Comparative phylotranscriptomics reveals glycolytic adaptation associated with prolonged larval development in the...

The molecular basis of ecological adaptation in marine crustaceans remains poorly understood, particularly in non-model species such as the coastal slipper lobster (Crenarctus bicuspidatus). This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of the mitochondrial genome and transcriptome of C. bicuspidatus using high-throughput sequencing. Comparative transcriptomic analysis across 13 crustacean species identified 250 single-copy orthogroups. Gene family evolution analysis revealed 28 gene family expansions and 152 contractions in C. bicuspidatus. KEGG enrichment analysis of the expanded gene families showed strong representation of energy-related pathways, particularly pyruvate metabolism. Furthermore, positive selection analysis identified several genes involved in pyruvate metabolism and the citrate cycle (TCA cycle), including specific amino acid substitutions in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, a key enzyme in energy conversion. These findings suggest that C. bicuspidatus has undergone coordinated genomic adaptations to enhance energy metabolism, likely to support the high energetic demands of its extended larval development. This study highlights glycolytic adaptation as a key driver of life-history diversification in slipper lobsters.