De novo transcriptome assembly of the Southern Ocean copepod Rhincalanus gigas sheds light on developmental changes in gene expression

Copepods are small crustaceans that dominate most zooplankton communities in terms of both abundance and biomass. In the polar oceans, a subset large lipid-storing copepods occupy central positions food web because their important role linking phytoplankton microzooplankton with higher trophic levels. this paper, we generated high-quality de novo transcriptome for Rhincalanus gigas, largest—and among abundant—of Southern Ocean copepods. We then conducted transcriptional profiling to characterize developmental transition between late-stage juveniles adult females. found juvenile R. gigas substantially upregulate lipid synthesis glycolysis pathways relative females, as part gene expression program also implicates processes such muscle growth, chitin formation, ion transport. This study provides first profile within or any endemic copepod, thereby extending our understanding copepod molecular physiology.