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PubMed2026

Dietary Titanium Dioxide (E171) Alters the Colon Transcriptome-Evidence From a Human Dietary Intervention Study.

Food-grade titanium dioxide (E171) has been removed from the European food market due to concerns about its potential genotoxicity, yet human evidence remains limited. Given its continuous use outside the European Union, clarifying its potential hazard is essential for human risk assessment. In a randomized crossover study, 31 adults consumed 2 mg/kg body weight/day of E171 for 2 weeks, with biospecimens collected after both control and exposure periods. Oral intake resulted in elevated titanium concentrations in feces (CTRL: 6.3 mg/kg; E171: 377 mg/kg). Particle characterization showed a median size of 228 nm, with 9% <100 nm. Systemic oxidative stress increased, evidenced by increased superoxide radical levels in whole blood (p = 0.057). Transcriptomic profiling of colon biopsies revealed activation of 73 pathways linked to oxidative stress, cellular metabolism, and colorectal cancer-associated processes. The observed transcriptional changes were consistent with findings of its proposed mode of action. This human intervention study characterizes the effects of dietary E171 following human gastrointestinal digestion and provides evidence that exposure to dietary E171 induces systemic oxidative stress and transcriptional changes in the colon. These findings strengthen regulatory concerns about E171 as a food additive and its potentially harmful effects on human gastrointestinal health.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Transcriptome-Wide Analysis of the 5' Cap Status of RNA Using 5' Monophosphate-Dependent Exonuclease Digestion and RNA Sequencing.

Eukaryotic mRNAs carry an N7-methylguanosine (m7G) cap structure at their 5' extremity, which protects them from the degradation by 5'-3' exoribonucleases and plays a pivotal role in mRNA metabolism, promoting splicing, nuclear export, and translation. Decapping, the enzymatic process that removes this structure, is a key event during cytoplasmic mRNA 5'-3' decay, leading to the degradation of the transcript body by Xrn1. In this chapter, we describe a procedure to assess the cap status of RNA at the transcriptome level. It is based on a treatment of total RNA extracts with a 5' monophosphate-dependent exonuclease, which like Xrn1 specifically degrades decapped RNAs harboring 5' monophosphate extremities, but not RNAs with intact m7G cap. The digested RNAs are then analyzed by RNA sequencing.

Exoribonucleases↗

PubMed2025

Assessment of genomic prediction capabilities of transcriptome data in a barley multi-parent RIL population.

Low-cost and high-throughput RNA sequencing data for barley RILs achieved GP performance comparable to or better than traditional SNP array datasets when combined with parental whole-genome sequencing SNP data. The field of genomic selection (GS) is advancing rapidly on many fronts including the utilization of multi-omics datasets with the goal of increasing prediction ability and becoming an integral part of an increasing number of breeding programs ensuring future food security. In this study, we used RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data to perform genomic prediction (GP) on three related barley RIL populations. We investigated the potential of increasing prediction ability by combining genomic and transcriptomic datasets, adding whole-genome sequencing (WGS) SNP data, functional annotation-based filtering, and empirical quality filtering. Our RNA-Seq data were generated cost-efficiently using small-footprint plant cultivation, high-throughput RNA extraction, and Library preparation miniaturization. We also examined sequencing depth reduction as an additional cost-saving measure. We used fivefold cross-validation to evaluate the prediction ability of the gene expression dataset, the RNA-Seq SNP dataset, and the consensus SNP dataset between the RNA-Seq and parental WGS data, resulting in prediction abilities between 0.73 and 0.78. The consensus SNP dataset performed best, with five out of eight traits performing significantly better compared to a 50K SNP array, which served as a benchmark. The advantage of the consensus SNP dataset was most prominent in the inter-population predictions, in which the training and validation sets originated from different RIL sub-populations. We were therefore able to not only show that RNA-Seq data alone are able to predict various complex traits in barley using RILs, but also that the performance can be further increased with WGS data for which the public availability will steadily increase.

Hordeum↗

PubMed2026

A transcriptome-wide approach for rapid pathotype discrimination of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in north-western India.

Stripe rust of wheat caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) remains a major constraint to wheat production in India due to the rapid evolution and frequent emergence of virulent pathotypes. Rapid and reliable discrimination of Pst pathotypes is essential for effective resistance deployment and surveillance. In the present study, transcriptome-wide simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were exploited to develop and validate molecular markers for pathotype-specific detection of Pst pathotypes prevalent in North India (110S119, 238S119, 46S119, 110S84 and 78S84). Microsatellite mining from 6103 core orthologous clusters comprising 51,127 transcripts mined 14,634 SSR loci, from which 93 primer pairs were synthesized. However, only three SSR markers exhibited polymorphism indicating limited discrimination potential of expressed sequence-derived (EST) SSRs for pathotype differentiation. In contrast, SNP discovery through stringent variant calling and filtration yielded 186 pathotype-specific homokaryotic SNPs, of which 56 high-confidence loci were selected for Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) assay development. A total of 48 KASP markers were synthesized and 14 demonstrated clear pathotype- or cluster-specific polymorphism representing substantially higher resolution than SSR markers. The high SNP-to-KASP conversion efficiency (~ 95%) and reproducible fluorescence-based clustering emphasize the robustness of KASP assay. Comparative evaluation revealed that SNP-based KASP markers provide superior discriminatory capacity for closely related Pst pathotypes and represent a promising complementary molecular approach for rapid identification of predominant Indian Pst pathotypes. The validated marker panel developed in this study can complement conventional virulence phenotyping and field pathogenomics approaches for surveillance of currently known pathotypes, while continued refinement may accommodate future changes in pathogen populations.

India↗

PubMed2026

Association Between Ticagrelor and Glucose Homeostasis Regulation: Insights from Genetic and Transcriptomic Analyses.

Emerging evidence has demonstrated the additional therapeutic benefits of ticagrelor in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with diabetes. However, the underlying mechanisms of this association remain elusive. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data on ticagrelor, plasma proteomics and type 2 diabetes was employed to identify causal mediator proteins. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of ticagrelor-treated HepG2 cells revealed the molecular pathways regulating glucose metabolism. Genetically proxied ticagrelor was significantly associated with a reduced risk of diabetes (OR = 0.859, 95% CI: 0.783-0.934, P = 7.98E-05), and 24.41% of this effect was mediated by upregulation of BDH2 protein. In vitro experiments confirmed the enhanced effect of ticagrelor on glucose consumption. Transcriptome analysis revealed that mitochondrial respiratory chain transfer and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) were significantly enriched, and genes related to ATP biosynthesis were significantly upregulated. These findings highlight the non-platelet function of ticagrelor in maintaining glucose homeostasis, providing insights into potential drug repurposing in the future.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Integrated transcriptomic, transcriptional factors, and protein interaction reveal the regulatory mechanisms of flowering time in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Appropriate flowering time is important for rice regional adaptation and optimum rice production, but little is known about the omics of heading date in rice. Here, we studied omics including transcriptome, proteome and transcriptional factors to identify regulatory genes related to flowering time. A total of 1402 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 721 up-regulated and 681 down-regulated) were detected in wild and mutant. These transcripts are classified according to biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. Among these differentially expressed genes, many transcription factor genes demonstrated multiple regulatory pathways involved in flowering time. Gene expression analysis showed that Os03g0122600 (OsMADS50), Os08g0105000 (Ehd3), Os06g0275000 (Hd1) were expressed higher and Os06g0199500 (OsHAL3), Os06g0498800 (OsMFT1), Os08g0105000 (Ehd3), Os06g0157700 (Hd3a), and Os02g0731700 (Ghd2), were expressed lower in wild compared to mutant, which are the key genes that regulate the flowering in rice. In addition, Ghd7 interacted with Os10g30860 and Os12g08260 using yeast two-hybrid assay. We identified 28 potential Ghd7 transcriptional regulators using the transcription factor-centered yeast one hybrid (TF-Centered Y1H) assay. Taken together, this study developed a new set of genomic resources to identify and characterize genes, proteins, and motifs associated with flowering time.

Oryza↗

PubMed2026

Integration of methylome and transcriptome reveals age-associated signatures of stage-specific dynamics and regulatory remodeling in dogs.

Aging in mammals is characterized by widespread yet coordinated epigenetic alterations. However, integrative analyses of DNA methylation and gene expression in dogs remain largely unexplored, particularly within genetically homogeneous single-breed populations. To elucidate the molecular signatures of canine aging, we profiled the genome-wide methylome and transcriptome of clinically healthy beagle dogs representing three distinct age groups. Global methylation levels were highly conserved across individuals, yet both methylation and gene expression variability increased progressively with aging. This epigenetic drift was not stochastic but structured by genomic context, as reduced CpG-gene associations indicated a gradual loss of epigenetic control over transcription. We further observed stage-related methylation change patterns across the three age groups, including early-shift, late-shift, and progressive patterns. These groups showed partially overlapping but distinct hallmark associations, suggesting links to different age-related biological processes. Together, these findings indicate that canine epigenetic aging involves multifaceted molecular changes across adulthood and support dogs as a useful model for investigating conserved molecular signatures of aging.

Beagle dog↗

PubMed2026

Unveiling novel transcriptomic prognostic biomarkers for specific breast cancer subtypes and treatment regimens.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BRCA) is the most common cancer in women worldwide, yet current gene expression panels offer limited insight into treatment responses across different subtypes and therapies. This study aimed to identify reliable biomarkers for predicting treatment outcomes in specific BRCA subtypes and treatment regimens. METHODS: This study analyzed transcriptomic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in patient groups treated with different combinations of hormone therapy (H), chemotherapy (C), radiotherapy (R), and targeted therapy (T). Non-negative matrix factorization clustering was performed to stratify patients into clusters representing different BRCA subtypes. Functional enrichment analysis was performed, and survival assessments were conducted using the METABRIC dataset. RESULTS: A total of 1,148 DEGs were identified across treatment regimens, with 75 common DEGs shared across multiple regimens. Among these, 12 candidate biomarkers were associated with luminal subtypes treated with H, including LRP1B, of which high expression predicted cancer recurrence. In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treated with C, 76 candidate biomarkers were identified, including TTYH1 for recurrence and ANXA8L1 and MPZ for non-recurrence. Functional analyses identified intermediate filament organization and keratinization as pathways associated with specific candidate biomarkers of TNBC following C. Survival analysis using METABRIC strengthened the prognostic ability of LRP1B and TTYH1 to predict worse survival and ANXA8L1 and MPZ to predict prolonged survival, with four additional prognostic biomarkers. CONCLUSION: This study identified gene expression prognostic biomarkers for luminal and TNBC subtypes, thereby supporting personalized therapies. Further experimental validation is required to confirm these findings for clinical application. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: No.

Breast cancer↗

PubMed2026

Comparative transcriptomic analysis of the gills and hepatopancreas of freshwater-cultured Litopenaeus vannamei under chronic nitrite stress.

To investigate the differences in molecular responses between the gills and hepatopancreas of freshwater-cultured Litopenaeus vannamei under chronic nitrite stress, a 30-day chronic stress experiment was conducted with a control group and a stress group. Transcriptomic analysis of the gills and hepatopancreas was performed using Illumina sequencing; differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and GO, KEGG, GSEA, PPI, and RT-qPCR validation were carried out. The results showed that 196 DEGs (161 up-regulated and 35 down-regulated) were identified in the gills, and 287 DEGs (199 up-regulated and 88 down-regulated) in the hepatopancreas, with only 18 DEGs shared between the two tissues. DEGs in the gills were enriched in oxidoreductase activity, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism; DEGs in the hepatopancreas were enriched in lipid transporter activity, phagosome, ECM-receptor interaction, and riboflavin metabolism. GSEA revealed significant suppression of the mTOR pathway in the gills and the Polycomb complex pathway in the hepatopancreas. PPI network analysis identified hub genes P5CS and eEF2 in the gills, and PER, TUBB1, SHMT, and TUBB4B in the hepatopancreas. RT-qPCR validation was consistent with the RNA-seq results (R2 = 0.764). This study indicates that, under chronic nitrite stress, the gill response is centered on redox regulation and inhibition of growth metabolism, whereas the hepatopancreas response primarily involves lipid transport, cytoskeletal remodeling, and phagosome activation. The two tissues synergistically adapt through fundamental biosynthetic and motor protein pathways. This research provides molecular evidence for deciphering the nitrite tolerance mechanisms in freshwater-cultured shrimp.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Effects of rumen fluid transplantation on longissimus dorsi muscle development in Xizang sheep: An association analysis based on transcriptomic and serum metabolomic profiles.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of rumen fluid transplantation (RFT) on the growth and development of the longissimus dorsi muscle in female Xizang sheep. After RFT, muscle lightness differed significantly between the two groups, with the LDC group showing significantly higher lightness than the LDT group. In contrast, no significant differences were observed between groups in other muscle phenotypic traits, including drip loss, pH, cooking loss, shear force, redness, and yellowness. Antioxidant-related indices (SOD, GSH-PX, MDA, CAT, and T-AOC) also showed no significant differences between groups. Histological analysis revealed that muscle fiber length, width, and density were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group. Transcriptomic analysis identified 515 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 419 were downregulated. KEGG analysis indicated that genes involved in muscle development-related pathways, such as cell adhesion and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, were predominantly downregulated. Key serum metabolites (L-kynurenine, IPA, allantoin, and propionylcarnitine) showed highly significant positive correlations with muscle fiber growth indices. In contrast, metabolites such as l-carnitine, acetylcarnitine, and citrulline were negatively correlated with muscle fiber growth, but positively correlated with the expression of muscle structure-related genes (COL11A1 and EFNA5) and with meat lightness. Overall, this study provides new insights into the potential molecular basis by which RFT influences muscle growth and development. However, the mechanisms by which RFT affects muscle development and meat quality-related traits remain unclear and warrant further investigation.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

The effects of cold temperature on the development, microbiome, and transcriptome of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis.

Thermal conditions impact essentially all aspects of the physiology for ectotherms. While the effects of high temperatures have been widely studied, cold temperature effects on aquatic invertebrates and their microbial communities have been poorly characterized. To determine the diverse effects of exposure to cold temperatures, we assessed acute and long-term impacts of ecologically relevant low temperatures on the development, microbiome, and gene expression of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Two hours post fertilization, embryos were exposed to temperatures from 4°C to 35°C and development rate to the juvenile stage was quantified. We found temperature impacts the development rate of embryos, where lower temperatures extended development time and resulted in mortality below 10°C. For both microbiome and host transcriptomic responses, anemones were held at 20°C, 10°C, and 0°C and compared at 24 hours and 7 days. Extended exposures to colder temperatures caused restructuring of the host-associated microbiome, with the loss of common taxonomic groups from the class Bacteroidia and Bacilli. Lastly, cold stress induced significant changes in gene expression, which were more pronounced at the 10°C than 0°C but showed little change over time in each temperature. Interestingly, expression of genes associated with innate immunity were among the most differentially expressed genes including heat shock proteins and innate immune genes providing a potential host-imposed mechanism to explain the shift in the microbiome. Overall, cold temperatures have broad effects on many facets of this sea anemone and its microbial community and indicate the importance of cold temperature events when characterizing how ectotherms acclimate to thermal variation.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Integrative analysis of transcriptome and DNA methylome dynamics during caudal fin regeneration in silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus).

Caudal fin regeneration in teleost fish is a complex, multi-stage process involving coordinated molecular and cellular changes. While the role of epigenetic regulation particularly DNA methylation has been studied in model freshwater species such as zebrafish, its contribution to regeneration in marine teleosts remains largely unexplored. In this study, we integrated transcriptomic and DNA methylomic data to characterize the temporal dynamics of gene expression and methylation during caudal fin regeneration in the silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus). Using RNA-sequencing and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) at three biologically critical time points 1, 3, and 7 days post-amputation (dpa), we characterized the spatiotemporal molecular landscape of caudal fin regeneration. These time points capture the key transitional phases of wound healing and inflammation (1 dpa), blastema formation and progenitor proliferation (3 dpa), and regenerative outgrowth with tissue remodeling (7 dpa), enabling robust detection of the major molecular programs underlying epimorphic regeneration. Concurrently, CG-methylome analysis identified thousands of dynamically changing differentially methylated regions (DMRs). A strong global inverse correlation was observed between promoter methylation and gene expression. Integrative analysis pinpointed key regeneration genes (fgf20a, msxb, sox9b) whose expression was associated with dynamic methylation changes in their promoters or gene bodies. We conclude that DNA methylation is a dynamic and key regulatory layer that acts in concert with transcriptional reprogramming to coordinate tissue regeneration, providing new insights into the epigenetic mechanisms underlying complex regenerative processes in teleosts.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic insights into thermal stress reveal physiological trade-off between thermal stress adaptation and reproductive investment in Spodoptera litura.

Spodoptera litura, a highly polyphagous lepidopteran pest, poses a major threat to agricultural productivity due to its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. Although heat stress is known to trigger transcriptional reprogramming in insects, the molecular mechanisms underlying thermal stress responses in S. litura remain poorly understood. In the present study, fourth-instar larvae were exposed to acute heat stress (44 °C) and compared with control conditions (27 ± 1 °C) to investigate heat-induced transcriptional alterations affecting physiology and reproduction. High-quality RNA-Seq data achieved more than 80% mapping efficiency, with a total of 15,782 transcripts were identified. Transcriptome analysis of S. litura larvae showed 323 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 262 genes were significantly upregulated and 61 were downregulated in heat-stressed larvae compared to the control group. The DEGs were associated with stress response, reproduction, signalling, proteostasis, detoxification, oxidative stress, metabolism, development, and chromatin regulation. Heat shock proteins genes, including HSP70, HSP90, and HSP27, together with co-chaperones such as TRET-1, STIP1, and Starvin, were strongly upregulated, indicating enhanced cellular protection against protein damage and oxidative stress under heat stress. Conversely, key reproductive and cell cycle-related genes, including BARR, CAPD2, FEO, CDK2 and MORULA, were significantly downregulated, suggesting reproductive impairment and developmental arrest. RT-qPCR validation corroborated the RNA-Seq findings, demonstrating a heat-induced physiological trade-off that prioritizes survival over reproduction. Consistent with these molecular responses, heat-stressed insects exhibited marked reproductive impairment, including significant reductions in gonadosomatic index, eupyrene sperm bundle count, mating frequency, mating success, female calling behaviour, copulation duration, fecundity, and egg fertility. Collectively, these findings provide comprehensive insights into the molecular basis of thermal adaptation in S. litura and demonstrate that acute heat stress compromises reproductive fitness while activating conserved stress-response pathways that promote short-term survival.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Molecular mechanisms of neuroendocrine regulation of molting in the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis): A transcriptomic analysis based on eyestalk ablation model.

Molting disability severely restricts the sustainable aquaculture of the Chinese mitten crab, yet the neuroendocrine mechanisms coordinating physiological responses remain poorly understood. Using unilateral eyestalk ablation to remove the primary source of molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH), we performed time-resolved transcriptomic profiling of the thoracic ganglion at 24 h (early premolt) and 48 h (ecdysis) post-ablation. We identified 2825 differentially expressed genes and uncovered a biphasic molecular response. At 24 h, the thoracic ganglion activates pathways associated with neuromuscular adaptation, oxidative stress, and cardiac muscle contraction. Notably, the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway is selectively rewired: cytochrome P450 ω-hydroxylases (CYP2J2, CYP4V2) are upregulated, while competing branches (epoxide hydrolase, cyclooxygenase) are suppressed, promoting local synthesis of the potent vasoconstrictor 20-HETE within the thoracic ganglion. This enzymatic switch provides a mechanistic link between MIH withdrawal and the local generation of elevated hemolymph pressure required for molting. By 48 h, the transcriptional program shifts toward chitin-based extracellular matrix remodeling, glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, and synaptic reorganization. Collectively, our findings redefine the thoracic ganglion as an active neuroendocrine integrator that translates reduced MIH signaling into phased physiological outputs, revealing a "neuro-endocrine-hemolymph pressure" regulatory axis. This study provides novel molecular targets (e.g., CYP2J2, CHS1, UGCG) for mitigating molting disability in E. sinensis aquaculture.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing and ceRNA network analyses provide novel insights into the antibacterial immune response of Hippocampus abdominalis against Vibrio harveyi.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) stand as newly-arisen molecular types that exert regulatory effects, able to operate as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to engage microRNAs (miRNAs) in interaction, resulting in the recovery of target mRNA expression and activity. Increasing evidences indicate that the ceRNA network affects various biological processes in mammals, including development, cellular differentiation, metabolism, immune response, and disease pathogenesis. In teleost fish, the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks have been reported occasionally. However, up to now, the roles of lncRNAs in the big-belly seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) remains unclear. In this study, we reported for the first time, via whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing, the lncRNA mediated ceRNA regulatory network in Vibrio harveyi-infected H. abdominalis. A total of 4197 differentially expressed mRNAs (DE-mRNAs), 1317 DE-lncRNAs, and 183 DE-miRNAs were identified. Furthermore, the crosstalk between miRNAs and lncRNAs as well as between miRNAs and mRNAs was inferred based on the negative correlations between miRNAs and their target lncRNAs/mRNAs. A core immune associated lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA putative regulatory network was thus constructed, comprising 211 lncRNA-miRNA and 224 mRNA-miRNA pairs. In conclusion, our findings provide an integrative overview of the ceRNA regulatory networks on the underlying immune responses to V. harveyi infection in the big-belly seahorse, and offer a solid theoretical foundation for the comparative immunological research of teleost fish.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of fluoride tolerance-related pathways and differentially expressed genes in silkworm strain XSKD.

XueSong KD (XSKD) silkworm strain exhibits prominent fluoride tolerance, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms of fluoride tolerance remains unclear. In the present study, fourth-instar pre-molting XSKD silkworms were used as experimental materials for integrated transcriptomic and untargeted metabolomic analyses. In total, 572 differentially expressed genes and 90 differential metabolites were screened. GO enrichment and KEGG enrichment based on the hypergeometric distribution model revealed that 13-Hydroxy-9Z,11E-octadecadienoic acid (13-(S)-HODE) acts as the core differential metabolite, which is significantly enriched in the linoleic acid metabolism pathway. Within this pathway, LOC101737302 and CYP338A1 display opposite expression trends and show correlations with pathway metabolites. Based on multi-omics data, this study preliminarily characterizes the lipid metabolic response under fluoride stress, providing omics dataset support for further in-depth exploration of the molecular mechanism of fluoride tolerance in silkworms.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic insights into the coordinated regulation of signaling, apoptosis, immunity, and metabolism during Sinonovacula constricta larval metamorphosis.

Metamorphosis is a critical ontogenetic transition for marine bivalves, marking the shift from planktonic to benthic lifestyles, where successful transformation dictates survival. The razor clam Sinonovacula constricta is economically important; however, low larval metamorphosis rates remain a major bottleneck in seedling production. To elucidate the mechanisms governing this process, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of S. constricta larvae at pre- and post-metamorphosis stages using Illumina sequencing. A total of 3701 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 3254 up-regulated and 447 down-regulated genes. Functional annotation of the respective top 20 significantly up-regulated and down-regulated DEGs indicated their potential pivotal roles in signal transduction (e.g., up-regulated: CAV1, CHRNA2; down-regulated: APP, NOTCH1), cellular proliferation and differentiation (e.g., up-regulated: TUBA, EGF1; down-regulated: KIF23, TTC25), transcriptional and epigenetic regulation (e.g., up-regulated: NFIL3; down-regulated: OVO, HMX1), substance transport (e.g., up-regulated: LRP2, LRP1B; down-regulated: SLC51A, Slc33a1), substance metabolism (e.g., up-regulated: CPK3, CYP26A1; down-regulated: RDMT1, ADAC), immunomodulation (e.g., up-regulated: CPN2, CRISP2), and protein homeostasis (e.g., up-regulated: HSP27, NAS-27). Functional enrichment analysis further revealed that DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways related to signal transduction and developmental regulation (e.g., Ras, TNF), cell death and homeostasis (e.g., apoptosis), immune responses (e.g., Toll-like receptor), energy metabolism (e.g., lipid), cardiovascular related (e.g., Fluid shear stress), cell junction and architecture (e.g., Tight junction), and infectious disease (e.g., measles). These results suggest a synergistic interplay between signaling, apoptosis, immunity, and metabolism during S. constricta metamorphosis. This study advances our understanding of marine bivalve metamorphosis and offers candidate genes for further mechanistic studies.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Comparative transcriptome analysis provides insights into dorso-ventral color pattern formation of Holothuria edulis.

Animal body color patterns are highly diverse and play critical roles in camouflage, intraspecific communication, and environmental adaptation. Holothuria edulis, an important echinoderm inhabiting tropical waters, exhibits a typical dorsoventral dichromatism. This unique body color difference represents a key phenotypic trait for its habitat adaptation; however, the core differential genes regulating this trait remain to be elucidated. In this study, comparative transcriptome sequencing was performed on the dorsal and ventral body wall tissues of H. edulis, leading to the identification of a number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), followed by GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. GO enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs were significantly enriched in functional categories such as extracellular region, peptidase inhibitor activity, and tetrapyrrole binding. KEGG pathway analysis further revealed significant enrichment of protein digestion and absorption, the TNF signaling pathway, and cholesterol metabolism. Notably, the pigmentation-related gene FMO2 was highly expressed in the dorsal body wall tissue, whereas cyp1a1, ZIC1, Slc7a11, WNT-1, and ADAMTS20 were highly expressed in the ventral body wall tissue. This study identified DEGs and enriched pathways associated with dorsoventral body color differences in H. edulis, providing new insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying body color pattern formation. From the perspective of aquaculture applications, body color is one of the important traits affecting the quality and market value of sea cucumber products. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of body color variation can provide a scientific basis for molecular marker-assisted breeding of superior sea cucumber variety.

Animals↗