Novel inframe deletion mutation in the HSP70 gene of freshwater redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus von Martens 1868) and its association with the live harvest weight

Abstract

Abstract The freshwater redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus von Martens 1868) is one of the aquaculture commodities with high economic value. A molecular selection in redclaw crayfish based on the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene was the goal of this study. As a preliminary study, twenty redclaw crayfish were used for the investigation. The results revealed the presence of a novel deletion mutation at 939th nucleotide in the exon 3 of HSP70 gene sequence (566 bp) in redclaw crayfish. Approximately 75% of the sampled individuals carried the insertion-type allele. According to the observed sequence, a deletion locus in the redclaw crayfish HSP70 gene was confirmed as the inframe deletion mutation that causing 96 amino acid variations. However, the wildtype and mutant redclaw crayfishes had similar live harvest weights (30.98±4.30 g vs. 30.81±3.68 g). In the future, an in-depth study to investigate the effect of mutation sites in the HSP70 gene of redclaw crayfish with a large sample and managing the genome-wide association study (GWAS) are important to obtain the genetic markers for economic traits effectively. In addition, a recording system of redclaw crayfish must be implemented to support the molecular selection program in the future.