Gene Expression Profiles of Long-Chain Acyl-Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase, Nuclear Distribution C-Containing Protein 3, and Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Tie-1 in Swimming Larva of Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

The sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, is one of the most valuable aquatic species. The color of body wall and appearance are important for the value of sea cucumbers. To examine expression pattern of long-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (LCAD), nuclear distribution C-containing protein 3 (NUDCD3), and receptor tyrosine kinase Tie-1 (TIE1), previously reported as differently expressed genes during the pigmentation of sea cucumber, we analyzed the temporal profiles of LCAD, NUDCD3, and TIE1 mRNAs in LED-exposed and light-shielded A. japonicus. Real-time quantitative PCR revealed that the LCAD, NUDCD3, and TIE1 mRNAs from the juveniles at 40–60 days post-fertilization (dpf) exhibited increasing patterns as compared to those of an early developmental larva (6-dpf). At 60-dpf juveniles, the LCAD and TIE1 mRNA levels of LED-exposed individuals were higher than those of light-shielded ones, whereas at 40-dpf and 50-dpf juveniles, the NUDCD3 mRNA expression was higher in the light-shielded condition (p<0.05). In the pigmented juveniles (90-dpf), the LCAD and TIE1 mRNA levels tended to show higher levels in red individuals than those in green ones, but there was a conversely higher level of NUDCD3 mRNA in green larva. In situ examination of LCAD and NUDCD3 mRNAs in light-shielded 6-dpf larva revealed that both genes are mainly expressed in the internal organs compared to the body surface. Together, these results may provide insights into the differential gene expression of LCAD, NUDCD3, and TIE1 during pigmentation process of the sea cucumber.