sperms with cytochalasin B treatment. Chromosome analysis reveals that there are 88.18 ±6.79% aneuploidy embryos, and 28.70% aneuploids in pearl oysters of one-year age These aneuploids have five chromosomal conditions, such as 2n + 1(29), 2n + 2 (30), 3n-2 (40), 3n-1(41) and 3n + 1 (43). Results of growth measurement show that there is no significant difference between aneuploids (as a group) and diploids in body size and weight (p > 0.10), but the aneuploide is obviously different from triploid (p < 0.01). The mean body size and weight of aneuploids in diploid condition (2n ± 1 and 2n ± 2) are significantly smaller than those of diploids (p < 0.01),but aneuploids within triploid condition (3n ± 1 and 3n ± 2) are not smaller than diploids in body size and weight (p > 0.1).This study indicates Pinctada martensii Dunker could tolerate aneuploidy by 7 ~ 14% of the haploid genome, and that aneuploids of this species are viable under certain conditions.展开更多
Inhibitory Smads(I-Smads),which belong to the Smad family and inhibit bone morphogenic protein 2(BMP2)signaling by a variety of mechanisms,can suppress innate immunity responses in vertebrates.However,there are no rep...Inhibitory Smads(I-Smads),which belong to the Smad family and inhibit bone morphogenic protein 2(BMP2)signaling by a variety of mechanisms,can suppress innate immunity responses in vertebrates.However,there are no reports for the role of Smad6 in immunity in mollusks.In this study,we showed that Smad6 of the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii was located in the Smad6 cluster of the phylogenetic tree;mRNA expression of Smad6 and Smad3 was up-regulated after lipopolysaccharide and polyinosinic:polycytidylic challenge;and transcript levels of Smad6 and Smad3 showed opposite patterns during wound healing.Under salinity stress,water inflow and outflow in the gills appear to be regulated by BMP2-Smads signals,and BMP2-Smads signaling may be closely related to the immune response.Our results indicate that Smad6 is involved in immunity,that it plays a positive role in the response to immune challenge and an inhibitory role during wound healing,and that Smad6 and Smad3 may work against each other.展开更多
Troponin (Tn) is composed of three subunits (TnI, TnC and TnT) that bind Ca2+ and regulate striated muscle contraction in vertebrates. TnT’s function has been extensively described in vertebrates, but its role has be...Troponin (Tn) is composed of three subunits (TnI, TnC and TnT) that bind Ca2+ and regulate striated muscle contraction in vertebrates. TnT’s function has been extensively described in vertebrates, but its role has been obscure in molluscan muscles. Our previous work indicated that the TnC and TnI subunits work in adductor phasic muscle, but not in catch muscle. Here, we have characterized TnT from the Japanese bivalve pearl oyster Pinctada fucata to start to explain the function of Tn in molluscan muscle contraction. We determined the primary structure of the full-length TnT protein from the P. fucata adductor muscle (Pifuc-TnT), and found that it is composed of 316 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 37.4 kDa. Multiple sequence alignment showed that Pifuc-TnT has an extension of >60 residues at the C-terminus that are not present in vertebrate TnTs, including known TnTs from other mollusks. Pifuc-TnT gene structure predictions using Splign alignment of the cDNA generated in this study and genome sequences indicated that Pifuc-TnT consists of 13 exons. Start and stop codons are located in exons 2 and 12, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the Pifuc-TnT gene was predominantly expressed in adductor phasic muscle, weakly in adductor catch muscle, slightly in gill, and not at all in mantle and foot. These findings suggest that TnT plays a regulatory role in adductor phasic muscle contraction, but not in catch contraction. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that unlike vertebrate TnTs, Pifuc-TnT does not interact with P. fucata tropomyosin-1 nor with tropomyosin-2. These findings in P. fucata imply that Tn functions differently in molluscan muscle than it does in vertebrates.展开更多
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.911221680).
文摘Pinctada martensii is an important shellfish for the production of sea pearls in China.To improve the growth performance of P.martensii,we successfully established three complete diallel crosses using three new varieties of P.martensii,which were named Haiyou No.1,Haixuan No.1,and Nanke No.1,to investigate the growth performance of each self-cross line and hybrid line in Beihai,Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,China.Generally,high fertilization and hatching rates were observed in the experiment,suggesting that there was no sperm-egg recognition barrier among these three P.martensii varieties.The survival rate of the self-cross lines was relatively higher than that of hybrid lines,and♀‘Haixuan No.1’×♂‘Haiyou No.1’maintained a high survival rate during the grow-out stage.The shell length and width were affected by the genotypes as well as the interaction between the genotypes and environmental factors on day 400.The variances of the general combining abilities(GCA)and specific combining abilities(SCA)for shell length and width were the result of both additive genetic variance and nonadditive genetic variance.When Haixuan No.1 was the female parent and Nanke No.1 was the male parent,the GCA for shell length and width were both positive on day 400.The heterosis of Haixuan No.1 and Nanke No.1 in terms of shell length and width was positive.From the resulting combining ability and heterosis,♀‘Haixuan No.1’×♂‘Nanke No.1’was considered an ideal hatchery method to improve the growth performance of P.martensii.Our results therefore demonstrated that crossbreeding among these three new varieties can further improve the growth performance of P.martensii.
基金The National Key Technology R&D Program in the 11th Five Year Plan of China under contract No. 2007BAD29B01-2National Department Public Benefit Research Foundation under contract No. nyhyzx 07-048Guangdong Marine and Fishery Bureau under contract Nos A200708C01, A200908A02 and A200908A05
文摘In May of 2007,the second generation selected (SS) and control (SC) groups of pearl oyster Pinctada martensii were established by selecting 10% breeders with the largest and mean shell length,respectively,from the first generation selected group.Growth performance of the SS and SC groups were compared on the basis of measurement data at Days 8,18,60,95,195 and 365.On Day 365,100 individuals (60.0–75.0 mm at shell length) were sampled from each group and then subjected to the experiment where physiological parameters such as filtrate rate,oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion were measured at 15,20,25 and 30°C.The results show that the SS group had significantly larger mean shell length and shell height than the SC group at Days 8,18,60,95,195 and 365 (P 0.05).The genetic gains at different ages varied from 6.0% to 17.0% for shell length and 5.7% to 14.6% for shell height,respectively.At 15,20,25 and 30 ° C,the SS groups had significantly larger filtrate rate than the SC group (P 0.05).At 15 and 25 °C,the differences in oxygen consumption rate between the SS and SC groups were not significant (P 0.05).At 20 and 30 °C,however,the oxygen consumption rate of the SS group was significantly larger than the SC group (P 0.05).At 15,20,25 and 30 °C,there were no significant differences in ammonia excretion rate between the SS and SC groups (P 0.05).The present results indicate that there existed considerable genetic variability in the base population and a further selection could be likely fruitful.Mass selection for faster growth might produce animals that had higher intake of metabolizable energy by virtue of faster filtrating behavior.
基金Supported by the Earmarked Fund for Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System(No.CARS-49)the Marine Fishery Science and Technology Development Project of Guangdong Province,China(Nos.Z2014012,Z2015014)the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province,China(No.2014B030301064)
文摘The mechanisms of sex determination and sex differentiation in the pearl oyster P inctada fucata are currently poorly understood. We therefore investigated the roles of orthologs of the D mrt gene family, key players in male gonad differentiation in mammals, in P. fucata sex diff erentiation and sexual development. Pf-Dmrt4 exhibits features typical of the D mrt family, and displays significant homologies to the DMRT4 cluster. Pf-Dmrt4 mRNA expression in the gonads during a gametogenic cycle, measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, was maximal in mature individuals. P f-Dmrt4 expression, demonstrated by in situ hybridization, was localized in the spermatozoa, spermatids, oocytes and vitellogenic oocytes. Knockdown of Pf-Dmrt4 with double-stranded RNA resulted in decreased mRNA expression levels. And Pf-Dmrt4-dsRNA-injected groups showed spawning-stage male gonads, with ruptured follicles and released spermatozoa. Our results enhance the understanding of sex determination and differentiation in P. fucata and suggest that Pf-Dmrt4 could be involved in male gonadal development, and maintenance of male gonadal function.
基金This study was supported by the Projects under the Major State Basic Research Development Program under contractNo.G199012001,
文摘The epidemiological investigations on the disease and death in mature eggs, embryonic de- velopmental periods and larvae populations [including oocytes, fertilized ovum, early embryonic phase larvae (6 h), D-shaped phase larvae (24 h), early umbo phase larvae, umbo phase larvae, post um- bo phase larvae and eyespot phase larvae] in the Luhuitou Pearl Oyster Mariculture Farm of Sanya City, Hainan Province in April 1995 showed that there were two peaks of mortality rates which occurred in early umbo phase or umbo phase and post umbo phase (Figs 3-5 and Table 1) respectively from pre- embryonic developmental periods to larvae phases. It indicated that the onset and death of Pinctada maxima larvae populations followed a pattem of outbreak. Between the prevalence, intensity of RLO infection and the mortality rates of larvae populations were of obvious positively correlations. Generally, every peak of RLO infection is always follwed by a peak of mortality rate of larvae hosts, and the mor- tality rates of larvae hosts declined with the decreased RLO infection (see Figs 3-5 ). Under the trans- mission electron microscopy (TEM), no rickettsia-like organisms were discovered in oocytes, fertilized ovum and early embryonic phase larvae (6 h). The RLO inclusions occurred first in the D-shaped phase larvae (24 h) under histological examination. Absences of RLO in transmission electron exami- nation of oocytes of RLO-infected adult females, ferilized ovum and early embryonic phase larvae (6 h) indicated that RLO may not be transmitted transovarially. But RLO for host infection may be trans- mitted by contact transmission since RLO inclusions were first identified regularly in D-shaped phase larvae (24 h), while these D-shaped phase larvae were still unable to take food during hatching 24 hours. In addition, the result of epidemiological investigation showed that no odservable death occurred in D-shaped larvae populations, but early obvious death occurred in larvae populations in the seventh day after fertilization, in a rate of about 21. 8%. It indicated that there was a incubation peried from RLO infection for host (D-shaped phase larvae) to host onset and death occurred clinically.
基金Major State Basic Research Development Program of China under contract No. G1999012001Key Science Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences contract KS85-121.
文摘The death which occurred in juvenile population was a severe problem in the course ofPinctada maxima artificial culture. With the methods of field investigation, histological study and statistic analyses, the epidemiological study was carried out on the disease and death in juvenile populations of Pinctada maxima in the Xinying Pearl Oyster Mariculture Farm of Lingao County (for the A, B and C batches of cultured juveniles hanged in the sea) and the Xincun Pearl Oyster Mariculture Farm of Lingshui County (for the D batch of cultured juvenile hanged in the pond), Hainan Province from November 1993 to April 1995.The results show that the deaths which occurred in juvenile populations of Pinctada maxima presented an outbreak pattern. The peak of mortality rates, in general, occurred in 4-to 6-month old pearl oyster juveniles, and the mortality rates gradully declined with the extention of pearl oyster age after cul-turing 8 months. The correlation between the mortality rates of juvenile populations and mean body lengths of juvenile populations show that the mortality rate become higher under 4 cm of mean body lengths of juvenile population and become obvious declined over 5 cm of mean body lengths. The peak of mortality rate occurred in 1-3 cm of mean body lengths. The results of histological observation showed that rickettsia-like organism inclusions were common, histological widespread infective agent among every batches (A, B, C and D) of cultured juvenile populations. The mean severity indices (SI) of rickettsia-like organism (RLO) infection were positively correlated with mortality rates of juvenile populations. After or within every peaks of RLO infection were all accompanied with the peaks of mortality rates of host populations and the mortality rates declined with decreased RLO infection. So the evidences of histological observation and epidemiology in this study indicated that rickettsia-like organism (RLO) may be as an important pathogenic organism of disease and death of cultured Pinctada maxima. In addition, a few ciliates were discovered only in part of batch A of cultured juvenile population. The mortality rates in juvenile populations were not correlated with the weekly mean temperature and salinity of sea water.
基金supported by the"863"Project in China(#863-819-01-03)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong,China(#990315).
文摘Aneuploidy embryos of Pinctada martensii Dunker are produced during tetraploid induction by inhibiting the first polar body in eggs from triploid fertilized with haploid sperms with cytochalasin B treatment. Chromosome analysis reveals that there are 88.18 ±6.79% aneuploidy embryos, and 28.70% aneuploids in pearl oysters of one-year age These aneuploids have five chromosomal conditions, such as 2n + 1(29), 2n + 2 (30), 3n-2 (40), 3n-1(41) and 3n + 1 (43). Results of growth measurement show that there is no significant difference between aneuploids (as a group) and diploids in body size and weight (p > 0.10), but the aneuploide is obviously different from triploid (p < 0.01). The mean body size and weight of aneuploids in diploid condition (2n ± 1 and 2n ± 2) are significantly smaller than those of diploids (p < 0.01),but aneuploids within triploid condition (3n ± 1 and 3n ± 2) are not smaller than diploids in body size and weight (p > 0.1).This study indicates Pinctada martensii Dunker could tolerate aneuploidy by 7 ~ 14% of the haploid genome, and that aneuploids of this species are viable under certain conditions.
基金Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,China(No.2019A1515011968)the Key Special Project for Introduced Talents Team of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Guangzhou)(No.GML2019ZD0401)+1 种基金the Earmarked Fund for the Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System(No.CARS-49)the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province,China(No.2020B1212060058)。
文摘Inhibitory Smads(I-Smads),which belong to the Smad family and inhibit bone morphogenic protein 2(BMP2)signaling by a variety of mechanisms,can suppress innate immunity responses in vertebrates.However,there are no reports for the role of Smad6 in immunity in mollusks.In this study,we showed that Smad6 of the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii was located in the Smad6 cluster of the phylogenetic tree;mRNA expression of Smad6 and Smad3 was up-regulated after lipopolysaccharide and polyinosinic:polycytidylic challenge;and transcript levels of Smad6 and Smad3 showed opposite patterns during wound healing.Under salinity stress,water inflow and outflow in the gills appear to be regulated by BMP2-Smads signals,and BMP2-Smads signaling may be closely related to the immune response.Our results indicate that Smad6 is involved in immunity,that it plays a positive role in the response to immune challenge and an inhibitory role during wound healing,and that Smad6 and Smad3 may work against each other.
文摘Troponin (Tn) is composed of three subunits (TnI, TnC and TnT) that bind Ca2+ and regulate striated muscle contraction in vertebrates. TnT’s function has been extensively described in vertebrates, but its role has been obscure in molluscan muscles. Our previous work indicated that the TnC and TnI subunits work in adductor phasic muscle, but not in catch muscle. Here, we have characterized TnT from the Japanese bivalve pearl oyster Pinctada fucata to start to explain the function of Tn in molluscan muscle contraction. We determined the primary structure of the full-length TnT protein from the P. fucata adductor muscle (Pifuc-TnT), and found that it is composed of 316 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 37.4 kDa. Multiple sequence alignment showed that Pifuc-TnT has an extension of >60 residues at the C-terminus that are not present in vertebrate TnTs, including known TnTs from other mollusks. Pifuc-TnT gene structure predictions using Splign alignment of the cDNA generated in this study and genome sequences indicated that Pifuc-TnT consists of 13 exons. Start and stop codons are located in exons 2 and 12, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the Pifuc-TnT gene was predominantly expressed in adductor phasic muscle, weakly in adductor catch muscle, slightly in gill, and not at all in mantle and foot. These findings suggest that TnT plays a regulatory role in adductor phasic muscle contraction, but not in catch contraction. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that unlike vertebrate TnTs, Pifuc-TnT does not interact with P. fucata tropomyosin-1 nor with tropomyosin-2. These findings in P. fucata imply that Tn functions differently in molluscan muscle than it does in vertebrates.