Isolation of hypoxic stress responsive genes in a mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

Abstract

The extensive isolation of genes responsive to hypoxic conditions in mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) is described. A mussel species was exposed to hypoxic condition and gene candidates whose transcript levels changed in response to hypoxic condition were identified by differential display polymerase chain reaction (DD-PCR). Sixty eight types of candidate genes were identified, 36 of which were upregulated in expression and 32 of which were downregulated. The genes were found to function in translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis (J); replication, recombination and repair (L); defense mechanisms (V); signal transduction mechanisms (T); cytoskeleton (Z); extracellular structures (W); post-translational modification, protein turnover and chaperones (O); energy production and conversion (C); carbohydrate transport and metabolism (G); amino acid transport and metabolism (E); lipid transport and metabolism (I); inorganic ion transport and metabolism (P) and finally general function prediction only (R) based on KOG classification, though 25 of them were not applicable. These isolated gene candidates were differentially expressed and therefore have great potential as molecular biomarkers for the identification of hypoxic stressor and understanding the biological responses to hypoxia.