Genomes of Solenogastres Shed Light on Ancestral Molluscan Biomineralization Genes

Solenogastres show the highest number of significant gene-family losses across Mollusca, including SMPs, supporting a conserved but reduced biomineralization toolkit for sclerite formation.

• Why it matters: It is unclear whether the genetic mechanism for biomineralization in aculiferans and conchiferans is shared or diverged.
• What they did: The study re-sequenced Epimenia babai and Neomenia megatrapezata genomes using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C scaffolding, then inferred 1,244 SMP orthogroups and tested expansion/contraction at key evolutionary nodes.
• The result: Solenogastres had 292 SMP orthogroups present in at least one genome, with 15 SMPs detected in solenogaster genomes, and structural silk-like proteins reduced to 16–17 versus 29 in caudofoveates and 46–80 in chitons.

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