Pan-Mollusca sRNA Survey

To characterize sRNAs expressed in Mollusca, we performed small RNA sequencing on samples from C. virginica (Eastern oyster) gonad, muscle, gill, and whole juvenile animals, along with muscle tissue from M. mercenaria (Northern quahog), H. rufescens (Red abalone), and R. philippinarum (Manilla clam). Tentacle tissue from O. bimaculoides (California two-spot octopus) and gonadal tissue from the outgroup L. variegatus (variegated sea urchin) were also analyzed. We obtained C. virginica specimens from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Gulf Coast campus in Biloxi, Mississippi, which breeds them. Other organisms were purchased from various facilities. All harvested tissues were placed in TRizol LS and RNA was extracted following manufacturer protocols. RNA samples were washed in 70 percent EtOH and resuspended in nuclease free water. Total RNA samples were sent to the University of Mississippi Medical Center Genome Core, which prepared and sequenced libraries using Illumina NextSeq2000 for a greater depth of reads.