Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A GATA2/3 gene potentially involved in larval shell formation of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Development Genes and Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Shells are one of the most notable features of the majority of mollusks. In addition, the shell is also considered a key characteristic during molluscan evolution and development. However, although the morphological changes during larval shell formation have been well described, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we focused on the potential involvement of a GATA gene in shell formation because GATA genes are often downstream genes of BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) signaling pathways, which have been suggested to participate in molluscan shell formation. In the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, we observed that the expression of a GATA2/3 homolog (cgi-gata2/3) was clearly restricted to the edge of the shell field in early larval stages (trochophore and D-veliger). This expression pattern supports the notion that cgi-gata2/3 gene plays conserved roles in bilaterian ectodermal development. It is possible that cgi-gata2/3 is one shell-formation gene under the regulation of BMP signaling pathways. In addition, cgi-gata2/3 was also detected in the ventral side of embryos. The expression of cgi-gata2/3 away from the shell field may be involved in hematopoiesis. Our results provide fundamental support for studies into the molecular mechanisms of larval shell formation and the functions of molluscan GATA genes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  • Dalgin G, Goldman DC, Donley N, Ahmed R, Eide CA, Christian JL (2007) GATA-2 functions downstream of BMPs and CaM KIV in ectodermal cells during primitive hematopoiesis. Dev Biol 310:454–469

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huan P, Wang H, Dong B, Liu B (2012) Identification of differentially expressed proteins involved in the early larval development of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. J Proteome 75:3855–3865

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huan P, Liu G, Wang H, Liu B (2013) Identification of a tyrosinase gene potentially involved in early larval shell biogenesis of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Dev Genes Evol 223:389–394

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kin K, Kakoi S, Wada H (2009) A novel role for dpp in the shaping of bivalve shells revealed in a conserved molluscan developmental program. Dev Biol 329:152–166

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Knoll AH (2003) Biomineralization and evolutionary history. Biomineralization 54:329–356

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maures TJ, Duan C (2002) Structure, developmental expression, and physiological regulation of zebrafish IGF binding protein-1. Endocrinology 143:2722–2731

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neave B, Rodaway A, Wilson SW, Patient R, Holder N (1995) Expression of zebrafish GATA 3 (gta3) during gastrulation and neurulation suggests a role in the specification of cell fate. Mech Dev 51:169–182

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nederbragt AJ, van Loon AE, Dictus WJ (2002) Expression of Patella vulgata orthologs of engrailed and dpp-BMP2/4 in adjacent domains during molluscan shell development suggests a conserved compartment boundary mechanism. Dev Biol 246:341–355

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orkin SH (2000) Diversification of haematopoietic stem cells to specific lineages. Nat Rev Genet 1:57–64

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patient RK, McGhee JD (2002) The GATA family (vertebrates and invertebrates). Curr Opin Genet Dev 12:416–422

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silberfeld T, Gros O (2006) Embryonic development of the tropical bivalve Tivela mactroides (Born, 1778) (Veneridae: subfamily Meretricinae): a SEM study. Cah Biol Mar 47:243–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilt FH (2005) Developmental biology meets materials science: morphogenesis of biomineralized structures. Dev Biol 280:15–25

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yue F, Zhou Z, Wang L, Wang M, Song L (2014) A conserved zinc finger transcription factor GATA involving in the hemocyte production of scallop Chlamys farreri. Fish Shellfish Immunol 39:125–135

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31472265).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Gang Liu, Pin Huan & Baozhong Liu

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Gang Liu

  3. National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Ecological Mariculture, Qingdao, China

    Baozhong Liu

Authors
  1. Gang Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pin Huan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Baozhong Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Baozhong Liu.

Additional information

Communicated by David A. Weisblat

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(PDF 102 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, G., Huan, P. & Liu, B. A GATA2/3 gene potentially involved in larval shell formation of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas . Dev Genes Evol 225, 253–257 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-015-0511-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-015-0511-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation