Microarray validation of molecular and cellular signaling in Homarus americanus and Penaeus monodon

Previous studies have demonstrated that invertebrate neural tissues contain mammalian-like neurotransmitters, which activate specific cellular functions. Therefore, it was of interest to attempt to identify these molecules via Agilent gene expression microarrays. The array was used to analyze the transcriptional profiles of lobster and shrimp RNA samples. We show dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine genes and their corresponding receptors are significantly expressed in lobster and shrimp neural tissues with a signal to noise value greater than 2. These signal molecules are directly related to previously discovered molecules in invertebrates, suggesting that they first appeared earlier in evolution and are necessary for an animal’s survival.