Molecular cloning, characterization, and expression of two 5-HTRs from the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii

• Published in: Frontiers in Marine Science
• Main Authors: Shaojie Zhu, Yubo He, Qiongyu Xu, Jiabin Zhang, Chuangye Yang, Ruijuan Hao, Junhui Li, Yuewen Deng
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022
• Subjects: Pinctada fucata martensii; Pm5-HTR2; Pm5-HTR4; larval metamorphosis; molecular cloning; Science; Q; General. Including nature conservation; geographical distribution; QH1-199.5; Crassostrea gigas
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1011420; https://doaj.org/article/393d7f1d62b042e49fc974aa1b3c7f8d

The receptors of serotonin, also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor (5-HTR) can mediate regulatory metamorphosis processes in a variety of mollusks. Studying the mechanisms of metamorphosis of the pearl oyster is significant to elucidate breeding, resource recovery and marine pearl production. In this study, two 5-HTR genes from Pinctada fucata martensii (Pm5-HTR2 and Pm5-HTR4) were cloned. A total of 1623 bp open reading frame was identified in Pm5-HTR2, and a 1185 bp open reading frame was detected in Pm5-HTR4; these open reading frames encoded a 540-residue polypeptide and a 394-residue polypeptide, respectively. We also conducted a domain analysis, which indicated that Pm5-HTR2 and Pm5-HTR4 contained a seven-transmembrane domain and revealed that the receptors had high similarity to Crassostrea gigas 5-HTR2 (54.62%) and 5-HTR4 (66.23%). Sequence analysis demonstrated conserved advanced structure and motifs (the DRY/ERY and NPXXY motifs). The expression pattern analysis revealed high expression levels of Pm5-HTR2 and Pm5-HTR4 during the developmental stages. ISH analysis showed that Pm5-HTR2 was primarily expressed in the FE, B, T, EU, and EL stages and Pm5-HTR4 was mainly expressed in the FE, B, T, D, EU, and EL stages. These results suggest that 5-HTRs may play key roles in P. f. martensii larval metamorphosis.