DataSheet_1_PcASTA in Procambarus clarkii, a novel astaxanthin gene affecting shell color.docx

The color of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) shells not only affects their value, but also has a significant impact on individual size. Astaxanthin is a common carotenoid that has been found in many studies to have different functions, including regulating body color formation. In this study, the levels of different carotenoids were detected using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and found a significant correlation between astaxanthin content and shell color. An astaxanthin gene (PcASTA) was identified from P. clarkii, and it was expressed in tissues of crayfish with dark-red shells and green shells. The highest expression levels of PcASTA were found in the hepatopancreas, followed by the muscle. The expression of PcASTA in all tissues of red shell crayfish was higher than that of green shell crayfish, indicating that PcASTA may be involved in shell color formation in crayfish. Moreover, high water temperature and feeding β-carotene can lead to an increase in tissue expression of PcASTA and astaxanthin content in crayfish shells. The findings indicate that PcASTA may affect shell color in P. clarkii by being involved in astaxanthin synthesis and transformation.

克氏原螯虾（Procambarus clarkii）的虾壳颜色不仅影响其经济价值，还对个体规格具有显著影响。虾青素是一类分布广泛的类胡萝卜素，多项研究已证实其具备多种生物学功能，其中包括调控生物体体色形成。本研究采用高效液相色谱法（HPLC）检测了不同类胡萝卜素的含量水平，发现虾青素含量与虾壳颜色间存在显著相关性。研究人员从克氏原螯虾中鉴定得到一条虾青素相关基因（PcASTA），并在红壳与绿壳克氏原螯虾的组织中均检测到该基因的表达。其中，PcASTA在肝胰腺中的表达量最高，其次为肌肉组织；红壳螯虾各组织中的PcASTA表达量均高于绿壳螯虾，提示PcASTA可能参与克氏原螯虾的虾壳颜色形成过程。此外，高温环境与投喂β-胡萝卜素均可提升克氏原螯虾组织中PcASTA的表达量及虾壳内的虾青素含量。本研究结果表明，PcASTA可能通过参与虾青素的合成与转化过程，进而影响克氏原螯虾的虾壳颜色。