Molecular characterization of TRPA1 and its function in temperature preference in Eriocheir sinensis

Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is an economically important aquaculture species, and its growth and development are regulated by temperature, but the molecular mechanisms of the responses to temperature remain unclear. Herein, we identified TRPA1 from E. sinensis, a member of the TRP family of heat receptor potential channels, performed RACE cloning and bioinformatics analysis, and investigated the effect of TRPA1 on temperature responses and molting by real-time PCR and RNA interference (RNAi). The open reading frame of Es-TRPA1 is 3660 bp, and the encoded protein has a molecular weight of 136.91 kDa, and is expressed in embryos and juveniles. RNAi-mediated silencing decreased Es-TRPA1 expression in juvenile crabs, molting rate was decreased, mortality was increased, and crabs avoided cold areas (4 °C) much less than control juvenile crabs. The results suggest that Es-TRPA1 is involved in regulating temperature adaptation and molting processes in E. sinensis. The findings lay a foundation for further exploration of temperature regulation mechanisms in E. sinensis and other crustaceans.