RNAi based transcriptome suggests genes potentially regulated by HSF1 in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas under thermal stress.

Our results revealed that the expression of HSP70 and HSP20 was initially triggered after 2 h of heat shock, and one of the HSP70 genes was potentially regulated by HSF1. From these results, it is evident that not all heat-inducible genes were triggered simultaneously in response to heat shock stress. Overall, the results revealed a possible HSF1-HSP regulatory relationship in Pacific oyster, providing valuable information on the mechanisms of thermal tolerance in this commercially important oyster.