Transcriptome analysis of adductor muscle color in Boihai Red Scallop

Boihai Red is new strains of inter-specific hybridizing the bay scallop (Argopecten irradians irradians) with the Peruvian scallop (Argopecten purpuratus). Orange color variant of adductor muscle have been developed through successive selective breeding in this strain. In the present study, transcriptomic was conducted on orange and white adductor muscle tissues. Transcriptomic analysis showeds 416 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between white and orange adductor muscle tissues in Boihai Red Scallop, with 216 up regulated and 200 down. In DEGs, apolipophorin, CYP450 and tyrosinase were expressed highly in orange adductor muscle tissues, which related to carotenoids or melanin. It is probable that not only carotenoids, but also melanin act on orange color of adductor muscle. This study provides valuable genetic resources for understanding underlying mechanisms and pathways of adductor muscle color. Overall design: Total mRNA profiles of orange and white adductor muscle tissues were generated by deep sequencing, in triplicate.