De Novo Transcriptome Assembly and Gene Expression Profiling of the CopepodCalanus helgolandicusFeeding on the PUA-Producing DiatomSkeletonema marinoi

Diatoms are the dominant component of the marine phytoplankton. Several diatoms produce secondary metabolites, namely oxylipins, with teratogenic effects on their main predators, crustacean copepods. Our study reports the de novo assembled transcriptome of the calanoid copepodCalanus helgolandicusfeeding on the oxylipin-producing diatomSkeletonema marinoi. Differential expression analysis was also performed between copepod females exposed to the diatom and the control flagellateProrocentrum minimum, which does not produce oxylipins. Our results showed that transcripts involved in carbohydrate, amino acid, folate and methionine metabolism, embryogenesis, and response to stimulus were differentially expressed in the two conditions. Expression of 27 selected genes belonging to these functional categories was also analyzed by RT-qPCR inC. helgolandicusfemales exposed to a mixed solution of the oxylipins heptadienal and octadienal at the concentration of 10 mu M, 15 mu M, and 20 mu M. The results confirmed differential expression analysis, with up-regulation of genes involved in stress response and down-regulation of genes associated with folate and methionine metabolism, embryogenesis, and signaling. Overall, we offer new insights on the mechanism of action of oxylipins on maternally-induced embryo abnormality. Our results may also help identify biomarker genes associated with diatom-related reproductive failure in the natural copepod population at sea.