Florfenicol (FLR), a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent, is commonly used in the breeding and cultivation of aquatic animals. microRNAs (miRNAs) control gene expression by mediating post-transcriptional mRNA repression. However, not much has been reported regarding their functions when crustaceans encounter FLR stress. Herein we observed histological alterations and performed small RNA sequencing to characterize differentially expressed miRNAs in the hepatopancreas of Portunus trituberculatus exposed to FLR (80 mg/kg) stress for 3 h and 12 h. Our results indicated irregularities in the tubular structure of hepatopancreas, separation between epithelium and myoepithelial layer, ruptured epithelial cells, and tubule degeneration. Thirty-five (19 up- and 16 downregulated) and 31 (17 up- and 14 downregulated) differentially expressed miRNAs were detected between Group-C and Group-FLR-3 h and between Group-C and Group-FLR-12 h, respectively. Dual luciferase reporter assay was performed for predicting target genes of miR-34 and miR-263b. We found that mir-263b directly inhibited cytochrome C expression at the cell level in vitro. Functional analyses of predicted target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs revealed that FLR stress induced xenobiotic metabolism, immune toxicity, and cell apoptosis, as well as influenced diverse metabolic processes. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the response of P. trituberculatus to FLR stress. Our findings provide evidence that miRNAs participate in cell apoptosis and immune regulation in crabs.
Cirripedia is a lower crustacean that has an invaluable place in several aspects of intertidal ecology and anti-fouling research. In this study, we present the first mitochondrial genome of Chthamalus malayensis. The complete mitochondrial genome of C. malayensis is a circular molecule of 15,230 bp. In comparison to the pancrustacean ground pattern, the mitochondrial genome of C. malayensis has a deletion of the trnC gene. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial protein-coding genes showed that C. malayensis clusters with C. antennatus (BP = 98) and is grouped with C. challengeri, Octomeris sp. BKKC-2014, and Notochthamalus scabrosus. Further studies are needed to reveal the specific phylogenic relationships within Cirripedia.
The receptor for activated protein kinase C1 (RACK1) belongs to the typical WD repeat family, which is extremely conservative and important in multiple signal transduction pathways related to growth and development that coordinate the intracellular role of various life activities. As a novel protein with versatile functions, it was found in a variety of organisms. In a previous study, we identified the RACK1 sequence of white shrimp from transcriptome data. In this study, we employed specialized bioinformatics software to conduct an in-depth analysis of EcRACK1 and compare its amino acid sequence homology with other crustaceans. Furthermore, we investigated the expression patterns of RACK1 at different developmental stages and tissues, as well as at various time points after exposure to Aroclor 1245, aiming to elucidate its function and potential response towards Aroclor 1245 exposure. The length of EcRACK1 is 957 nucleotides, which encodes 318 amino acids. Moreover, there were seven typical WD repeats in EcRACK1, which have more than a 96% sequence identity with the RACK1 proteins of Penaeus. The results of tissue expression and spatiotemporal expression showed that it was significantly increased in the II and IV stages, but had a significant tissue specificity in the hepatopancreas, spermary, and muscle tissues of E. carinicauda, adult stage. Compared to the control, EcRACK1 was significantly induced in E. carinicauda zoea larvae exposed to Aroclor 1254 for 6, 10, 20, and 30 d (p < 0.05). These results suggested that EcRACK1 may play an important role in the larval development and environmental defense of E. carinicauda.
On the basis of the principles of Green Infrastructure and Building (GIB) in LEED for Green Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND), this paper studies the technical feasibility, economic soundness, and environmental effectiveness of a water-sourced energy system in a 6.5 million square feet mixed-use neighborhood development project in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. Two energy systems proposed for the project are compared in the study by using scientific fundamentals and engineering principle. The two energy systems are: • System One: Use Xiangjiang River as cooling water for absorption chillers to generate chilled water for all buildings. • System Two: Use traditional cooling towers providing cooling water for absorption chillers to generate chilled water for all buildings. The system performance analyses of study show that system one has better energy, environmental and economic performance than system two. Compared to system two, system one is predicted to have a saving of 32% in electricity, 11% in natural gas, and 675 ton/year in CO2 emission; and its system payback year is 8 years. This paper also investigated the impact of system one on the Xiangjiang River by using Fluent computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The results of the CFD simulation indicated that there no significant changes of river temperature over time.. Finally, some suggestions on design and operation have been provided for system one to be implemented.
Barnacles are crustaceans that are critical model organisms in intertidal ecology and biofouling research. In this study, we present the first mitochondrial genome of Striatobalanus tenuis which is a circular molecule of 15,067 bp in length. Consistent with most barnacles, the mitochondrial genome of S. tenuis encodes 37 genes, including 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs. A novel insight into the phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotide data of 13 PCGs showed that the S. tenuis clusters with Striatobalanus amaryllis (bootstrap value = 100) of the same genus, then groups with other Balanoidea species, the Chelonibiidae, Austrobalanidae and Tetraclitidae cluster together forming superfamily Coronuloidea. The result can help us to understand the novel classification within Balanomorpha.