Temperature and Food Influence Shell Growth and Mantle Gene Expression of Shell Matrix Proteins in the Pearl Oyster Pinctada margaritifera

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103944
• Publication Date: 2014-08-14T18:39:06Z
• Authors: Caroline Joubert; Clémentine Linard; Gilles Le Moullac; Claude Soyez; Denis Saulnier; Vaihiti Teaniniur...; Chin Long Ky; Yannick Gueguen
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; Science; Q; R; Temperature; Gene Expression; Proteins; 03 medical and health sciences; Animal Shells; Food; Medicine; Animals; Pinctada; 14. Life underwater; Nacre; Physiological Phenomena; Research Article

In this study, we analyzed the combined effect of microalgal concentration and temperature on the shell growth of the bivalve Pinctada margaritifera and the molecular mechanisms underlying this biomineralization process. Shell growth was measured after two months of rearing in experimental conditions, using calcein staining of the calcified structures. Molecular mechanisms were studied though the expression of 11 genes encoding proteins implicated in the biomineralization process, which was assessed in the mantle. We showed that shell growth is influenced by both microalgal concentration and temperature, and that these environmental factors also regulate the expression of most of the genes studied. Gene expression measurement of shell matrix protein thereby appears to be an appropriate indicator for the evaluation of the biomineralization activity in the pearl oyster P. margaritifera under varying environmental conditions. This study provides valuable information on the molecular mechanisms of mollusk shell growth and its environmental control.