In silico Neuropeptidome of Female Macrobrachium rosenbergii Based on Transcriptome and Peptide Mining of Eyestalk, Central Nervous System and Ovary

PLoS One. 2015 May 29;10(5):e0123848. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123848. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Macrobrachium rosenbergii is the most economically important of the cultured freshwater crustacean species, yet there is currently a deficiency in genomic and transcriptomic information for research requirements. In this study, we present an in silico analysis of neuropeptide genes within the female M. rosenbergii eyestalk, central nervous system, and ovary. We could confidently predict 37 preproneuropeptide transcripts, including those that encode bursicons, crustacean cardioactive peptide, crustacean hyperglycemic hormones, eclosion hormone, pigment-dispersing hormones, diuretic hormones, neuropeptide F, neuroparsins, SIFamide, and sulfakinin. These transcripts are most prominent within the eyestalk and central nervous system. Transcript tissue distribution as determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of selected neuropeptide genes of interest mainly in the nervous tissues while others were additionally present in the non-nervous tissues. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of eyestalk peptides confirmed the presence of the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone precursor. This data set provides a strong foundation for further studies into the functional roles of neuropeptides in M. rosenbergii, and will be especially helpful for developing methods to improve crustacean aquaculture.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Nervous System / metabolism
  • Neuropeptides / genetics
  • Neuropeptides / metabolism*
  • Ovary / metabolism
  • Palaemonidae / genetics
  • Palaemonidae / metabolism*
  • Transcriptome / genetics

Substances

  • Neuropeptides

Grants and funding

This work was funded by: 1. A grant from the Office of the Higher Education Commission under the National Research Universities Initiatives (http://www.op.mahidol.ac.th/orra/MU_NRU.html) and a Distinguished Research Professor Grant (co-funded by the Thailand Research Fund, the Office of the Higher Education Commission, and Mahidol University) (http://www.trf.or.th) to P. Sobhon. 2. TRF-RGJ Ph.D. Scholarship to P. Sretarugsa TT P. Sobhon SS (http://rgj.trf.or.th). 3. ARC grant to SFC (http://www.arc.gov.au). 4. University of the Sunshine Coast internal grant to SFC (http://www.usc.edu.au/university/learning-and-teaching/grants-and-awards-for-learning-and-teaching). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.