bHLH genes polymorphisms and their association with growth traits in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas

• Published in: Journal of Oceanology and Limnology
• Main Authors: Chen Na, Li Li, Li Chenghua, Lin Zhihua, Meng Jie, Liu Sheng, Song Kai, Bao Yongbo
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: SCIENCE PRESS 2019
• Subjects: Crassostrea gigas; basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH); re-sequencing; single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) shot; growth traits; Marine & Freshwater Biology; Oceanography; Limnology; Pacific; Pacific oyster
• Online Access: http://ir.qdio.ac.cn/handle/337002/163852; http://ir.qdio.ac.cn/handle/337002/163853; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-019-9070-4

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) genes encode a large superfamily of transcription factors in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), and play a very important role in regulation of growth and development. To investigate the oyster growth traits and the associations with bHLH genes variations, we analyzed the gene polymorphisms-traits association in a wild population, and confirmed the results in another independent wild population by targeted gene re-sequencing and SNPshot analysis. After screening the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in three candidate genes of the bHLH family (88 bHLH genes in two wild oyster populations in total), we identified the allele CgLoblHLH4-T/G located in the exon of the CgLoblHLH4 gene. This allele is a non-synonymous mutation (Phe/Leu) with an extremely significant association with shell width (P<0.01) and allele G is beneficial to shell width. This SNP on the CgLoblHLH4 gene might have a potential value as a genetic marker of growth traits that could be used in breeding in C. gigas in the future.