Relationship between Condition Index Values and Expression Levels of Gene and Protein in the Adductor Muscle of Diploid and Triploid Oysters Crassostrea gigas .

Three proteins [myosin heavy chain ( MHC ), filamin-C fragment ( FIL-C ), and actin 2 ( ACT2 )] were identified in adductor muscle from diploid and triploid Pacific oysters ( Crassostrea gigas ) and the relationship between the condition index (CI) and mRNA expression of these genes was investigated, together with the mRNA expression of molluscan insulin-related peptide ( MIP ), C. gigas insulin receptor-related receptor ( CIR ), and insulin-like growth factor binding protein complex acid labile subunit ( IGFBP-ALS ). Monthly changes in the CI were similar to the changes in the tissue weight rate in both groups. ACT2 and MHC mRNA expression was statistically higher in the triploid than the diploid, while FIL-C mRNA expression was significantly higher in the diploid ( p <0.05). The MIP , CIR , and IGFBP-ALS mRNA expression of the diploid oysters were all significantly higher in July than in other months ( p <0.05). The MIP , CIR , and IGFBP-ALS mRNA expression in the triploid oysters was high in July, but there were no significant differences ( p >0.05). Changes in the expression levels of the genes investigated in this study could be used as intrinsic indicators of the annual growth, maturity, and spawning period of cultured diploid and triploid C. gigas in Tongyeong, Korea.