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Expressions of Shell Matrix Protein Genes in the Pearl Sac and Its Correlation with Pearl Weight in the First 6 Months of Pearl Formation in Hyriopsis cumingii

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Abstract

Matrix proteins regulate crystal nucleation, morphology, and polymorphism during pearl biomineralization and have significant correlations with pearl quality traits in nucleated pearls. However, there is little information about the connection between pearl quality traits and matrix proteins in non-nucleated pearls. In this study, we analyzed CaCO3 deposition during the first month of non-nucleated pearl formation and examined the expression patterns of ten shell matrix protein genes (Hcperlucin, hic31, silkmapin, hic22, hic74, hic52, HcTyr, HcCA3, hic24 and Hc-upsalin) in the pearl sac of Hyriopsis cumingii. During pearl formation, CaCO3 crystals were initially deposited in a disorderly manner during days 12 and 15 of pearl formation. On days 18 and 21, CaCO3 crystals gradually nucleated on an organic membrane, and the pattern of crystal deposition changed markedly. Between days 24 and 30, crystals similar to nacre tablets were deposited; they then grew and formed connections in a more orderly fashion, eventually forming the nacreous layer. We observed high expression levels of shell matrix proteins during the phases of disordered or ordered CaCO3 deposition, suggesting they were involved in non-nucleated pearl formation. Furthermore, the expressions of nine matrix proteins were significantly correlated with pearl weight during the first 6 months after grafting. The prismatic-layer matrix protein hic31 and nacreous-layer matrix protein hic22 showed negative correlations with pearl weight, but the other seven nacreous-layer matrix proteins had significantly positive correlations with pearl weight. These results show the involvement of matrix proteins in pearl formation and in determination of quality traits.

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Acknowledgments

We thank International Science Editing (http://www.internationalscienceediting.com) for editing this manuscript.

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31672654), the Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System (CARS-49), and the Project of Shanghai Engineering and Technology Center for Promoting Ability (16DZ2281200).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai, 201306, China

    Can Jin, Xiao-Jun Liu & Jia-Le Li

  2. Class 1, 2016 Biological Science, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China

    Jing-Ying Zhao

  3. National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China

    Xiao-Jun Liu & Jia-Le Li

  4. Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai, 201306, China

    Jia-Le Li

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  1. Can Jin
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Correspondence to Xiao-Jun Liu or Jia-Le Li.

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Jin, C., Zhao, JY., Liu, XJ. et al. Expressions of Shell Matrix Protein Genes in the Pearl Sac and Its Correlation with Pearl Weight in the First 6 Months of Pearl Formation in Hyriopsis cumingii. Mar Biotechnol 21, 240–249 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-019-09876-z

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