Draft genomic and transcriptome resources for marine chelicerate Tachypleus tridentatus

Area of Science:

• Marine biology
• Genomics
• Conservation science

Background:

• Chinese horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus) are ancient marine arthropods crucial for detecting microbial contamination.
• Overexploitation for their amoebocyte lysate has led to a significant population decline, classifying them as endangered.

Purpose of the Study:

• To sequence, assemble, and annotate the genome of Tachypleus tridentatus.
• To understand the genomic features of this "living fossil" species.
• To provide genomic resources to support the conservation of endangered Chinese horseshoe crabs.

Main Methods:

• Genome sequencing and assembly of Tachypleus tridentatus.
• Transcriptome sequencing from three larval stages for gene discovery and annotation validation.
• Genome completeness assessment using BUSCO (Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs).
• Analysis of synonymous substitution distribution to identify whole-genome duplication events.

Main Results:

• A 1.943 Gb genome was assembled, covering over 90% of the estimated genome size.
• Genome and gene model completeness were high, at 96.2% and 95.4%, respectively.
• Evidence of two whole-genome duplication events in the evolutionary history of T. tridentatus was found.
• Genomic and transcriptome data are publicly available for research.

Conclusions:

• The genome sequencing of Tachypleus tridentatus provides a valuable resource for understanding its biology and evolution.
• This study supports conservation initiatives for the endangered Chinese horseshoe crab.
• The genomic data will facilitate future research on horseshoe crab biology, development, and conservation strategies.