Disruption of amylase genes by RNA interference affects reproduction in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas

• Published in: Journal of Experimental Biology
• Main Authors: Fabioux, Caroline, Huvet, Arnaud, Beguel, Jean-Philippe, Cavaleiro, Nathalia Pereira, Thomas, Yoann, Quillien, Virgile, Boudry, Pierre, Alunno-Bruscia, Marianne
• Other Authors: Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR) (LEMAR), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), Laboratorio Nacional de Computação Cientifica Rio de Janeiro (LNCC / MCT), Mer, molécules et santé EA 2160 (MMS), Le Mans Université (UM)-Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences et des Techniques (UN UFR ST), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN), ANR-08-GENM-0041,Gametogenes,Génomiques de la gamétogénèse chez l'huître creuse Crassostrea gigas(2008)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2015
• Subjects: ACL; Gametogenesis; Summer mortality; temperature; quality; energy; alpha-Amylase; cell-development; digestive gland; double-stranded-rna; dsRNA; Dynamic energy budget; in-vivo; Marine bivalve; polymorphism; tissue expression; [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology; Pacific; Crassostrea gigas; Pacific oyster
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-02556976; https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.116699

WOS:000355602000023 Feeding strategies and digestive capacities can have important implications for variation in energetic pathways associated with ecological and economically important traits, such as growth or reproduction in bivalve species. Here, we investigated the role of amylase in the digestive processes of Crassostrea gigas, using in vivo RNA interference. This approach also allowed us to investigate the relationship between energy intake by feeding and gametogenesis in oysters. Double-stranded (ds) RNA designed to target the two alpha-amylase genes A and B was injected in vivo into the visceral mass of oysters at two doses. These treatments caused significant reductions in mean mRNA levels of the amylase genes: -50.7% and -59% mRNA A, and -71.9% and -70.6% mRNA B in 15 and 75 mu g dsRNA-injected oysters, respectively, relative to controls. Interestingly, reproductive knock-down phenotypes were observed for both sexes at 48 days post-injection, with a significant reduction of the gonad area (-22.5% relative to controls) and germ cell under-proliferation revealed by histology. In response to the higher dose of dsRNA, we also observed reductions in amylase activity (-53%) and absorption efficiency (-5%). Based on these data, dynamic energy budget modeling showed that the limitation of energy intake by feeding that was induced by injection of amylase dsRNA was insufficient to affect gonadic development at the level observed in the present study. This finding suggests that other driving mechanisms, such as endogenous hormonal modulation, might significantly change energy allocation to reproduction, and increase the maintenance rate in oysters in response to dsRNA injection.