Identification of differentially expressed genes in the digestive gland of manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum exposed to BDE-47

Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was used to identify alterations in gene transcription of the manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum after exposure to 5 μg/L 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) for 15 days. The ability to accumulate BDE-47 in digestive gland and gill was also evaluated in order to provide information for food safety. Analysis of tissue extracts indicated that digestive gland had the higher BDE-47 levels (12,463.1 ± 1334.8 ng/g d.w.) compared to gill (6368.6 ± 738.7ng/g d.w.) after a 15-day exposure period. Forward and reverse SSH libraries were made from pooled digestive glands of R. philippinarum, from which 75 high quality sequences were obtained by BLAST analysis. The expression of 39 genes with significant homology (E-value < 10− 5) out of the 75 sequences was investigated by quantitative RT-PCR. Among the 39 genes, 27 genes were found up-regulated while 12 genes were found down-regulated after the BDE-47 exposure. The 39 genes were involved in cellular cycle, cytoskeleton, substance and energy metabolism, stress response, innate immunity and cell signaling and transport which were extensively discussed. This study provides a preliminary basis for studying the response of marine bivalves upon exposure to PBDEs in terms of regulated gene expression.