Environmental and genetic regulation of muscle growth in scallop

Cultivation of scallop has received much attention due to the increasing demand for high quality products at the European rnarket. The highly favourable growth condition for scallop along the Norwegian coastline gives a unique opportunity to become the le ading nation within scallop production. In this project a molecular approach is described for studying environmental and genetic growth regulation of the main edible part, the adductor muscle, of the great scallop (Pecten maximus). Temperature is a critic al factor influencing scallop grow and thus the success of scallop cultivation. Endogeneous regulatory factors known to be involved in muscle growth regulation in vertebrates will be cioned from scallop striated muscle and their expression paftems determined using quantitative PCR and in situ hybri disation. The Iownstream consequences of growth in terms of fibre recruitment and hypertrophy and connective tissue remodelling will be quantified. We will test the hypothesis that the temperature regime during the veliger larval stage can influence muscl e growth following metamorphosis and seftlement via effects on the number and behaviour of myogenic progenitor cells. rhe potential for applying this basic information will be assessed in conjuntion with industry partners.