Heat Shock Protein 70 Gene Family in Yesso Scallop Reveals Dynamic Alternative Splicing under High Temperature Stress

Research conducted at Dalian Ocean University has shed light on the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene family in the Yesso scallop, revealing a complex phenomenon of dynamic alternative splicing under high temperature stress. The study found that 63 HSP70 family members were identified in the Yesso scallop genome, with 58.73% being a result of tandem duplication. This lineage-specific expansion of the PyHSPa12 subfamily significantly diverges from the broader genomic trend.

Key Takeaways:

• The HSP70 gene family in the Yesso scallop consists of 63 members, with 58.73% resulting from tandem duplication, particularly in the PyHSPa12 subfamily.
• The majority of tandem duplicates are subject to purifying selection, with some genes undergoing positive selection at key codon sites.
• Transcriptome profiling revealed distinct expression patterns of PyHSP70s across developmental stages and adult tissues, with some genes exhibiting stage-specific or tissue-specific high expression.
• The SE_5803 and SE_5802 in PyHSPa12B-4 exhibited significant exon skipping in response to high-temperature treatment, indicating alternative splicing's critical role in modulating the scallop's response.
• The study provides novel insights into the evolution of HSP gene families and the adaptation mechanisms of scallops.

Statistics:

• 63 HSP70 family members were identified in the Yesso scallop genome.
• 58.73% of HSP70 genes resulted from tandem duplication, primarily in the PyHSPa12 subfamily.
• 71.4% of tandem duplicates were subject to purifying selection.
• 28.6% of tandem duplicates underwent positive selection at key codon sites.

Sources:

• "The Alternative Splicing of Duplicated HSP70 Genes in the Response of Patinopecten yessoensis Upon High Temperature Stress." Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 2025;166:110673.
• Dalian Ocean University
• Academic Press Ltd- Elsevier Science Ltd