AUTHOR=Pang Ying , Zhang Xiaojun , Yuan Jianbo , Zhang Xiaoxi , Su Manwen , Li Fuhua 

TITLE=Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Gene Is Important in Growth and Molting of the Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.681966

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2021.681966

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=<p>Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is a vital multifunctional molecule that is widely distributed in invertebrates and vertebrates. GSK3 is a highly conserved serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) protein kinase, which plays an important role in insulin, Wnt, and various signaling pathways. In this study, a <italic>GSK3</italic> gene were identified in the genome of the Pacific white shrimp, <italic>Litopenaeus vannamei</italic>, and analyzed its gene structure, phylogeny, and expression profiles. The deduced LvGSK3 protein contains a highly conserved Ser/Thr protein kinase catalytic (S_TKc) domain, the <italic>LvGSK3</italic> gene exhibited high expression in different early developmental stages, most adult tissues, and premolting stages. RNA interference of <italic>LvGSK3</italic> significantly retarded the increment of body weight and affected the expressions of molting-related genes compared with control groups. These results will improve our understanding of the conserved structure and functions of the <italic>LvGSK3</italic> gene and show potential applications of shrimp growth.</p>