Journal Article
Title | Pearl formation: persistence of the graft during the entire process of biomineralization. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Authors | Arnaud-Haond, S, Goyard, E, Vonau, V, Herbaut, C, Prou, J, Saulnier, D |
Year of Publication | 2007 |
Journal | Mar Biotechnol (NY) |
Volume | 9 |
Issue | 1 |
Date Published | 2007 Jan-Feb |
Pagination | 113-6 |
ISSN | 1436-2228 |
Keywords | Animals, DNA Primers, Gene Frequency, Genotype, Pinctada, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Tissue Transplantation |
Abstract | Most bivalves species of the genus Pinctada are well known throughout the world for production of white or black pearls of high commercial value. For cultured pearl production, a mantle allograft from a donor is implanted into the gonad of a recipient oyster, together with a small inorganic bead. Because of the dedifferentiation of cells during the first steps of the host oyster's immunological reaction, so far the fate of the graft and its exact role in the process of pearl formation could not be determined via classical histological methods. Here we report the first molecular evidence of the resilience of the graft in the recipient organism by showing that cells containing genome from the donor are still present at the end of pearl formation. These results suggest the existence of a unique biological cooperation leading to the successful biomineralization process of nacreous secretion in pearl formation. |
DOI | 10.1007/s10126-006-6033-5 |
Sapientia | |
Alternate Journal | Mar. Biotechnol. |
PubMed ID | 17139560 |