Cloning of cDNAs and hybridization analysis of lysozymes from two oyster species, Crassostrea gigas and Ostrea edulis

In bivalve molluscs including oysters, lysozymes play an important role in the host defense mechanisms against invading microbes. However, it remains unclear in which sites/cells the lysozyme genes are expressed and which subsequently produced the enzyme. This study cloned lysozyme cDNAs from the digestive organs of Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas and European flat oyster Ostrea edulis. Both complete sequences of two oysters' lysozymes were composed of 137 amino acids. Two translated proteins present a high content in cysteine residues. Phylogenetic analyses showed that these oysters' lysozymes clustered with the invertebrate-type lysozymes of other bivalve species. In the Pacific oyster, lysozyme mRNA was expressed in all tissues except for those of the adductor muscle. In situ hybridization analyses revealed that lysozyme mRNA was expressed strongly in basophil cells in the digestive gland tubule of C. gigas, but not in digestive cells. Results indicated that the basophil cells of the oyster digestive gland are the sites of lysozyme synthesis.     

A cDNA Microarray for Crassostrea virginica and C. gigas

The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, and the Pacific oyster, C. gigas, are species of global economic significance as well as important components of estuarine ecosystems and models for genetic and environmental studies. To enhance the molecular tools available for oyster research, an international group of collaborators has constructed a 27,496-feature cDNA microarray containing 4460 sequences derived from C. virginica, 2320 from C. gigas, and 16 non-oyster DNAs serving as positive and negative controls. The performance of the array was assessed by gene expression profiling using gill and digestive gland RNA derived from both C. gigas and C. virginica, and digestive gland RNA from C. ariakensis. The utility of the microarray for detection of homologous genes by cross-hybridization between species was also assessed and the correlation between hybridization intensity and sequence homology for selected genes determined. The oyster cDNA microarray is publicly available to the research community on a cost-recovery basis.     

Identification and expression of a factor of the DM family in the oyster Crassostrea gigas

The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas is a successive not systematic protandric hermaphrodite. Searching for an ortholog to Dmrt1, a conserved sex determinism factor, we have identified the first complete cDNA of a DM factor in Lophotrochozoa which we have called Cg-DMl (Crassostrea gigas DMRT-like). It is 359aa long, with the DM domain common to all the family factors, and one DMA domain specific to members such as Dmrt4 and Dmrt5. Its gene presents one intron of 598 bp. Real time PCR and in situ hybridization have shown that Cg-DMl was expressed in both sexes, with a significantly higher expression in male than in female gonads at the end of the adult gametogenetic cycle and that a significant peak of expression was observed in spat between 1 and 2 months of age. These results suggest that Cg-DMl may be involved in the development of the gonad and may constitute preliminary clues for future work in order to better understand DM protein evolution.     

Molecular Analysis of Atypical Family 18 Chitinase from Fujian Oyster Crassostrea angulata and Its Physiological Role in the Digestive System

Chitinolytic enzymes have an important physiological significance in immune and digestive systems in plants and animals, but chitinase has not been identified as having a role in the digestive system in molluscan. In our study, a novel chitinase homologue, named Ca-Chit, has been cloned and characterized as the oyster Crassostrea angulate. The 3998bp full-length cDNA of Ca-Chit consisted of 23bp 5-UTR, 3288 ORF and 688bp 3-UTR. The deduced amino acids sequence shares homologue with the chitinase of family 18. The molecular weight of the protein was predicted to be 119.389 kDa, with a pI of 6.74. The Ca-Chit protein was a modular enzyme composed of a glycosyl hydrolase family 18 domain, threonine-rich region profile and a putative membrane anchor domain. Gene expression profiles monitored by quantitative RT-PCR in different adult tissues showed that the mRNA of Ca-Chit expressed markedly higher visceral mass than any other tissues. The results of the whole mount in-situ hybridization displayed that Ca-Chit starts to express the visceral mass of D-veliger larvae and then the digestive gland forms a crystalline structure during larval development. Furthermore, the adult oysters challenged by starvation indicated that the Ca-Chit expression would be regulated by feed. All the observations made suggest that Ca-Chit plays an important role in the digestive system of the oyster, Crassostrea angulate.     

A Centromeric Satellite Sequence in the Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg) Identified by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

A highly repetitive satellite sequence was previously identified in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas Thunberg. The sequence has 168 bp per unit, present in tandem repeats, and accounts for 1% to 4% of the genome. We studied the chromosomal location of this satellite sequence by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). A probe was made by polymerase chain reaction and incorporation of digoxigenin-11-dUTP. Hybridization was detected with fluorescein-labeled antidigoxigenin antibodies. FISH signals were located at centromeric regions of 7 pairs of the Pacific oyster chromosomes. No interstitial site was found. Signals were strong and consistent on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, and 7, but weak or variable on chromosomes 5, 8, and 10. No signal was observed on chromosomes 3, 6, and 9. Our results showed that this sequence is clearly a centromeric satellite, disputing its previous assignment to the telomeric and submetacentric regions of 2 chromosomes. No signal was detected in the American oyster (Crassostrea virginica Gmelin). Received February 2, 2001; accepted May 24, 2001     

太平洋牡蛎酪氨酸酶基因家族的系统发生分析

文章利用生物信息学方法对太平洋牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas Thunberg)酪氨酸酶基因家族的氨基酸序列特征、分类及系统发生进行了分析。结果表明, 太平洋牡蛎酪氨酸酶基因家族在进化过程中存在基因扩张现象, 其主要方式是基因重复。太平洋牡蛎酪氨酸酶可分为3种类型：分泌型 (Type A), 胞内型 (Type B)和具跨膜结构域型 (Type C)。根据太平洋牡蛎酪氨酸酶进化树分析, 发现Type A酪氨酸酶中, tyr18与其他Type A酪氨酸酶分化较大, 可能是较早分化出来的酪氨酸酶; Type B酪氨酸中的tyr2和tyr9以及Type C中的tyr8为较早分化出的酪氨酸酶。系统发生树分析发现太平洋牡蛎酪氨酸酶的聚类受酪氨酸酶类型以及基因位置的影响, 其分泌型酪氨酸酶首先与头足类分泌型酪氨酸酶聚在一起, 然后与线形动物门分泌型酪氨酸酶聚在一起, 与腔肠动物门分泌型酪氨酸酶分化明显。太平洋牡蛎胞内型酪氨酸酶自身分化较大, 总体上与线性动物门、其他软体动物胞内型酪氨酸酶聚为一支, 与扁形动物门、脊索动物门、腔肠动物门胞内型酪氨酸酶分化较大。太平洋牡蛎具跨膜结构域型酪氨酸酶与扁形动物门、环形动物门以及脊索动物门具跨膜结构域型酪氨酸酶分化明显, 与合浦珠母贝具跨膜结构域型酪氨酸酶聚为一支。这表明双壳类的Type C型酪氨酸酶与其他物种的同源酶的进化差异较大。文章首次探讨了太平洋牡蛎酪氨酸酶家族分类、分化及系统发生, 以期对太平洋牡蛎酪氨酸酶基因家族的理论研究和实际应用提供依据。     

Molecular characterization of the glutamine synthetase gene in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas: expression study in response to xenobiotic exposure and developmental stage

In this study, we characterized the full-length cDNA and genomic sequence of the gene encoding cytosolic glutamine synthetase (CgGSII) in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. A phylogenetic analysis of GS sequences showed that CgGS clustered with the invertebrate group as expected. We analyzed the expression of mRNA CgGSII using RT-PCR to follow the expression of this gene in gills and digestive gland of oysters exposed, under experimental conditions, to hypoxia and to several contaminants (hydrocarbons and two pesticide treatments, glyphosate and a mixture of atrazine, diuron and isoproturon). We also investigated the expression of CgGSII in different developmental stages of C. gigas. Our results show that CgGSII expression was highly regulated in xenobiotic-exposed oysters compared to the control for all the treatments. Likewise, CgGSII expression was highly regulated according to the developmental stage of C. gigas. Finally, use of CgGSII as a possible marker to monitor xenobiotic exposure in disturbed ecosystems is discussed.     

虾夷马粪海胆(Strongylocentrotus intermedius)Vasa基因的克隆与表达

Vasa基因是DEAD-box家族成员中的一种ATP依赖的RNA解旋酶编码基因,在生殖系分化过程中发挥重要作用。采用同源克隆和cDNA末端快速扩增技术(RACE),从虾夷马粪海胆精巢中克隆得到Vasa基因3′端cDNA序列。该3′末端cDNA长1057bp,与太平洋牡蛎、紫球海胆、非洲爪蟾、小鼠及虹鳟经同源进行比对,其中与紫球海胆的同源率最高达到95%,并确定其为DEAD-box家族的Vasa亚家族成员。利用实时定量RT-PCR检测Vasa mRNA在虾夷马粪海胆组织和胚胎发育期的表达情况,研究结果表明Vasa基因在生殖腺表达量最高,雌、雄个体生殖腺中转录水平上的表达差异明显,雄性高于雌性,差异显著(P<0.05),在肠、体腔液、肌肉、围口膜、管足中表达量低,其中体腔液表达量最低。胚胎发育期检测发现Vasa基因在16细胞期时表达量最高,16细胞期后表达量呈下降趋势,囊胚期表达量最低。试验结果为虾夷马粪海胆生殖系统起源、分化研究提供科学依据。对于虾夷马粪海胆生殖系分化途径来讲,Vasa可作为一种有利的研究工具,追溯其生殖系的起源和分化。     

Cadmium affects the expression of heat shock protein 90 and metallothionein mRNA in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread nonessential heavy metal that enters the aquatic environment as a result of natural processes and human activities such as wastewater production, agriculture, and mining. To determine the effects of Cd on organisms, we investigated its time- and dose-related effects on mRNA levels of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and metallothionein (MT) in the gill and digestive gland and changes enzyme levels in the hemolymph of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Full-length HSP90 cDNA was isolated from C. gigas by rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) techniques and found to contain 2154 nucleotides, including an open reading frame, and was predicted to encode a protein of 717 amino acids. BLAST analysis indicated that the HSP90 gene of C. gigas shared high homology with known HSP90 genes of other mollusks. The expression of HSP90 mRNA increased significantly with exposure to 0.01 ppm Cd for 11 days or 0.05 or 0.1 ppm Cd for 7 days. The expression of MT mRNA increased significantly with exposure to 0.01, 0.05, or 0.1 ppm Cd for 11 days. Glutamate oxaloacetate and glutamate pyruvate levels increased significantly with exposure to 0.05 or 0.1 ppm Cd for 7 days. These results indicate that HSP90 and MT play important roles in the physiological changes related to metabolism and cell protection that occur in Pacific oysters exposed to Cd.     

Molecular and histological identification of Marteilioides infection in Suminoe Oyster Crassostrea ariakensis, Manila Clam Ruditapes philippinarum and Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas on the south coast of Korea

The oyster ovarian parasite Marteilioides chungmuensis has been reported from Korea and Japan, damaging the oyster industries. Recently, Marteilioides-like organisms have been identified in other commercially important marine bivalves. In this study, we surveyed Marteilioides infection in the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum, Suminoe oyster Crassostrea ariakensis, and Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, using histology and Marteilioides-specific small subunit (SSU) rDNA PCR. The SSU rDNA sequence of M. chungmuensis (1716 bp) isolated from C. gigas in Tongyoung bay was 99.9% similar to that of M. chungmuensis reported in Japan. Inclusions of multi-nucleated bodies in the oocytes, typical of Marteilioides infection, were identified for the first time in Suminoe oysters. The SSU rDNA sequence of a Marteilioides-like organism isolated from Suminoe oysters was 99.9% similar to that of M. chungmuensis. Marteilioides sp. was also observed from 7 Manila clams of 1840 individuals examined, and the DNA sequences of which were 98.2% similar to the known sequence of M. chungmuensis. Unlike Marteilioides infection of Pacific oysters, no remarkable pathological symptoms, such as large multiple lumps on the mantle, were observed in infected Suminoe oysters or Manila clams. Distribution of the infected Manila clams, Suminoe oysters and Pacific oysters was limited to small bays on the south coast, suggesting that the southern coast is the enzootic area of Marteilioides infection.     

Identification and tissue expression analysis of C-type lectin and galectin in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas

As an initial step in the functional analysis of lectins in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, we attempted to obtain the full coding sequences of C. gigas lectins and conduct tissue expression analyses. To obtain lectin genes quickly, we identified C. gigas expressed sequence tags that coded for lectins in GenBank, and selected three encoding partial sequences of C-type lectin 1 (CgCLec-1), galectin (CgGal) and fucolectin. We obtained full open reading frames of CgCLec-1 and CgGal cDNAs by RACE-PCR. CgCLec-1 is a typical C-type lectin with a signal peptide and C-type lectin domain. CgCLec-1 mRNA was expressed only in specialized basophilic cells involved with digestive enzyme secretion in the digestive gland, suggesting that CgCLec-1 is secreted into the lumen of the digestive diverticula. CgGal is a prototype galectin with a single galactose-binding domain that was expressed in all of the tissues examined. As suggested for vertebrate galectin-1 (prototype galectin), CgGal may function in general cell activities such as cell adhesion. Fucolectin in C. gigas was expressed specifically in the gonads, indicating a possible function in gonadal development. CgCLec-1 and CgGal expression in hemocytes was not upregulated after injecting Vibrio tubiashii into adductor muscle, suggesting that bacterial infection does not induce synthesis of these lectins. Of the three lectins examined, CgCLec-1 is an interesting target for future investigations of innate immunity in the digestive system of C. gigas.