Best Practices for Comprehensive Annotation of Neuropeptides of Gryllus bimaculatus

SIMPLE SUMMARY: We identified the neuropeptides and their genomic loci on the draft genome sequences of Gryllus bimaculatus. These annotations were additionally assigned to the draft genome annotation. This addition to the draft genome annotation improved the convenience of research by consolidating the knowledge of neuropeptides, such as the sequence information and functional annotation, which could not be obtained without searching each article, into the draft genome annotation. This contributed to the infrastructure for facilitating genome-wide research using high-throughput sequencing technology. ABSTRACT: Genome annotation is critically important data that can support research. Draft genome annotations cover representative genes; however, they often do not include genes that are expressed only in limited tissues and stages, or genes with low expression levels. Neuropeptides are responsible for regulation of various physiological and biological processes. A recent study disclosed the genome draft of the two-spotted cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, which was utilized to understand the intriguing physiology and biology of crickets. Thus far, only two of the nine reported neuropeptides in G. bimaculatus were annotated in the draft genome. Even though de novo assembly using transcriptomic analyses can comprehensively identify neuropeptides, this method does not follow those annotations on the genome locus. In this study, we performed the annotations based on the reference mapping, de novo transcriptome assembly, and manual curation. Consequently, we identified 41 neuropeptides out of 43 neuropeptides, which were reported in the insects. Further, 32 of the identified neuropeptides on the genomic loci in G. bimaculatus were annotated. The present annotation methods can be applicable for the neuropeptide annotation of other insects. Furthermore, the methods will help to generate useful infrastructures for studies relevant to neuropeptides.