Preliminary Exploration of Metabolic Mechanisms in Copper-Exposed Based on Transcriptome Analysis.

As a common and high-concentration heavy metal in the ocean, Cu can induce metal toxicity and significantly affect the metabolic function of marine organisms. is an important economic cephalopod found along the east coast of China, the growth, movement, and reproduction of which are all affected by heavy metals. Hitherto, the specific metabolic mechanism of heavy-metal exposure in is still unclear. In this study, we identified 1131 DEGs through transcriptome analysis of larval within 24 h of Cu exposure. GO and KEGG functional enrichment analysis results indicated that Cu exposure may affect purine metabolism, protein digestion and absorption, cholesterol metabolism, and other metabolic processes in larvae. It is worth noting that in this study we explore metabolic mechanism of Cu-exposed larvae through the comprehensive analysis of protein-protein interaction network and KEGG enrichment analysis for the first time and find 20 identified key and hub genes such as CYP7A1, CYP3A11, and ABCA1. Based on their expression, we preliminarily speculate that Cu exposure may inhibit multiple metabolic processes and induce metabolic disorders. Our results lay a foundation for further understanding the metabolic mechanism of against heavy metals and provide theoretical help for artificial breeding.