Integrated biochemical profiling, comparative transcriptome and weighted gene co-expression network analysis to explore the response mechanism of global warming and ocean acidification to the stress of Sepia esculenta larvae

The Sepia esculenta has high economic value and nutritional value, and accounts for a high proportion of the catch of cephalopods in China 's coastal waters. Global warming and ocean acidification, as major environmental problems currently facing the world, have a serious negative influence on the survival and breeding of S. esculenta . Therefore, in the research, transcriptome sequencing and biochemical quantitative analysis were performed on the larvae of S. esculenta after high temperature, low pH and combined stress at different time points, and the differential expressed genes (DEGs) and response mechanisms were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly involved in a large number of immune-related biological processes and signaling pathways, including Immune response、Phagocytosis、Regulation of DNA-templated transcription and Positive regulation of DNA-templated transcription. Then, we further explored the functional relationship between these DEGs by constructing weighted gene co-expression network and protein-protein interaction networks. We identified ten hub genes including HSP90AA1 , ALDH1L1 , VPS13A , MAPK8IP1 and KDM6A . These hub genes may play an important role in the face of high temperature, low pH and their combined stress at different times. Our findings not only elucidate the molecular response mechanisms of S. esculenta to environmental stress and delineate the key regulatory pathways underlying its adaptation, but also provide a theoretical foundation for advancing pond cultivation. • Multi-angle analysis of Sepia esculenta under global warming and ocean acidification. • Stress enhanced the immune defense and antioxidant defense of S.esculenta . • The hub genes closely related to stress resistance were identified and screened out. • Provided a theoretical basis for the breeding of fine varieties and pond culture.