Expression and localization of CHODLDeltaE/CHODLfDeltaE, the soluble isoform of chondrolectin

The C-type lectin family is a group of animal proteins which can be distinguished from other lectins by the presence of a Ca2+-dependent carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) in their protein sequence. They are classified into 17 groups according to their domain architecture and have a wide variety of functions. The human chondrolectin gene encodes transmembrane (CHODL, CHODLf) and soluble proteins (CHODLDeltaE, CHODLfDeltaE) belonging to the family of C-type lectins because of the presence of one CRD domain in their N-terminal region. The CHODL splice variants (CHODLf, CHODLDeltaE and CHODLfDeltaE) are differentially expressed in T lymphocytes. The transmembrane-containing isoform CHODLf is localized in the ER-Golgi apparatus. CHODLDeltaE and CHODLfDeltaE are devoid of the transmembrane domain and terminate in QDEL, an ER retention signal. In this paper we have investigated the expression of the CHODLDeltaE/CHODLfDeltaE protein. This variant localizes in the late endoplasmic reticulum. We detected the protein in spleen and tonsils in a small population of lymphocytes. Moreover, the isoform seems to be differentially expressed in thymocytes and lymphocytes suggesting an important biological function during T cell development.     

Identification of a chicken CLEC-2 homologue, an activating C-type lectin expressed by thrombocytes

Receptors on natural killer (NK) cells are classified as C-type lectins or as Ig-like molecules, and many of them are encoded by two genomic clusters designated natural killer gene complex (NKC) and leukocyte receptor complex, respectively. Here, we describe the analysis of an NKC-encoded chicken C-type lectin, previously annotated as homologue to CD94 and NKG2 and thus designated chicken CD94/NKG2. To further elucidate its potential function on NK cells, we produced a specific mab by immunizing with stably transfected HEK293 cells expressing this lectin. Staining of various chicken tissues revealed minimal reactivity with bursal, or thymus cells. In peripheral blood mononuclear cell and spleen, however, the mab reacted with virtually all thrombocytes, whereas most NK cells in organs such as embryonic spleen, lung and intestine were found to be negative. These findings indicate that the gene may not resemble CD94/NKG2, but rather a CLEC-2 homologue, a claim further supported by sequence features such as an additional extracellular cysteine residue and the presence of a cytoplasmic motif known as a hem immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif, found in C-type lectins such as Dectin-1, CLEC-2, but not CD94/NKG2. The biochemical analyses demonstrated that CLEC-2 is present on the cell surface as heavily glycosylated homodimer, which upon mab crosslinking induced thrombocyte activation, as measured by CD107 expression. These analyses reveal that the chicken NKC may not encode NK cell receptor genes, in particular not CD94 or NKG2 genes, and identifies a chicken CLEC-2 homologue.     

Cloning, mapping and genomic organization of a fish C-type lectin gene from homozygous clones of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Utilizing a splenic cDNA library and rapid amplification of cDNA 5' ends (5'-RACE), a C-type lectin gene was cloned from a homozygous cloned rainbow trout. The 1176 bp cDNA contains a 714 bp open reading frame from which a 238-amino-acid (aa) (27 kDa) protein was deduced. It was confirmed that this protein belongs to the C-type animal lectins, and is a type II membrane receptor. The predicted protein from this sequence contains a 48 aa cytoplasmic domain, a 20 aa transmembrane domain (TM), a 46 aa stalk region and a 124 aa carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD). The stalk region contains a leucine-zipper, and an N-glycosylation site was also found in the CRD. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis of the CRD indicate that the protein has similarity with human dendritic cell immunoreceptor (DCIR), gp120 binding C-type lectin (gp120BCL) and mammalian hepatic lectins. The N-terminus (aa 4-183) has similarity with NKG2, a group of C-type lectin receptors important in human natural killer cell function. The genomic DNA (gDNA) containing this gene was amplified and sequenced. The 4569 bp gDNA contains five exons and four introns. The first three exons encode the cytoplasmic domain, the TM and stalk region, respectively. Unlike the other type II C-type lectin receptors in which the CRD was encoded by three exons, the CRD of this lectin was encoded by two exons. A transposon Tc1-like fragment was found in intron III. Intron IV is composed of a simple repeat. Tissue-specific expression of the gene was studied by RT-PCR, and it was mainly expressed in spleen and peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL). Using AluI to digest the fragment containing exon I, intron I and exon II, an RFLP was produced between the sequences of this gene in two cloned fish, OSU 142 and Arlee (AR). Seventy-one doubled haploids (DH) of OSU X AR were screened, and the gene was mapped to linkage group XIV on the published map (Young et al., Genetics 148 (1998) 839).     

Cloning and characterization of the Atlantic salmon serum lectin,a long-form C-type lectin expressed in kidney

We report the cloning of four distinct cDNAs and a genomic sequence encoding a multimeric serum lectin found in the blood of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The sequence variation among the cDNAs as well as genomic Southern blotting analysis revealed a multi-gene family. Expression of the salmon serum lectin (SSL) was specific to kidney, as demonstrated by RT-PCR. Analysis of the 173-amino acid sequence of SSL confirmed that it is a member of the C-type lectin superfamily. Sequence alignments and intron/exon structure of the SSL gene showed it to belong to the type VII C-type lectins, which normally bind to galactose or other ligands, whereas the SSL protein sequence contains the EPN motif of mannose-binding C-type lectins, that bind mannose or related carbohydrates.     

Cloning and characterization of the Atlantic salmon serum lectin,a long-form C-type lectin expressed in kidney

We report the cloning of four distinct cDNAs and a genomic sequence encoding a multimeric serum lectin found in the blood of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The sequence variation among the cDNAs as well as genomic Southern blotting analysis revealed a multi-gene family. Expression of the salmon serum lectin (SSL) was specific to kidney, as demonstrated by RT-PCR. Analysis of the 173-amino acid sequence of SSL confirmed that it is a member of the C-type lectin superfamily. Sequence alignments and intron/exon structure of the SSL gene showed it to belong to the type VII C-type lectins, which normally bind to galactose or other ligands, whereas the SSL protein sequence contains the EPN motif of mannose-binding C-type lectins, that bind mannose or related carbohydrates.     

Two C-type lectins from shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei that might be involved in immune response against bacteria and virus

C-type lectins play crucial roles in innate immunity to recognize and eliminate pathogens efficiently. In the present study, two C-type lectins from shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (designated as LvLectin-1 and LvLectin-2) were identified, and their expression patterns, both in tissues and toward pathogen stimulation, were then characterized. The full-length cDNA of LvLectin-1 and LvLectin-2 was 567 and 625 bp, containing an open reading frame (ORF) of 471 and 489 bp, respectively, and deduced amino acid sequences showed high similarity to other members of C-type lectin superfamily. Both two C-type lectins encoded a single carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD). The motif of Ca²⁺ binding site 2 in CRD, which determined carbohydrate-binding specificity, was QPN (Gln¹²²-Pro¹²³-Asn¹²⁴) in LvLectin-1, but QPD (Gln¹²⁸-Pro¹²⁹-Asp¹³⁰) in LvLectin-2. Two C-type lectins exhibited similar tissue expression pattern, for their mRNA were both constitutively expressed in all tested tissues, including hepatopancreas, muscle, gill, hemocytes, gonad and heart, furthermore they were both mostly expressed in hepatopancreas, though the expression level of LvLectin-2 was much higher than LvLectin-1. The expression level of two C-type lectins mRNA in hemocytes varied greatly after the challenge of Listonella anguillarum or WSSV. After L. anguillarum challenge, the expression of both C-type lectins were significantly (P < 0.01) up-regulated compared with blank group, and LvLectin-1 exhibited higher level than LvLectin-2; while after the stimulation of WSSV, the expression of LvLectin-2 was significantly up-regulated at 6 h (P < 0.01) and 12 h (P < 0.05), but the expression level of LvLectin-1 down-regulated significantly (P < 0.01) to 0.4-fold at 6 and 12 h post-stimulation. The results indicated that the two C-type lectins might be involved in immune response toward pathogen infection, and they might perform different recognition specificity toward bacteria or virus.     

灌喂氧化鱼油使草鱼肠道黏膜胆固醇胆汁酸合成基因通路表达上调

以草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idella)为试验对象, 灌喂氧化鱼油7d后, 采集肠道黏膜组织并提取总RNA, 采用RNA-seq方法, 进行氧化鱼油组和正常鱼油组草鱼肠道黏膜基因差异表达水平、基因注释和IPA基因通路分析, 并测定了血清中胆固醇、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白和低密度脂蛋白含量. 研究结果显示, 草鱼肠道黏膜在受到氧化鱼油损伤后, 胆固醇和胆汁酸生物合成通路代谢酶、调节胆固醇和胆汁酸合成或转运的代谢酶或蛋白基因差异表达, 部分基因差异表达达到显著性上调水平. 实验结果表明, 草鱼肠道黏膜具备完整的乙酰辅酶A胆固醇胆汁酸的合成代谢基因通路. 肠道黏膜在受到氧化鱼油损伤后, 以乙酰辅酶A为原料的胆固醇生物合成代谢通路基因表达增强, 胆固醇由细胞外转运到细胞内的逆转运途径基因通路表达下调, 胆固醇由细胞内向细胞外转运基因通路表达上调; 以胆固醇为原料的胆汁酸经典合成代谢途径基因通路表达上调, 而胆汁酸的补充合成途径基因表达下调. 在灌喂氧化鱼油后, 血清胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白、甘油三酯含量分别增加了28.84%、29.56%和12.13%, 而高密度脂蛋白含量下降了8.15%.       

抗草鱼出血病病毒转基因稀有鮈鲫的初步研究

研究采用草鱼H1基因启动子,以草鱼呼肠孤病毒(Grass carp reovirus,GCRV)外衣壳蛋白VP7基因为靶基因,以增强型绿色荧光蛋白(eGFP)为报告基因,构建了3个小发卡RNA(shRNA)表达载体pH1siGCRV(x)-CMVeGFP。CIK细胞感染实验表明,pH1siGCRV2-CMVeGFP具有较高的病毒抑制作用。通过显微注射将pH1siGCRV2-CMVeGFP导入稀有鮈鲫(Gobiocypris rarus)受精卵,获得转基因稀有鮈鲫P0代群体。转基因稀有鮈鲫攻毒实验显示,转基因稀有鮈鲫死亡率为30%,抗草鱼出血病能力显著提高。进一步的实时荧光定量PCR检测证实,转基因稀有鮈鲫脾脏、后肠和肝脏中GCRV的含量显著低于对照鱼,并随着时间的延续逐渐减少,转基因稀有鮈鲫体内GCRV的复制受到有效抑制。研究为抗草鱼出血病转基因鱼育种奠定重要基础。       

拟穴青蟹两种新C-型凝集素基因的克隆与表达分析

为研究拟穴青蟹(Scylla paramamosain)中C-型凝集素(C-lectin)的功能, 从其肝胰腺中克隆获得全长858 bp和598 bp的两个C-型凝集素分子, 分别命名为Sp-lectin3和Sp-lectin4, 其推导的氨基酸序列含有信号肽和一个CRD, 其中Sp-lectin4还具有糖类结合的特征性基序QPD。Sp-lectin3和Sp-lectin4的开放阅读框分别由5个和4个外显子编码。在正常养殖青蟹的肝胰腺中该两个基因表达量最高, 其次是射精管(Sp-lectin3)或肠(Sp-lectin4); 除脑和储精囊外的所检测组织/器官中, Sp-lectin4表达量均高于Sp-lectin3。随着胚胎的发育, 该两个基因表达量逐渐升高, 峰期为溞状幼体, 而大眼幼体期的表达量急剧下降, 仔蟹期再回升; 在胚胎发育阶段除囊胚期外, Sp-lectin4表达量极显著高于Sp-lectin3(P0.01), 相反, 在胚后发育阶段除大眼幼体II期外, Sp-lectin3表达量却极显著高于Sp-lectin4(P0.01)。副溶血弧菌(Vibrio parahemolyticus) 人工感染, 可诱导Sp-lectin3在储精囊和射精管中的表达, 分别在感染后12h和6h显著上调(P0.05); 同时, 可诱导Sp-lectin4在肝胰腺中的表达, 并在感染后12h和18h显著上调(P0.05)。结果表明, Sp-lectin3和Sp-lectin4可能参与拟穴青蟹的抗细菌感染免疫反应, Sp-lectin3侧重于生殖系统如射精管和储精囊中发挥作用, 而Sp-lectin4侧重于在肝胰腺。       

Isolation and cloning of a C-type lectin from the hexactinellid sponge Aphrocallistes vastus: a putative aggregation factor

Among the sponges (Porifera), the oldest group of metazoans in phylogenetic terms, the Hexactinellida is considered to have diverged earliest from the two other sponge classes, the Demospongiae and Calcarea. The Hexactinellida are unusual among all Metazoa in possessing mostly syncytial rather than cellular tissues. Here we describe the purification of a cell adhesion molecule with a size of 34 kDa (in its native form; 24 kDa after deglycosylation) from the hexactinellid sponge Aphrocallistes vastus. This adhesion molecule was previously found to agglutinate preserved cells and membranes in a non-species-specific manner (Müller, W. E. G., Zahn, R. K, Conrad, J., Kurelec, B., and Uhlenbruck, G. [1984] Cell adhesion molecules in the haxactinellid Aphrocallistes vastus: species-unspecific aggregationfactor. Differentiation, 26, 30--35). The fact that the aggregation process required Ca(2+) and was inhibited by bird's nest glycoprotein and D-galactose but not by D-mannose or N-acetyl-D-galactosamine suggests that this cell adhesion molecule is a C-type lectin. To test this assumption, two highly similar C-type lectins were cloned from A.vastus. The deduced polypeptides of the two cDNA species isolated classified these molecules as C-type lectins. The calculated M(r) of the 191 aa long sequences were 22,022 and 22,064, respectively. The C-type lectins showed highest similarity to C-type lectins (type-II membrane proteins) from higher metazoan phyla; these molecules are absent in non-Metazoa. The two sponge C-type lectins contain the conserved domains known from other C-type lectins (e.g., disulfide bonds, the amino acids known to be involved in Ca(2+)-binding, as well as the amino acids involved in the specificity of binding to D-galactose) and a hydrophobic N-terminal region. The N-terminal part of the purified C-type lectin was identical with the corresponding region of the deduced polypeptide from the cDNA. It is proposed that the A.vastus lectins might bind to the cell membrane by their hydrophobic segment and might interact with carbohydrate units on the surface of the other cells/syncytia.     

Spontaneous expression of C-type virus in DBA/2 mice is associated with an increased rate of mortality, independent of neoplastic disease

Ecotropic C-type retroviruses isolated from both normal and dimethylbenzanthracene-treated DBA/2 mice could be classified into three major groups, Ea, Eb, and Ec, that differed in structure and biology. Weanling DBA/2 mice were generally free of viruses, but a fraction of adult individuals became virus positive and were apparently selectively associated with a high expression of the Eb viruses. Some of the ecotropic viruses from DBA/2 mice acted as exogenous pathogens. They caused viremia and a moderate incidence of leukemia when injected into C3H and ST/a mice. In addition, they caused an appreciable number of early deaths without signs of malignancy. To evaluate the natural role of the viruses, we studied the survival of spontaneously viremic and nonviremic DBA/2 mice. The viremic animals as a group were characterized by a significantly reduced life-span that was not related to neoplasia. These observations indicated that endogenous C-type retroviruses can be pathogenic without preselection of the host for disease. They also emphasize that endogenous viruses, like their exogenous counterparts, can have a broader pathogenic spectrum than normally appreciated.