AUTHOR=Jin Yue , Yu Yang , Zhang Chengsong , Li Shihao , Zhang Xiaojun , Li Fuhua 

TITLE=Characterization and Function Analysis of the Beta-Carotene Oxygenase-like Genes in Carotenoids Metabolism of the Ridgetail White Prawn Exopalaemon carinicauda

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.00745

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2020.00745

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>Carotenoids are almost universally distributed in living organisms. The oxidative metabolism by carotene oxygenase contributes to the metabolic processes of carotenoids. 15,15ʹ-beta-carotene oxygenase (BCO1) and 9ʹ,10ʹ-beta-carotene oxygenase (BCO2) are two important carotenoid oxygenases. In order to understand the function of carotenoid oxygenases in crustaceans, seven genes encoding carotenoid oxygenases (named <italic>EcBCO-like</italic>) were isolated from the transcriptome database of <italic>Exopalaemon carinicauda</italic>. After phylogenetic analysis with carotenoid oxygenases reported in other species, <italic>EcBCO-like1</italic>, <italic>EcBCO-like3</italic>, and <italic>EcBCO-like6</italic> were chosen for further functional study. The prawns after <italic>EcBCO-like1</italic> knockdown suffered continuous death, which suggested its important role for the survival of the animals. For the prawns after <italic>EcBCO-like3</italic> knockdown, no phenotype change was observed. The prawns after <italic>EcBCO-like6</italic> knockdown showed color changes in their hepatopancreas when they were fed with carotenoids-containing diet, and the content of carotenoid in their hepatopancreas was much higher than that in the control prawns. The present study will pave the way for further understanding the carotenoids metabolism in the prawns.</p>