'Kallummakkaya' soars to stardom after CMFRI scientists crack its genetic code

Kochi: Asian green mussel, generally called 'Kallummakkaya' in Kerala, occupies a significant spot on the platter of Kerala's unique culinary delights. Now, the marine species, popular across Asian countries has stepped out of the frying pan and moved into the scientific spotlight with the path-breaking achievement of its genetic sequencing.

The researchers at ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Kochi have successfully deciphered the genome of the Asian green mussel (Perna viridis), a discovery poised to revolutionise the understanding of this vital marine species. This is the first-ever chromosome-level genome sequencing of a marine invertebrate species from India. Earlier, CMFRI had come out with a similar genome finding for Indian oil sardines.

The Asian green mussel, Kallummakkaya, in local parlance, is an important aquaculture species in the family Mytilidae, contributing substantially to molluscan aquaculture. CMFRI's research found that the mussel's genome contains 723.49 Mb in size and is anchored into 15 chromosomes, according to a CMFRI release here on Thursday. The research was published in the journal Scientific Data by Nature Group. "The development will be a game-changer in boosting sustainable mussel aquaculture in the country, as this research will help gain insights into its growth, reproduction and disease resistance", said Dr Grinson George, Director of CMFRI.

The findings will benefit the aquaculture sector by improving genomic selection and breeding practices, leading to enhanced productivity and resilience in fisheries, he added. A team of researchers from CMFRI led by Principal Scientist Dr Sandhya Sukumaran carried out this study with funding support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi. The team includes Dr A Gopalakrishnan, V G Vysakh, Dr Wilson Sebastian, Dr Lalitha Hari Dharani, Dr Akhilesh Pandey, Dr Abishek Kumar and Dr J K Jena.

According to scientists, this will help develop new strategies to combat diseases in the mussel. Genomic investigations on this species are vital to understanding genes, gene combinations, and signalling pathways leading to parasitic diseases, which constitute a major threat to Asian green mussel aquaculture in India, causing substantial mortalities in farms," said Dr Sandhya Sukumaran. According to the scientists, the genome assembly of green mussels will emerge as a valuable tool for exploring cancer mechanisms and developing new therapeutic strategies.

"A total of 49654 protein-coding genes were identified, including 634 genes associated with the cancer pathway and 408 genes associated with viral carcinogenesis. This indicates that this species is a novel model organism for cancer research," Sukumaran said.

She added that this advancement promises to significantly enhance our understanding of cancer pathways and facilitate the discovery of novel treatments. Apart from its aquaculture prospects, Asian green mussels play a vital role as a biomonitor as they are capable of accumulating heavy metals and other environmental pollutants in large quantities. Understanding the genome assembly will provide valuable information about the genomic pathways that respond to pollutants.

"The genetic markers to be developed from this research could be used to monitor pollutants in aquatic bodies, a significant milestone in safeguarding the aquatic environment," Sandhya said. Scientists believe that the genome decoding of this species would enhance knowledge regarding the effect of environmental pollutants on biological systems, as this bivalve is adaptable to local environmental stressors like variations in pH, temperature, salinity and air exposure.