Comparative transcriptome analysis of eyes reveals the adaptive mechanism of mantis shrimp (oratosquilla oratoria) induced by a dark environment

The light-dark cycle significantly impacts the growth and development of animals. Mantis shrimps (Oratosquilla oratoria) receive light through their complex photoreceptors. To reveal the adaptive expression mechanism of the mantis shrimp induced in a dark environment, we performed comparative transcriptome analysis with O. oratoria cultured in a light environment (Oo-L) as the control group and O. oratoria cultured in a dark environment (Oo-D) as the experimental group. In the screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the Oo-L and Oo-D groups, a total of 88 DEGs with |log2FC| > 1 and FDR < 0.05 were identified, of which 78 were upregulated and 10 were downregulated. Then, FBP1 and Pepck were downregulated in the gluconeogenesis pathway, and MKNK2 was upregulated in the MAPK classical pathway, which promoted cell proliferation and differentiation, indicating that the activity of mantis shrimp was slowed and the metabolic rate decreases in the dark environment. As a result, the energy was saved for its growth and development. At the same time, we performed gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) on all DEGs. In the KEGG pathway analysis, each metabolic pathway in the dark environment showed a slowing trend. GO was enriched in biological processes such as eye development, sensory perception and sensory organ development. The study showed that mantis shrimp slowed down metabolism in the dark, while the role of sensory organs prominent. It provides important information for further understanding the energy metabolism and has great significance to study the physiology of mantis shrimp in dark environment.