Genomic Adaptations to an Endoparasitic Lifestyle in the Morphologically Atypical Crustacean Sacculina carcini (Cirripedia: Rhizocephala).

ABSTRACT: The endoparasitic crustacean Sacculina carcini (Cirripedia: Rhizocephala) has a much simpler morphology than conventional filter-feeding barnacles, reflecting its parasitic lifestyle. To investigate the molecular basis of its refined developmental program, we produced a draft genome sequence for comparison with the genomes of nonparasitic barnacles and characterized the transcriptomes of internal and external tissues. The comparison of clusters of orthologous genes revealed the depletion of multiple gene families but also several unanticipated expansions compared to non-parasitic crustaceans. Transcriptomic analyses comparing interna and externa tissues revealed an unexpected variation of gene expression between rootlets sampled around host midgut and thoracic ganglia. Genes associated wit

SUBMITTER: Martin S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9582164 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature