Chung Il Lee

Genetic Variation in the Asian Shore Crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus in Korean Coastal Waters as Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Sequences

Genetic variation in the Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus was determined from partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences of the cytochrome b (Cytb) gene. Samples included 143 crabs from six localities along three coastlines in South Korea. A nucleotide sequence analysis revealed 38 variable sites in a 470-bp sequence, which defined 37 haplotypes. The haplotypes were not associated geographically and had a shallow genealogy. Pairwise F ST tests and a two-dimensional scaling analysis revealed no significant genetic differentiation among most of the populations. The low pairwise comparison values, but significant genetic differentiation of a northeastern population from all other populations, might have been influenced by a restriction in gene flow caused by hydrographic conditions such as ocean boundaries. The high haplotype diversity, low nucleotide diversity, and time since H. sanguineus expansion in Korean coastal waters indicate rapid population growth and a recent, sudden expansion in the Late Pleistocene.

Long-Term Pattern of Primary Productivity in the East/Japan Sea Based on Ocean Color Data Derived from MODIS-Aqua

The East/Japan Sea (hereafter, the East Sea) is highly dynamic in its physical phenomena and biological characteristics, but it has changed substantially over the last several decades. In this study, a recent decadal trend of primary productivity in the East Sea was analyzed based on Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-derived monthly values to detect any long-term change. The daily primary productivities averaged using monthly values from 2003 to 2012 were 719.7 mg·C·m−2·d−1 (S.D. ± 197.5 mg·C·m−2·d−1, n = 120) and 632.3 mg·C·m−2·d−1 (S.D. ± 235.1 mg·C·m−2·d−1, n = 120) for the southern and northern regions of the East Sea, respectively. Based on the daily productivities, the average annual primary production in the East Sea was 246.8 g·C·m−2·y−1, which was substantially higher than that previously reported in deep oceans. However, a decreasing trend (13% per 10 years) in the annual primary production was observed in the East Sea within the study period from 2003 to 2012. The shallower mixed layers caused by increased temperature could be a potential cause for the decline in annual production. However, this decline could also be part of an oscillation pattern that is strongly governed by the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). A better understanding of primary productivity patterns and their subsequent effects on the marine ecosystem is required for further interdisciplinary studies in the East Sea.

Molecular identification of anisakid nematodes third stage larvae isolated from common squid (Todarodes pacificus) in Korea

The occurrence of Genus Anisakis nematode larvae in marine fishes and cephalopods is epidemiologically important because Anisakis simplex larval stage can cause a clinical disease in humans when infected hosts are consumed raw. Common squid (Todarodes pacificus) from Korean waters were investigated for anisakid nematodes infection during 2009∼2011. In total, 1,556 larvae were collected from 615 common squids and 732 of them were subsequently identified by PCR-RFLP analysis of ITS rDNA. Depending on the sampling locations, the nematode larvae from common squid showed different prevalence, intensity and species distribution. A high prevalence (P) and mean intensity (MI) of infection were observed in the Yellow Sea (n = 250, P = 86.0%, MI = 5.99 larvae/host) and the southern sea of Korea (n = 126, P = 57.1%, MI = 3.36 larvae/host). Anisakis pegreffii was dominantly found in common squid from the southern sea (127/ 140, 90.7%) and the Yellow Sea (561/565, 98.9%). In contrast, the P and MI of infection were relatively low in the East Sea (n = 239, P = 8.37%, MI = 1.25 larvae/host). A. pegreffii was not found from the East Sea and 52.0% (13/25) of the nematodes were identified as A. simplex. Most of them were found in the body cavity or digestive tract of common squid, which are rarely consumed raw by humans. Considering the differenences in anisakid nematode species distribution and their microhabitat in common squid, it remains unclear whether common squid plays an important role in the epidemiology of human anisakis infection in Korea. Further extensive identification of anisakid nematodes in common squid, with geographical and seasonal information will be necessary.

Seasonal variations in species composition of fish assemblage collected by trammel net in coastal waters of the East Sea

Seasonal variation in species composition and abundance of fish assemblage in the north coast (NC: Ayajin) and central coast (CC: Hupo) of the East Sea were calculated using samples collected by trammel net during 2011-2012. A total of 20 species from NC and 17 species from CC were collected. Of the fishes collected, the dominant fish species were Glyptocephalus stelleri and Careproctus rastrinus in the NC, and Dasycottus setiger and G. stelleri in the CC. These 2 fishes accounted for 71.7% and 81.0% of the total number of individuals collected in the NC and CC, respectively. The number of fish species, number of individuals, biomass and species diversity indices fluctuated with the seasons. The cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS) based on Bray-Curtis similarity revealed that the fish assemblages classified into north and central groups. Analysis of similarity percentages of species contributions (SIMPER) indicated that most individual of G. stelleri and Gadus macrocephalus contributed to north group, and D. setiger and G. stelleri in central group, whereas 15 species contributed to 90% of the dissimilarity.

Molecular characterization of an adiponectin receptor homolog in the white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei.

Adiponectin (AdipoQ) and its receptors (AdipoRs) are strongly related to growth and development of skeletal muscle, as well as glucose and lipid metabolism in vertebrates. Herein we report the identification of the first full-length cDNA encoding an AdipoR homolog (Liv-AdipoR) from the decapod crustacean Litopenaeus vannamei using a combination of next generation sequencing (NGS) technology and bioinformatics analysis. The full-length Liv-AdipoR (1,245 bp) encoded a protein that exhibited the canonical seven transmembrane domains (7TMs) and the inversed topology that characterize members of the progestin and adipoQ receptor (PAQR) family. Based on the obtained sequence information, only a single orthologous AdipoR gene appears to exist in arthropods, whereas two paralogs, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, have evolved in vertebrates. Transcriptional analysis suggested that the single Liv-AdipoR gene appears to serve the functions of two mammalian AdipoRs. At 72 h after injection of 50 pmol Liv-AdipoR dsRNA (340 bp) into L. vannamei thoracic muscle and deep abdominal muscle, transcription levels of Liv-AdipoR decreased by 93% and 97%, respectively. This confirmed optimal conditions for RNAi of Liv-AdipoR. Knockdown of Liv-AdipoR resulted in significant changes in the plasma levels of ammonia, 3-methylhistine, and ornithine, but not plasma glucose, suggesting that that Liv-AdipoR is important for maintaining muscle fibers. The chronic effect of Liv-AdipoR dsRNA injection was increased mortality. Transcriptomic analysis showed that 804 contigs were upregulated and 212 contigs were downregulated by the knockdown of Liv-AdipoR in deep abdominal muscle. The significantly upregulated genes were categorized as four main functional groups: RNA-editing and transcriptional regulators, molecular chaperones, metabolic regulators, and channel proteins.

Molecular characterization of four genes highly expressed during megalopa stage in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis

The molecular markers to distinguish different larval stages have various applications in ecological studies. Using the differential display RT-PCR technique, we isolated and characterized four genes, which are expressed predominantly in the megalopa stage of Eriocheir sinensis. The four genes include two cuticular proteins with different domain organization (Ers-CP15 and Ers-CP34) and two skeletal-muscle-specific genes (Ers-SCP and Ers-ActinSK1). The two cuticular protein genes were expressed predominantly in the epidermis and their expression level was significantly higher in the megalopa stage (about 7.0-folds) than it was in the zoea stage. However, their high transcriptional level in zoea IV suggested that these two cuticular protein genes may not be a useful target to discriminate megalopa from zoea. Ers-SCP encoded the invertebratespecific sarcoplasmic calcium binding protein and Ers-ActinSK1 gene encoded the crustacean skeletal muscle actin. Expressions of these two genes were detected only in muscular tissues; leg muscle, claw muscle and thoracic muscle. This suggests that the increased transcription levels of two muscle-specific genes during the megalopa stage are mainly due to increased muscular tissues. Among its three isoforms, Ers-SCPa displayed the highest difference (22.4-folds) between megalopa and zoea suggesting Ers-SCPa is the most reliable marker to distinguish megalopa from zoea. Although Ers-SCPc and Ers-ActinSK1 also showed similar expression profiles to Ers-SCPa and Ers-SCPb, differences in their expression levels were not as high as Ers-SCPa and Ers-SCPb.

Characterization of complete mitochondrial genome of two-spot swimming crab Charybdis bimaculata (Miers, 1886)

Abstract The two-spot swimming crab Charybdis bimaculata (Miers, 1886) is an important decapod species in the benthic ecosystem of Korean waters. In this study, we determined its complete mitochondrial genome by the combination of NGS analysis using MiSeq platform and PCR-based cloning method. The circular mitochondrial genome of C. bimaculata was 15,714 bp in length in which the standard set of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes were encoded. Phylogenic analysis showed that C.bimaculata is most closely related to Charybdis feriata. The complete mitogenome sequence information of C. bimaculata would provide useful data for the conservation of their population in the Pacific ocean.