Mytilus galloprovincialis: differences between male and female gene expression patterns in the digestive gland tissue
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ABSTRACT: Direct comparison of the transcriptional patterns between male and female in the digestive gland of a natural population of the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis sampled in the Bizerta Lagoon, Tunisia, across November 2007 -February March 2008 (four stages, winter peak). Background: Seasonal environmental changes may affect the physiology of Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lam.), an intertidal filter-feeder bivalve occurring commonly in Mediterranean and Atlantic coastal areas. We investigated seasonal variations in relative transcript abundance of the digestive gland and the Digestive gland (gonads) of males and females. To identify gene expression trends, we used a medium-density cDNA microarray (1.7 K probes) in dual-color competitive hybridization analyses. Results: Hierarchical clustering of digestive gland microarray data showed two main branches, distinguishing profiles associated with the “hot” months (May–August) from the other months. Genes involved in chitin metabolism, associated with mussel nutrition and digestion, showed higher expression during summer. Moreover, we found different gene expression patterns in the digestive glands of males and females during the four stages of mussel gonadal development. Microarray data from gonadal transcripts also displayed clear patterns during the different developmental phases with peak relative mRNA abundance at the ripe phase (stage III) for both sexes. Conclusion: These data showed a clear temporal pattern in gene expression profiles of mussels sampled over an annual cycle. Physiological response to thermal variation, food availability, and reproductive status across months may contribute to variation in gene expression. Test/reference design (female/male). Direct comparison of RNA extracts obtained from the Digestive gland tissue of female and male animals. Two (male, female) x four conditions (gonad developmental stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, stage 4). Dual color competitive hybridizations with label swap. Single individuals. Four biological replicates. One replicate per array.
ORGANISM(S): Mytilus galloprovincialis
SUBMITTER: Francesco Dondero
PROVIDER: E-GEOD-23051 | biostudies-arrayexpress |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress
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