Metabolic Alterations in Crassostrea Gigas After Feeding Selenium-Enriched Yeast Based on Transcriptomic Analysis

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Aquaculture Nutrition
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Selenium is an essential trace element crucial for animal growth, immunity, and metabolism.
• Selenium-enriched yeast offers superior bioavailability compared to inorganic selenium.
• The molecular effects of selenium on mollusks, specifically oysters (C. gigas), are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of selenium-enriched yeast on gene expression in C. gigas.
• To identify key molecular pathways and genes affected by selenium supplementation.
• To provide insights for optimizing selenium inclusion in oyster aquaculture feeds.

Main Methods:

• Oysters (C. gigas) were supplemented with varying levels of selenium-enriched yeast (0, 2, and 4 ppm).
• Transcriptome sequencing was performed to analyze gene expression profiles.
• Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted.
• Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis and qRT-PCR were used to validate key findings.

Main Results:

• Selenium supplementation significantly altered gene expression related to growth and immunity in C. gigas.
• Key pathways identified include glutathione metabolism and collagen signaling.
• Three hub genes (FASN, HRAS, ABCG5) were identified as central to the oyster's response to selenium.

Conclusions:

• Selenium-enriched yeast supplementation positively influences molecular pathways in C. gigas.
• Understanding these molecular mechanisms supports the use of selenium in aquaculture feed optimization.
• This study enhances knowledge of selenium's role in shellfish health and aquaculture productivity.