Integrative microRNA and mRNA analysis reveals regulation of ER stress in the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei under acute cold stress

Litopenaeus vannamei (L. vannamei) is one of the most important aquaculture shrimps in the world and its survival, growth, and distribution was seriously challenged by cold stress. To investigate the response of L. vannamei under acute cold stress, mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) profiles of the hepatopancreas which was collected from the control group (28 degrees C) and the treatment group (13 degrees C) were analyzed. The results showed that 1266 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (502 up- and 764 down-regulated) and 60 differentially expressed miRNAs (34 up- and 26 down-regulated) were identified under acute cold stress respectively. According to the functional annotation, catalytic activity was the most significant term in the GO category of molecular function, and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was the most enriched KEGG pathway for mRNAs profile. For miRNAs profile, functional annotation of the target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs indicated that oxidoreductase activity was the most significant term in the GO category of molecular function, and glucagon signaling pathway was the most enriched KEGG pathway. The results revealed that ER involved in the acute cold stress response and acute cold stress may induce the unfolded protein response of L. vannamei.