Cloning and sequence analysis of a full-length cDNA of <Emphasis Type="Italic">SmPP1cb</Emphasis> encoding turbot protein phosphatase 1 beta catalytic subunit

Reversible protein phosphorylation, catalyzed by protein kinases and phosphatases, is an important and versatile mechanism by which eukaryotic cells regulate almost all the signaling processes. Protein phosphatase 1 （PP1） is the first and well-characterized member of the protein serine/threonine phosphatase family. In the present study, a full-length cDNA encoding the beta isoform of the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase l（PPlcb）, was for the first time isolated and sequenced from the skin tissue of flatfish turbot Scophthalmus maximus, designated SmPPlcb, by the rapid amplification of cDNA ends （RACE） technique. The cDNA sequence of SmPPlcb we obtained contains a 984 bp open reading frame （ORF）, flanked by a complete 39 bp 5＇ untranslated region and 462 bp 3＇ untranslated region. The ORF encodes a putative 327 amino acid protein, and the N-terminal section of this protein is highly acidic, Met-Ala-Glu-Gly-Glu-Leu-Asp-Val-Asp, a common feature for PP1 catalytic subunit but absent in protein phosphatase 2B （PP2B）. And its calculated molecular mass is 37 193 Da and pI 5.8. Sequence analysis indicated that, SmPPlcb is extremely conserved in both amino acid and nucleotide acid levels compared with the PPlcb of other vertebrates and invertebrates, and its Kozak motif contained in the 5＇UTR around ATG start codon is GXXAXXGXXATGG, which is different from mammalian in two positions A6 and G3, indicating the possibility of different initiation of translation in turbot, and also the 3＇UTR of SmPPlcb is highly diverse in the sequence similarity and length compared with other animals, especially zebraf＇lsh. The cloning and sequencing of SmPPlcb gene lays a good foundation for the future work on the biological functions of PP1 in the flatfish turbot.     

Cloning of the cDNA encoding adenosine 5′-monophosphate deaminase 1 and its mRNA expression in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

AMP deaminase catalyzes the conversion of AMP into IMP and ammonia. In the present study, a full-length cDNA of AMPD1 from skeletal muscle of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus was cloned and characterized. The 2 526 bp cDNA contains a 5’-UTR of 78 bp, a 3’-UTR of 237 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 2 211 bp, which encodes a protein of 736 amino acids. The predicted protein contains a highly conserved AMP deaminase motif (SLSTDDP) and an ATP-binding site sequence (EPLMEEYAIAAQVFK). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the AMPD1 and AMPD3 genes originate from the same branch, but are evolutionarily distant from the AMPD2 gene. RT-PCR showed that the flounder AMPD1 gene was expressed only in skeletal muscle. QRT-PCR analysis revealed a statistically significant 2.54 fold higher level of AMPD1 mRNA in adult muscle (750±40 g) compared with juvenile muscle (7.5±2 g) (P<0.05). HPLC analysis showed that the IMP content in adult muscle (3.35±0.21 mg/g) was also statistically significantly higher than in juvenile muscle (1.08±0.04 mg/g) (P<0.05). There is a direct relationship between the AMPD1 gene expression level and IMP content in the skeletal muscle of juvenile and adult flounders. These results may provide useful information for quality improvement and molecular breeding of aquatic animals.     

Characterization of ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase and transcriptional analysis of its related genes in Saccharina japonica (Laminariales,Phaeophyta)

Saccharina japonica is a common macroalga in sublittoral communities of cold seawater environments,and consequently may have highly effi cient ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase(Rubisco)activity for carbon assimilation.In our study,we cloned the full-length Rubisco gene from S.japonica(SJ-rbc).It contained an open reading frame for a large subunit gene(SJ-rbcL)of 1 467 bp,a small subunit gene(SJ-rbcS)of 420 bp,and a SJ-rbcL /S intergenic spacer of 269 bp.The deduced peptides of SJ-rbcL and SJ-rbcS were 488 and 139 amino acids with theoretical molecular weights and isoelectric points of 53.97 kDa,5.81 and 15.84 kDa,4.71,respectively.After induction with 1 mmol/L isopropyl-β-Dthiogalactopyranoside for 5 h and purifi cation by Ni 2+ affi nity chromatography,electrophoresis and western blot detection demonstrated successful expression of the 55 kDa SJ-rbcL protein.Real-time quantitative PCR showed that the mRNA levels of SJ-rbcL in gametophytes increased when transferred into normal growth conditions and exhibited diurnal variations: increased expression during the day but suppressed expression at night.This observation implied that Rubisco played a role in normal gametophytic growth and development.In juvenile sporophytes,mRNA levels of SJ-rbcL,carbonic anhydrase,Calvin-BensonBassham cycle-related enzyme,and chloroplast light-harvesting protein were remarkably increased under continuous light irradiance.Similarly,expression of these genes was up-regulated under blue light irradiance at 350 μmol/(m 2·s).Our results indicate that long-term white light and short-term blue light irradiance enhances juvenile sporophytic growth by synergistic effects of various photosynthetic elements.     

Isolation and characterization of an enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase gene from microalga Isochrysis galbana

In most bacteria,plants and algae,fatty acid biosynthesis is catalyzed by a group of freely dissociable proteins known as the type II fatty acid synthase(FAS II) system.In the FAS II system,enoylacyl carrier protein reductase(ENR) acts as a determinant for completing the cycles of fatty acid elongation.In this study,the cDNA sequence of ENR,designated as IgENR,was isolated from the microalga Isochrysis galbana CCMM5001.RACE(rapid amplification of cDNA ends) was used to isolate the full-length cDNA of IgENR(1 503 bp),which contains an open reading frame(ORF) of 1 044 bp and encodes a protein of 347 amino acids.The genomic DNA sequence of IgENR is interrupted by four introns.The putative amino acid sequence is homologous to the ENRs of seed plants and algae,and they contain common coenzymebinding sites and active site motifs.Under different stress conditions,real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) showed the expression of IgENR was upregulated by high temperature(35℃),and downregulated by depleted nitrogen(0 mol/L).To clarify the mechanism of lipids accumulating lipids,other genes involved in lipids accumulation should be studied.     

Molecular Cloning and Expression ofPoIR2, a Novel Gene Involved in Immune Response in Japanese Flounder （Paralichthys olivaceus）

A novel immune-related gene was expressed in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) injected with Vibrio anguillarum. The complete cDNA contained a 169 bp 5’UTR, a 336 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 111 amino acids and a 556bp 3’UTR. Six exons and five introns were identified in the PoIR2 gene. Blastp similarity comparison showed its encoding protein had 50% similarity to Danio rerio neuromedin S (NMS), but further alignment indicated they did not have NMS C-terminal conservational signature domain. So it was not defined as an NMS homologue. Protein structure analysis indicated it had a 26aa signal peptide and was a secretory pathway protein. RT-PCR demonstrated that the expression of PoIR2 was quickly induced and drastically increased in liver, kidney, spleen, gills, intestine, heart, and skeletal muscle after infected with V. anguillarum. These results indicated that the PoIR2 might play some important role in Japanese flounder immune response system. This gene was named PoIR2 (P.olivaceus immune-related gene 2, GenBank accession number: EU224372). The mature PoIR2 peptide was expressed in BL21(DE3) pLysS using pET-32a(+) vector and a great part of the recombinant mature peptide existed as soluble type.     

Expression and localization of a novel phosducin-like protein from amphioxus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Branchiostoma belcheri</Emphasis>

A full length amphioxus cDNA, encoding a novel phosducin-like protein (Amphi-PhLP), was identified for the first time from the gut cDNA library of Branchiostoma belcheri. It is comprised of 1 550 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 241 amino acids, with a predicted molecular mass of approximately 28 kDa. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed a tissue-specific expression pattern of Amphi-PhLP with the high levels in the ovary, and at a lower level in the hind gut and testis, hepatic caecum, gill, endostyle, and epipharyngeal groove, while it was absent in the muscle, neural tube and notochord. In the Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the expression plasmid pEGFP-N1/Amphi-PhLP, the fusion protein was targeted in the cytoplasm of CHO cells, suggesting that Amphi-PhLP is a cytosolic protein. This work may provide a framework for further understanding of the physiological function of Amphi-PhLP in B. belcheri. Supported by the Pilot Projects of Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-211-03 and MGE2008KG06)     

Molecular cloning and mRNA expression analysis of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) from fast skeletal muscle of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella

The myosin heavy chain (MyHC) is one of the major structural and contracting proteins of muscle. We have isolated the cDNA clone encoding MyHC of the grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella. The sequence comprises 5 934 bp, including a 5 814 bp open reading frame encoding an amino acid sequence of 1 937 residues. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 69% homology to rabbit fast skeletal MyHC and 73%–76% homology to the MyHCs from the mandarin fish, walleye pollack, white croaker, chum salmon, and carp. The putative sequences of subfragment-1 and the light meromyosin region showed 61.4%–80% homology to the corresponding regions of other fish MyHCs. The tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific expressions of the MyHC gene were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. The MyHC gene showed the highest expression in the muscles compared with the kidney, spleen and intestine. Developmentally, there was a gradual increase in MyHC mRNA expression from the neural formation stage to the tail bud stage. The highest expression was detected in hatching larva. Our work on the MyHC gene from the grass carp has provided useful information for fish molecular biology and fish genomics.     

Heterologous gene expression driven by carbonic anhydrase gene promoter in Dunaliella salina

1 INTRODUCTION The unicellular Dunaliella salina, is one of the well studied microalgae for mass culture and is of commercial importance as a source of natural beta-carotene (Avron and Ben-Amot, 1992). D. sa- lina has desirable properties of halotolerance…     

Cloning and Characterization of an Abalone （Haliotis discus hannai ） Actin Gene

1　Introduction　Actinisanimportantcontractileproteinineukary oticcells .Itisoneofthetwomajorcomponentsin volvedinthecontractionofmusclecells .Innon mus clecells ,itisthemajorpartofcytoskeletoninvolvedinmanyprocessessuchascellmotility ,endocytosis ,exocyt…     

Characterization of SNAP-25 gene from marine teleostean, Lateolabrax japonicus

The t-SNARE protein SNAP-25 (synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa) plays an essential role in regulating fusion between the vesicle and plasma membranes during exocytosis. To clone and characterize SNAP-25 gene, the first step in the functional study of SNARE proteins in marine teleostean, was to obtain the cDNA of sea perch SNAP-25 (SPsn25) by RT-PCR and RACE-PCR amplification of a Japanese sea perch. The full-length cDNA of 831bp contains a CDS of 615 bp, coding 204 amino acid residues, and a 5′UTR of 219bp. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that SPsn25 corresponds with SNAP-25a isoform and shares 91.1% identity with SNAP-25a of a goldfish and a zebrafish. The SPsn25 expression in both mRNA and protein levels in the Japanese sea perch had been identified through semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western Blot assay. Together, these data again confirmed the nerve tissue specificity of the fish SNAP-25 gene expression.     

金龟子绿僵菌甘露糖6-磷酸异构酶基因cDNA序列的克隆及分析

通过绿僵菌属甘露糖6-磷酸异构酶基因保守核苷酸区域设计简并性引物,采用RT-PCR及RACE-PCR技术成功克隆了金龟子绿僵菌mpi基因cDNA序列。该基因cDNA序列全长为1 513 bp,开放阅读框长度为1 328 bp,共编码441氨基酸。BLAST分析发现该基因演绎的氨基酸序列与其它真菌同源性较高,蛋白结构分析表明MPI蛋白是较保守的蛋白磷酸酶结构特征,主要由α螺旋和不规则卷曲构成。     

Identification of two major histocompatibility (MH) class II A genes and their association to Vibrio anguillarum infection in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis)

Major histocompatibility complex class II antigens are important in vertebrate immune system.In the present study,the full cDNA sequence of class II A gene was synthesized by RACE-PCR from half-smooth tongue sole(Cynoglossus semilaevis),and its open reading frame(ORF) polymorphism was studied.The whole cDNA sequence was 992 bp in length,including the ORF with 717 bp.Twenty-five alleles were identified and clustered into two distinct groups according to the specific nucleotides/amino acids in specific positions.Eleven alleles belonged to Cyse-DAA while fourteen alleles belonged to Cyse-DBA.Four Cyse-DAA alleles were observed in one individual,and three to five Cyse-DBA alleles were observed in each of the three detected individuals,which indicated that at least two loci existed in each gene.Moreover,in order to study the function of the alleles in resistance to infection,200 individuals were intraperitoneally injected with Vibrio anguillarum and the first 20 dead individuals and 20 surviving ones were selected for genotype analysis.Fifty-six alleles were identified among the 40 individuals.Twenty-nine alleles belonged to Cyse-DAA and the other 27 alleles belonged to Cyse-DBA.Eighteen alleles were selected for studying their function in resistance to infection.Alleles Cyse-DAA*0201,Cyse-DAA*1101,Cyse-DBA*0401,Cyse-DBA*1102,Cyse-DBA*1801 and Cyse-DBA*2201 were identi-fied only in surviving individuals,while alleles Cyse-DAA*0901,Cyse-DBA*1101 and Cyse-DBA*1401 occurred more frequently in dead individuals.This study confirmed the existence and polymorphism of two class II A genes as well as the relationship between alleles of class II A genes and disease susceptibility/resistance in half-smooth tongue sole.     

Cloning and phylogenetic analysis of a fatty acid elongase gene from Nannochloropsis oculata CS179

Nannochloropsis oculata CS179, a unicellular marine microalga, is rich in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs). Elongase and desaturase play a key role in the biosynthesis of PUFAs. A new elongase gene, which encodes 322 amino acids, was identified via RT-PCR and 5′ and 3′ RACE. The sequence of the elongase gene was blast-searched in the NCBI GenBank and showed a similarity to those of the cryptosporidium. But the NJ-tree revealed that the N. oculata CS179 elongase clustered with those of the microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Ostreococcus tauri and Thalassiosira pseudonana.     

Molecular identification,expression pattern,and in-vitro bioactivity analysis of insulin-like growth factor 2 in olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are key regulators of development and growth. Here, we characterized the igf2 gene from olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and determined its temporal and spatial expression. We set up an in-vitro protein expression system in eukaryotic human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells and explored its effects on cell proliferation. The flounder igf2 cDNA contained a 648-bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 215 amino acids (aa), which spanned the complete signal peptide (47 aa), mature peptide (70 aa), and E domain (98 aa). In adult flounder, igf2 mRNA was detected in all selected tissues. In early development, igf2 mRNA was detected throughout development from unfertilized eggs to hatching-stage embryos. In-situ hybridization analysis indicated that igf2 mRNA was specially expressed in the brain region, floor plate, hypochord, otic vesicle, and pectoral fin during embryogenesis. Western blotting analysis indicated that the soluble recombinant flounder IGF2 protein was successfully produced through eukaryotic expression in HEK293T cells. In addition, the recombinant IGF2 protein significantly promoted the proliferation of human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) and HEK293T cells. These results provide new information about the structural and functional conservation, expression patterns, and biological activity of the igf2 in teleosts.