Study on the Pigment Formation Mechanism of Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Macrobrachium rosenbergii is an important economic shrimp in China, because of its large size, fast growth, wide feeding, easy cultivation and high breeding efficiency.In recent years, the aquaculture industry of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in China has developed rapidly.At present, the aquaculture industry of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in China is in a key stage of transformation from "quantity" to "quality", and it is urgent to improve the quality of Macrobrachium rosenbergii through technical research.The highest content of carotenoids in the tissue of Macrobrachium rosenbergii is astaxanthin.Astaxanthin is a kind of ketone carrot with coloring, antioxidant, health care and other functions, which is widely used in aquaculture, food, cosmetics, health care, pharmaceutical and other industries.Astaxanthin has excellent coloring ability, astaxanthin also has strong antioxidant activity. In addition, astaxanthin has significant effects on physical and mental health and treatment of diseases such as hypertension, cancer, heart disease, ischemia, and neurological diseases. Astaxanthin has been listed as the best prevention and treatment drug for a variety of acute or chronic diseases.Therefore, astaxanthin has high nutritional and medicinal value.On the basis of in-depth understanding of the research progress of color formation and carotenoid accumulation of crustaceans at home and abroad, this project will further understand the mechanism of color formation of Macrobrachium rosenbergii through transcriptome.

罗氏沼虾（Macrobrachium rosenbergii）是我国重要的经济虾类，因其个体硕大、生长迅速、食性广泛、易于养殖且养殖效益高而极具养殖价值。近年来，我国罗氏沼虾养殖业发展迅猛。当前，我国罗氏沼虾养殖业正处于从‘数量型’向‘质量型’转型的关键阶段，亟需通过技术研发提升罗氏沼虾的品质。

罗氏沼虾组织中类胡萝卜素含量最高的组分为虾青素（astaxanthin）。虾青素是一类兼具着色、抗氧化、保健等多种功能的酮类胡萝卜素，被广泛应用于水产养殖、食品、化妆品、保健品及制药等多个行业。虾青素具备优异的着色能力，同时拥有极强的抗氧化活性。此外，虾青素对机体身心健康及高血压、癌症、心脏病、缺血性疾病、神经系统疾病等多种病症的防治均具有显著效果，更被列为多种急慢性疾病的优选防治药物。因此，虾青素具备极高的营养与药用价值。

本项目在深入了解国内外甲壳类动物体色形成与类胡萝卜素积累研究进展的基础上，将通过转录组（transcriptome）进一步解析罗氏沼虾的体色形成机制。