Exploration of Sexual Maturation Genes Using Octopus Minor Transcriptome Analysis

Octopus minor is a key seafood product in Korean coastal mudflats, holding significant industrial importance. However, limited distribution and environmental pollution of mudflats have underscored the need for stock restoration and development of superior breeds. This study analyzed Octopus minor genomic information by sex, tissue, and developmental stage, identi-fying differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Initially, de novo transcriptome assembly was per-formed to construct a reference sequence, resulting in 993,121 transcripts. After removing dupli-cates and analyzing expression changes, 40,688 transcripts were identified. DEGs were discov-ered, with 8,104 DEGs in females (gonad: 7,068, optic lobe: 1,036) compared to 5,285 in males (gonad: 4,765, optic lobe: 520). Gene expression changes related to sexual maturation were more pronounced in females and gonads compared to males and optic lobes. This study significantly contributes to future research on octopus genetics and trait improvement.