Developmental series of gene expression clarifies maternal mRNA provisioning and maternal-to-zygotic transition in the reef-building coralMontipora capitata

Background Maternal mRNA provisioning of oocytes regulates early embryogenesis. Maternal transcripts are degraded as zygotic genome activation (ZGA) intensifies, a phenomenon known as the maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT). Here, we examine gene expression over nine developmental stages in the Pacific rice coral, Montipora capitata , from eggs and embryos at 1, 4, 9, 14, 22, and 36 hours-post-fertilization (hpf), as well as swimming larvae (9d), and adult colonies. Results Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis revealed four expression peaks, identifying the maternal complement, two waves of the MZT, and adult expression. Gene ontology enrichment revealed maternal mRNAs are dominated by cell division, methylation, biosynthesis, metabolism, and protein/RNA processing and transport functions. The first MZT wave occurs from ∼4-14 hpf and is enriched in terms related to biosynthesis, methylation, cell division, and transcription. In contrast, functional enrichment in the second MZT wave, or ZGA, from 22 hpf-9dpf, includes ion/peptide transport and cell signaling. Finally, adult expression is enriched for functions related to signaling, metabolism, and ion/peptide transport. Our proposed MZT timing is further supported by expression of enzymes involved in zygotic transcriptional repression (Kaiso) and activation (Sox2), which peak at 14 hpf and 22 hpf, respectively. Further, DNA methylation writing (DNMT3a) and removing enzymes (TET1) peak and remain stable past ∼4 hpf, indicating that methylome programming occurs before 4 hpf. Conclusions Our high-resolution insight into the coral maternal mRNA and MZT provides essential information regarding setting the stage for, and the sensitivity of, developmental success and parental carryover effects under increasing environmental stress.