LncRNA7467 participated in shell biomineralization in pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii

Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are reported to have multiple roles in various biological processes, including epigenetic regulation, transcriptional regulation and post-transcriptional regulation. However, the current studies for lncRNAs are mainly limited to mammalian species, and the investigations of functional roles for lncRNAs in bivalve species are still lacking. Here, we identified a novel lncRNA named lncRNA7467 from pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii, located in chromosome 9 at 14962920-14963218 bp. Intriguingly, lncRNA7467 showed the highest expression level in mantle tissue among tested tissues, and responded to repair and regen-eration of the injured shell. After knockdown gene expression by injecting lncRNA7467-specific double-stranded RNA, the inner surface of the prismatic layer changed significantly, and then the N44 gene was correspondingly inhibited. In addition, lncRNA7467 mainly distributed in the cytoplasm, and it mays primarily play a role in post -transcriptional regulation. These works indicated that lncRNA7467 was involved in the biomineralization process in pearl oyster P. f. martensii.