POTENTIAL REGULATORY ROLES OF G PROTEIN-COUPLED RECEPTORS AND HOMEOBOX GENES IN THE CEREBRAL GANGLION OF ARTEMIA DURING EARLY DEVELOPMENT

: Artemia, a small aquatic crustacean widely distributed in saline and alkali environments, represents as a valuable model for investigating gene regulation mechanisms in crustacean development. Under favorable conditions, Artemia larvae, complete metamorphosis through multiple molts within 2-4 weeks, but the neural regulation mechanisms involved in individual development are currently unclear. This study reports on the transcriptional dynamics of the cerebral ganglia across three developmental stages, identifying genes specifically expressed at each stage and predicting their functions. In the instar I stage, highly expressed genes (HEGs) are primarily involved in the metabolism of organic compounds and immune regulation, including sulfur compound transport and ornithine metabolism. In instar III, HEGs are related to cellular respiration, methylation, and purine metabolism, while in instar VIII, they are associated with neural signal transmission and cell-cell recognition. Notably, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and homeobox genes are significantly highly expressed in the instar III and instar VIII stages. The functions of these gene subfamilies were further explored: GPCRs, such as opsin receptors, neuroactive ligand receptors, and olfactory receptors, are highly expressed in the relatively later stages of larval development. Homeobox genes, including Unc-42, Arx, and Ceh-14 are highly expressed in instar III stage, while Arx, Ceh-14, Nkx2, and Phox are highly expressed in instar VIII stage. The results indicate that instar I larvae grow efficiently by enhancing metabolism and substance transport, while instar III to VII is an important stage for cell differentiation and nervous system maturation. The increased expression of GPCRs and homeobox genes during this time points to further visual development and nervous system specialization in Artemia. This study provides a comprehensive transcriptome dataset of cerebral ganglion and offers insights into the developmental mechanisms of Artemia, shedding light on the neural regulatory roles in crustacean development.