The Wnt genes encode a set of conserved glycoproteins regulating early development, cell proliferation and differentiation, and tissue regeneration in metazoans. In some mollusks, the knowledge of Wnt gene family has been limited because of the short of the genomic and transcriptomic resources. Ruditapes philippinarum is an economically important bivalve with a variety of shell coloration patterns and ability to regenerate its siphon. To gain a greater understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of Wnt gene family, we carried out a genome-wide identification and phylogenetic analysis of Wnt gene family in R. philippinarum and other four mollusks. A total of 12 Wnt genes were identified in the genome of R. philippinarum, and the dynamic patterns of gene conservation, loss and duplication of Wnt genes were analyzed in mollusks and model organisms. Furthermore, the transcriptome analyses demonstrated the expression profiles of the Wnt genes at different developmental stage, in adult tissues, during siphon regeneration, in four different shell color strains, and at uncolored and colored developmental stages in two different shell color strains. These findings suggest that the expansion of Wnt genes may play vital roles in the larval development, the formation of shell color pattern and siphon regeneration in R. philippinarum. This study provides a valuable insight into Wnt function and evolution in mollusks.

所述的Wnt基因编码的一组保守的糖蛋白调节早期发育，细胞增殖和分化，并且在多细胞动物组织再生。在某些软体动物中，由于缺乏基因组和转录组资源，Wnt基因家族的知识受到了限制。菲律宾蛤仔（Ruditapes philippinarum）是一种具有重要经济意义的双壳类动物，具有多种壳色模式和使其虹吸管再生的能力。为了更好地了解Wnt基因家族的进化动力学，我们进行了全基因组鉴定和系统进化分析，分析了菲律宾蛤仔和其他四种软体动物中的Wnt基因家族。一共12 Wnt在philipinarum的基因组中鉴定了基因，并在软体动物和模型生物中分析了Wnt基因的基因保守，丢失和复制的动态模式。此外，转录组分析证明了Wnt基因在四种不同壳色菌株在成年组织中，虹吸再生过程中，在不同发育阶段，在成年组织中以及在两种不同壳色菌株在无色和有色发育阶段中的表达谱。这些发现表明，Wnt基因的扩增可能在菲律宾蛤仔的幼虫发育，壳色图案的形成和虹吸管再生中起着至关重要的作用。这项研究为您提供了宝贵的见解Wnt在软体动物中的功能和进化。