TY - JOUR T1 - Cultured Pearl Surface Quality Profiling by the Shell Matrix Protein Gene Expression in the Biomineralised Pearl Sac Tissue of Pinctada margaritifera A1 - Blay,Carole A1 - Planes,Serge A1 - Ky,Chin-Long AD - IFREMER, Labex Corail, Ctr Pacifique, UMR EIO241, BP 49, F-98719 Tahiti, French Polynesi, France. AD - Univ Perpignan, PSL Res Univ, CNRS, EPHE,UPVD,CRIOBE,USR 3278, 52 Ave Paul Alduy, F-66860 Perpignan, France. UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-018-9811-y DO - 10.1007/s10126-018-9811-y KW - Biomineralisation KW - Relative gene expression KW - Pearl sac KW - Biomarkers KW - Pearl quality KW - Pinctada margaritifera N2 - Nucleated pearls are produced by molluscs of the Pinctada genus through the biomineralisation activity of the pearl sac tissue within the recipient oyster. The pearl sac originates from graft tissue taken from the donor oyster mantle and its functioning is crucial in determining key factors that impact pearl quality surface characteristics. The specific role of related gene regulation during gem biogenesis was unknown, so we analysed the expression profiles of eight genes encoding nacreous (PIF, MSI60, PERL1) or prismatic (SHEM5, PRISM, ASP, SHEM9) shell matrix proteins or both (CALC1) in the pearl sac (N = 211) of Pinctada margaritifera during pearl biogenesis. The pearls and pearl sacs analysed were from a uniform experimental graft with sequential harvests at 3, 6 and 9 months post-grafting. Quality traits of the corresponding pearls were recorded: surface defects, surface deposits and overall quality grade. Results showed that (1) the first 3 months of culture seem crucial for pearl quality surface determination and (2) all the genes (SHEM5, PRISM, ASP, SHEM9) encoding proteins related to calcite layer formation were over-expressed in the pearl sacs that produced low pearl surface quality. Multivariate regression tree building clearly identified three genes implicated in pearl surface quality, SHEM9, ASP and PIF. SHEM9 and ASP were clearly implicated in low pearl quality, whereas PIF was implicated in high quality. Results could be used as biomarkers for genetic improvement of P. margaritifera pearl quality and constitute a novel perspective to understanding the molecular mechanism of pearl formation. Y1 - 2018/08 PB - Springer JF - Marine Biotechnology SN - 1436-2228 VL - 20 IS - 4 SP - 490 EP - 501 ID - 54622 ER -