Correlation Analysis between Nutritional Evaluation and Gene Expression of Crassostrea hongkongensis in Different Fattening Sea Areas

Abstract

In the present study, the nutrient composition of Crassostrea hongkongensis from two oyster fattening areas in Qinzhou Bay, Guangxi was evaluated. And then the metabolism-related gene expression in the mantle, adductor muscle and gill tissues of C. hongkongensis was analyzed, and the correlation between nutrient composition and gene expression was discussed. The results showed that the contents of cholesterol, vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc and some amino acids including phenylalanine, histidine, glutamic acid and alanine of C. hongkongensis in Qinzhou Port fattening area were significantly higher than those in Dafeng River fattening area (P0.05). The heat map of Spearman correlation showed that the gene expression of P5CS, GP and SREBP were positively correlated with the contents of multiple nutrient composition and amino acids, in which the gene expression of GP was significantly positively correlated with energy, fat, cholesterol and vitamins (P<0.01), but the gene expression of DYRK was negatively correlated with the contents of various nutrients and 14 amino acids. In conclusion, there were certain differences existed in the contents of nutrient composition and the metabolism-related gene expression of C. hongkongensis from two oyster fattening areas in Qinzhou Bay, which had own characteristics in nutritional value and flavor taste separately, and both oyster culture areas could be used for fattening and breeding of C. hongkongensis.

Keywords

• crassostrea hongkongensis
• different fattening sea areas
• nutritional evaluation
• gene expression
• correlation analysis