Variation in polyandry and its fitness consequences among populations of the red flour beetle, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tribolium castaneum</Emphasis>

Female mating with multiple males in a single reproductive period, or polyandry, is a common phenomenon in animals. In this study we investigated variation in female mating behavior and its fitness consequences among three genetic strains of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. We found that the extent of polyandry and its fitness consequences varied significantly among the strains. In the first strain PRUZ, females mated multiply but incurred costs of polyandry in the form of reduced offspring production. Females of the second strain, NDG11, mated readily with multiple partners and benefited because polyandry led to higher offspring quality. Finally, TIW1 females were resistant to multiple mating and polyandry resulted in lower offspring production but improved offspring quality. Thus, in the first population we observed only costs of polyandry, in the second strain only benefits of polyandry whereas in the third we detected both costs and benefits of polyandry. Possible explanations for such a pattern are discussed.     

Genetic and biochemical characterization of a 4-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corynebacterium glutamicum</Emphasis>

Corynebacterium glutamicum uses 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4HBA) as sole carbon source for growth. Previous studies showed that 4HBA was taken up into cells via PcaK, and the aromatic ring was cleaved via protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase. In this study, the gene pobA _Cg (ncgl1032) involved in the conversion of 4HBA into 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (protocatechuate) was identified, and the gene product PobA _Cg was characterized as a 4HBA 3-hydroxylase, which is a homodimer of PobA_Cg. The pobA _Cg is physically associated with pcaK and formed a putative operon, but the two genes were located distantly to the pca cluster, which encode other enzymes for 4HBA/protocatechuate degradation. This new 4HBA 3-hydroxylase is unique in that it prefers NADPH to NADH as a cosubstrate, although its sequence is similar to other 4HBA 3-hydroxylases that prefer NADH as a cosubstrate. Sited-directed mutagenesis on putative NADPH-binding sites, D38 and T42, further improved its affinity to NADPH as well as its catalytic efficiency.     

Binding of calmodulin to Nuf1p is required for karyogamy in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis>

The role of calmodulin (CaM) during mating in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was examined by using a set of Phe-to-Ala substitutions. We identified ten CaM mutants that exhibited significantly reduced mating efficiencies when crossed to a strain of the opposite mating type harboring the same CaM mutation. Most of the mating-defective CaM mutants were bilateral, i.e., they also exhibited mating defects, albeit minor ones, when crossed to the wild type. When strains carrying different bilateral CaM mutations were mated, the mating efficiencies recovered dramatically. We termed this phenomenon "intragenic mating complementation", and classified the mating-defective CaM mutations into two intragenic mating complementation groups. Two mutant alleles belonging to different groups showed minor defects in cell adhesion and cell fusion, but exhibited severe defects in karyogamy. CaM is known to bind to the essential spindle pole body component Nuf1p. This binding appears to be important for karyogamy because the nuf1 ^C911R mutation, which impairs CaM-Nuf1p binding, resulted in a severe defect in karyogamy. Indeed, the two mating-defective CaM mutations were found to compromise formation of the CaM/Nuf1p complex, and the mating defects of these two CaM mutants were suppressible by a dominant, CaM-independent, mutation in NUF1. Taken together, these results suggest that loss of CaM binding to Nuf1p causes a defect in karyogamy, thereby inhibiting productive mating.Communicated by C. P. Hollenberg     

(−) Mating Type-Specific Mutants ofPhycomycesDefective in Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis

Sutter, R. P., Grandin, A. B., Dye, B. D., and Moore, W. R. 1996. (−) Mating type-specific mutants ofPhycomycesdefective in sex pheromone biosynthesis.Fungal Genetics and Biology20,268–279. We have isolated the first mating type-specific mutants in mucoraceous fungi. Both mutants inPhycomyces blakesleeanusappear to be defective in the same gene. The gene, present in both mating types, is necessary only in cultures of the (−) mating type. The gene codes for an enzyme in sex pheromone biosynthesis. The pheromone precursor made by the mutants is detectable only in cross-feeding experiments. The biological and solubility properties of the precursor suggest the precursor is 4-dihydrotrisporin, a metabolite of β-carotene. Separate studies with β-carotene-deficient mutants and Compound-P, a new chemically synthesized precursor of the pheromones, imply the constitutive level of enzymes for pheromone biosynthesis inPhycomycesis extremely low. In comparison, the level of enzymes for pheromone conversion to trisporic acid is higher. The mating type-specific mutants also catalyze the conversion of (+) pheromone to trisporic acid. This finding was unexpected because literature models predicted this reaction was catalyzed by the same enzyme which catalyzed the conversion of 4-dihydrotrisporin to (−) pheromone—a reaction missing in the (−) mating type-specific mutants. Thus, we propose a revised model for trisporic acid biosynthesis.     

Reproductive Isolation and Genetic Variation between Two “Strains” ofBracon hebetor(Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Bracon hebetorSay(Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is known primarily as a parasitoid of pyralid moth larvae infesting stored grain. In the 1970s, a parasitoid identified asB. hebetorwas released for control ofHeliothis/Helicoverpaspp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on the island of Barbados. Because life-history traits of this parasitoid differed from those reported forB. hebetorfrom the United States, we conducted a series of laboratory experiments to determine whether this parasitoid was (i) a population ofB. hebetorthat attacks noctuids in the field or (ii) a different species fromB. hebetor.We confirmed thatHeliothis virescens(F.) was a more suitable host for the Barbados strain than forB. hebetor.However, a stored-grain infesting pyralid,Plodia interpunctella(Hübner), was a more suitable host for the Barbados strain than wasH. virescens.Reciprocal crosses between the Barbados strain andB. hebetorshowed that the two populations were reproductively isolated. No mating was observed during a series of 30-min observations of reciprocal crosses, and the crosses produced only male offspring. Examination of each female's spermatheca confirmed that females were not fertilized. Sequence analysis of a 517-bp fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene revealed that two populations ofB. hebetorfrom our laboratory were identical but differed in sequence by 2% from the Barbados strain. Collectively, our results indicate that the Barbados strain is a distinct species fromB. hebetor.     

Polyandry in two South American harvester ants

Although monandry (single mating) is the ancestral state in social hymenopteran insects, effective mating frequencies greater than 2 have been confirmed for a fair amount of ant species: Cataglyphis cursor, the leaf-cutters of the genera Atta and Acromyrmex, army ants of the genera Eciton, Dorylus, Aenictus and Neivamyrmex, and some North American seed harvester species of the genus Pogonomyrmex. This last genus spreads throughout open arid habitats from Patagonia to southwestern Canada. Whereas some North American Pogonomyrmex species are thoroughly studied, we know much less about these ants in South America. The objective of this study was to estimate the effective mating frequency of Pogonomyrmex inermis and P. pronotalis, two Pogonomyrmex sensu stricto species from the central Monte desert of Argentina. A total of 477 P. pronotalis workers from 24 colonies and 402 P. inermis workers from 20 colonies were analyzed using six and four highly polymorphic microsatellites, respectively. The multilocus analysis revealed that all colonies were monogynous and all queens multiply-mated. The effective mating frequency was 8.75 and 6.52 for queens of P. pronotalis and P. inermis, respectively; those values increased up to 15.66 and 9.78, respectively, when corrected for sampling errors. This is the first demonstration that queens in at least some members of the South American Pogonomyrmex sensu stricto are strictly polyandrous, with mating numbers per queen at least as high as those previously found for North American species. We suggest that multiple mating probably arose early in the evolution of the genus Pogonomyrmex and may be the basis of its ecological success and wide distribution. Received 11 October 2006; revised 10 August 2007 and 19 November 2007; accepted 21 November 2007.     

光唇鱼源无乳链球菌的分离鉴定及遗传特征

【目的】为查明浙江养殖光唇鱼大量死亡的病原,了解病原的遗传特征。【方法】本工作对患病光唇鱼进行病原分离,结合形态特征、生理生化特性和16S rRNA基因序列同源性,对分离菌株进行鉴定;采用人工回感试验确定其病原性,并对分离株的血清型、多位点序列分型(multilocus sequence typing,MLST)、毒力基因型和表面蛋白抗原基因型等遗传特征进行分析;此外,还测试了菌株的药敏特性。【结果】从患病光唇鱼体中分离得到优势菌株ACRO-0708,为革兰氏阳性球菌,不溶血,分子与生化鉴定为无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae);人工感染试验证实其对光唇鱼有较强的致病性,LD50为6.47×10~3CFU/g,属于血清型Ⅰb和MLST型ST261,毒力基因型为sip~+bibA~+cfb~+hylB~+iagA~+fbsA~+fbsB~+bac~–bca~–cylE~–scpB~–lmb~–,不携带所检测的6种表面蛋白基因。药敏试验结果显示,对青霉素、氨苄西林等8种药物较敏感,对氯霉素、复方新诺明等7种药物耐药。【结论】引起浙江养殖光唇鱼死亡的病原菌为无乳链球菌,其分子特征与水产动物主要流行的无乳链球菌株具有显著差异,生产中可选用氨苄西林、氟苯尼考等药物进行防治。     

An efficient method for homologous gene reconstitution in Cryptococcus gattii using URA5 auxotrophic marker

Cryptococcus gattii (Cg) is an emerging pathogen of both healthy and immunocompromised patients worldwide. Understanding the molecular genetic basis of virulence and physiology of this pathogen will be critical for defining its pathogenic mechanisms. The purine biosynthetic gene, URA5 encoding orate phosphorybosyltransferase (OPRTase), has been successfully used as a selectable marker for gene disruption by transformation and homologous recombination in Cg. Here, we report the characterization of ura5 auxotrophy and URA5 reversion phenomenon at the molecular, genetic, and structural levels, and use of ura5→URA5 reversion as a tool for reconstitution of gene of interest and auxotrophic marker to their native loci. We identified a single mutation of GG₁₂₈T→GAT with substitution of glycine to aspartic acid at amino acid position 43 resulting in ura5 auxotrophy. The ura5→URA5 reversion on CSM lacking uracil (CSM-U) was found to be a rare phenomenon with a reversion frequency of 0.000002%, and sequence analysis of URA5 from all the reverted strains revealed mutation of GA₁₂₈T→GGT back to its ancestral state. The URA5 allele in the reverted strains was fully functional, as demonstrated by the excellent growth of these strains on medium lacking uracil, as well as by the ability of this allele to efficiently transform ura5 mutant to restore prototrophy. The deduced Cg URA5 protein modeled on the known crystal structures of OPRTase from Salmonella typhimurium (1LH0_A, 1STO) and from Escherichia coli (1ORO_A) indicated that the glycine 43 of Cg URA5 was situated on a conserved loop, and it’s substitution to more globose aspartic acid may have resulted in URA5 inactivation in auxotrophic strain. The advantages of this approach for the generation of a reconstituted strain are (1) that it restores the functionality of the native URA5, (2) that it eliminates an additional biolistic delivery of exogenous URA5, and (3) that it allows easy selection of reconstituted strains with homologous integration. This strategy was successfully used for the generation of Cg can2+CAN2/URA5 homologous reconstituted strains, which grew in ambient air to the wild-type level while can2 mutant exhibited severe growth defect under similar conditions. Srinivas D. Narasipura and Ping Ren contributed equally to this work.     

甘蔗内生解淀粉芽孢杆菌CGB15的分离、鉴定及生防活性

真菌病害占作物病害种类的一半以上,病原真菌是目前已知种类最多的作物病原菌。从作物根际与/或体内分离筛选具有生防活性的微生物,并应用于病害的防控,是除作物品种改良与化学防治外的另一种高效的病害防控策略。【目的】本研究拟筛选并分离鉴定对重要作物病原真菌具有拮抗作用的甘蔗内生细菌,为开发生物防治作物真菌病害新策略提供理论依据。【方法】采用平板对峙法初步筛选对病原真菌具有拮抗能力的甘蔗叶片内生细菌,通过16SrRNA基因测序鉴定其种属;进一步检测候选拮抗内生细菌对甘蔗鞭孢堆黑粉菌(Sporisorium scitamineum)致病发育过程关键步骤：有性配合/菌丝生长、冬孢子萌发的抑制率,田间试验检测其对甘蔗鞭黑穗病的防治效果;检测候选拮抗内生细菌对稻梨孢菌(Pyricularia oryzae)附着胞形成、离体叶片及盆栽条件下叶片病斑形成的抑制作用。【结果】分离自甘蔗叶片的细菌菌株,编号为CGB15,经分子鉴定为解淀粉芽孢杆菌(Bacillus amyloliquefaciens)。CGB15菌株能有效抑制甘蔗鞭孢堆黑粉菌有性配合/菌丝生长,对峙培养条件下使真菌菌落呈现光滑;抑制冬孢子萌发,...     

The frequency of multiple paternity in bumble bee (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombus</Emphasis>) colonies based on microsatellite DNA at the B10 locus

Summary This study used the microsatellite locus B10 to determine the frequency of colonies with multiple patrilines in a previously unexamined group, the North American bumble bees (Bombus). The effective mating frequency (m_e) was greater than 1 in six of 28 colonies. Five of 11 species tested showed at least one incidence of polyandry: four species from the subgenus Pyrobombus (B. bimaculatus, B. impatiens, B. mixtus, B. ternarius) and one species from the parasitic subgenus Psithyrus (B. citrinus). The B10 locus showed high cross-species amplification success for North American Bombus.     

Cloning and identification of partial DNA fragment for the <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis> mating-type factor in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lentinula edodes</Emphasis> using degenerate PCR

The edible fungus Lentinula edodes is a heterothallic homobasidiomycete whose mating is controlled by a bifactorial incompatibility mating system determined by two unlinked factors (the A and B mating-type factors). Although this mechanism is well accepted, there is a lack of understanding about its molecular basis, as the incompatibility factors have not been cloned and sequenced. In this study, by means of degenerate PCR we obtained one 773 bp DNA fragment cosegregating with B ₂ mating-type factor in L. edodes stock HL01. Sequencing analysis revealed that it belonged to a pheromone receptor, suggesting that the genetic basis for B factor in L. edodes is the same as in the two model mushroom species, Schizophyllum commune and Coprinus cinereus, the structure and function of whose B incompatibility factors have been studied in detail. So far as we know, this is the first report about the cloning of B mating factor in L. edodes.     

毒力基因yqeH功能分析及对禽致病性大肠杆菌致病性的影响

【背景】禽致病性大肠杆菌(avian pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)可引起禽类急性或亚急性感染,在近年新发现的大肠杆菌Ⅲ型分泌系统2 (Escherichia coli type III secretion system 2,ETT2)中,毒力基因yqeH对其致病性的影响尚不明确。【目的】探究yqeH在APEC致病过程中的作用,为后期深入研究ETT2致病机制奠定基础。【方法】利用Red同源重组技术构建yqeH缺失株ΔyqeH及其回复株CΔyqeH,通过运动性、生物被膜形成能力、抗逆性、抗血清杀菌能力等试验分析yqeH对APEC生物学功能的影响,并通过细胞黏附、侵袭试验、致病力测定及荧光定量PCR检测细胞炎性因子转录水平,探究yqeH对APEC感染宿主的影响。【结果】构建了缺失株ΔyqeH和回复株CΔyqeH;生物学特性试验结果表明,与野生株APEC81相比,缺失株ΔyqeH生物被膜形成能力、运动能力降低,对酸、碱、渗透压、氧化休克的耐受力降低,抗血清杀菌能力及致病力显著降低;与野生株APEC81相比,缺失株ΔyqeH对鸡气管黏膜上皮细胞的黏附及侵袭能...     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caenorhabditis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">briggsae</Emphasis> genome contains active <Emphasis Type="Italic">CbmaT1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tcb1</Emphasis> transposons

The maT clade of transposons is a group of transposable elements intermediate in sequence and predicted protein structure to mariner and Tc transposons, with a distribution thus far limited to a few invertebrate species. We present evidence, based on searches of publicly available databases, that the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae has several maT-like transposons, which we have designated as CbmaT elements, dispersed throughout its genome. We also describe two additional transposon sequences that probably share their evolutionary history with the CbmaT transposons. One resembles a fold back variant of a CbmaT element, with long (380-bp) inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) that show a high degree (71%) of identity to CbmaT1. The other, which shares only the 26-bp ITR sequences with one of the CbmaT variants, is present in eight nearly identical copies, but does not have a transposase gene and may therefore be cross mobilised by a CbmaT transposase. Using PCR-based mobility assays, we show that CbmaT1 transposons are capable of excising from the C. briggsae genome. CbmaT1 excised approximately 500 times less frequently than Tcb1 in the reference strain AF16, but both CbmaT1 and Tcb1 excised at extremely high frequencies in the HK105 strain. The HK105 strain also exhibited a high frequency of spontaneous induction of unc-22 mutants, suggesting that it may be a mutator strain of C. briggsae.     

甘蔗鞭黑粉菌侵染甘蔗的早期可视化观察

[目的]甘蔗鞭黑粉菌(Sporisorium scitamineum)引起的甘蔗黑穗病是我国甘蔗生产重要的病害.示踪甘蔗鞭黑粉菌侵染甘蔗的过程将有助于揭示其致病性和甘蔗抗黑穗病机制,为抗病品种的选育以及黑穗病的防治奠定基础.[方法]利用农杆菌介导的遗传转化技术对甘蔗鞭黑粉菌进行黄色荧光标记,对转化子进行配合及致病力检测...     

青枯雷尔氏菌胞外多糖合成缺失突变株构建及其生物学特性

【目的】由青枯雷尔氏菌(Ralstonia solanacearum)引起的植物青枯病是一种毁灭性土传病害。胞外多糖(extracellular polysaccharides,EPS)是青枯雷尔氏菌关键的致病因子之一。通过构建胞外多糖缺失突变株,研究胞外多糖在青枯病致病中的作用。【方法】从青枯雷尔氏菌FJAT-91的基因组中克隆出胞外多糖合成结构基因epsD同源臂,克隆至自杀性质粒p K18mobsacB,再将庆大霉素抗性基因(Gm)插入同源臂中间,获得重组质粒p K18-epsD。将重组质粒转化至青枯雷尔氏菌FJAT-91感受态细胞中,通过同源重组敲除epsD基因,获得EPS合成缺失的突变株FJAT-91Δeps 。研究突变株与野生菌株在菌落形态、胞外多糖合成、运动能力、定殖能力的差异性。【结果】突变菌株FJAT-91ΔepsD与出发菌株FJAT-91相比:胞外多糖产量显著减少,生长较慢;泳动能力(swimming motility)和群集运动能力(swarming motility)显著降低;在番茄苗根部和茎部的定殖能力显著降低;弱化指数(AI)为0.905,鉴定为无致病力菌株。【结论】胞外多糖在青枯雷尔氏菌的致病中起着关键的作用,本课题研究成果为开发植物疫苗提供了优良的材料与研究基础。     

茄科作物青枯菌NADH脱氢酶F亚基在细胞运动和致病性中的功能研究

[目的]劳尔氏菌（Ralstonia solanacearum）在茄科作物上引起严重的细菌性青枯病,本研究旨在发掘青枯劳尔氏菌与致病相关的基因。[方法]利用Tn5转座子构建随机插入突变体,分析生物膜形成、细胞运动和致病性;对有表型变化的突变体,运用TAIL-PCR方法鉴定Tn5插入位点,确定所突变的基因。[结果]以模式菌株GMI000为出发菌,总共获得了400个突变体,其中2个突变体不能形成生物膜,在软琼脂平板上的运动能力下降;接种感病番茄植物,这2个突变体都不能引起萎焉症状。TAIL-PCR结果显示,2个突变体的Tn5插入位点都在NADH脱氢酶F亚基（nuoF）中,距离翻译起始位点分别为103-bp和225-bp。ripAY基因启动子推动的nuoF基因互补载体,完全恢复了2个突变体的表型。[结论]NADH脱氢酶复合物是微生物呼吸电子传递链中的第一步催化酶。我们的结果表明,NADH脱氢酶复合物对R.solanacearum生物膜形成、细胞运动和致病性也有重要作用。     

甲基营养菌MB200中mutS的缺失及高浓度甲醇和甲醛诱变

【背景】甲基营养菌(Methylobacterium)是一类能够以单碳或非C-C键低碳化合物(如甲烷、甲醇、甲醛等)为底物生长,并可生产多种代谢产物如氨基酸、工业酶和辅助因子、多羟基烷酸酯(polyhydroxyalkanoates,PHA)、多糖和类胡萝卜素等的革兰氏阴性细菌。【目的】通过突变甲基营养菌MB200的mutS基因,在胁迫条件下定向诱导,以获得可以耐受高浓度甲醇和甲醛的生产菌株。【方法】利用三亲本结合构建mutS基因缺失的高突变菌株MB200sTB,逐步提升培养液中甲醇、甲醛的浓度进行定向诱导突变,对获得的高耐受性突变株进行回补,分析菌株的生长情况。【结果】构建了mutS基因的缺失突变体MB200sTB,并且得到了高耐受甲醇和甲醛的菌株MB200sHBc和MB200sHBq。MB200sHBc与野生株MB200相比其甲醇耐受性得到了极显著的提高,甲醇耐受浓度从8g/L提升到44g/L,但生长量不受影响。MB200sHBq在以甲醛为0.45g/L的碳源条件下,生长量相较于野生型MB200提高了1.69倍。【结论】通过定向诱导缺失mutS基因的突变体,可获得具有生产应用潜力的...     

卡氏德巴利酵母植酸酶在毕赤酵母中的异源表达及优化

【背景】植酸是一种能螯合金属离子和蛋白质的有机磷类化合物,广泛存在于植物组织中,影响动物对营养元素的吸收。在饲料中加入植酸酶可有效降解植酸。【目的】构建毕赤酵母异源表达卡氏德巴利酵母(Debaryomyces castellii,D. castellii)植酸酶的菌株,促进卡氏德巴利酵母植酸酶的研究及工业应用。【方法】将卡氏德巴利酵母植酸酶基因进行密码子优化后转入毕赤酵母GS115中,通过筛选多拷贝、敲除蛋白酶、过表达分子伴侣及转运蛋白的方法获取优势菌株。【结果】所得重组菌株GS115/DCphy(ΔPep4)(BFR2)的产酶酶活是低拷贝菌株的7倍。【结论】研究结果为卡氏德巴利酵母植酸酶的异源表达及潜在工业应用提供了一定的指导。     

假单胞菌T1-3-2的抑菌特性及其对杉木的抗病促生作用

【背景】生物防治是“基于自然的解决方案”,有利于生态文明和可持续发展,开展生物防治技术研究的基础是明确菌株的生防作用和抑菌特性。【目的】探究杉木内生菌株T1-3-2的抑菌促生特性,为研制该菌株生防菌剂、防治杉木炭疽病(Cunninghamia lanceolata anthracnose)奠定基础。【方法】通过形态学特征、生理生化特性及16S rRNA基因序列分析,确定菌株T1-3-2的分类地位;通过平板对峙、菌落径向生长抑制率和平板倒扣等方法测定细菌及其挥发性气体和次级代谢产物的抑菌作用;同时,测定其促生作用和室内防效。【结果】菌株T1-3-2与桉生假单胞菌(Pseudomonas eucalypticola)亲缘性较近,属于假单胞菌属。该菌株对分属于6个属的10株靶标菌株具有较强的拮抗作用,尤其对炭疽菌属、拟盘多毛孢属、黑孢霉属和葡萄座腔菌属的6株靶标菌株抑制率高达80%以上。室内盆栽试验显示：菌株T1-3-2用Kings Medium B液体培养基的发酵菌液对杉木炭疽病的防效可达74.20%,同时能有效改善杉木幼苗的生长状况、增加生物量。【结论】菌株T1-3-2隶属于假单胞菌属,对杉木具有良好的抗病促生作用,是一株具有开发潜力的生防菌株。     

Distribution of multiple peptidoglycan recognition proteins in the tissues of Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas

Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are pattern recognition receptors that specifically bind to peptidoglycans, a major component of bacterial cell wall. Generally, PGRPs are responsible for recognition of bacterial invasion in invertebrates. Full length cDNAs of PGRP, designated as CgPGRP-S1S, -S1L, -S2 and -S3, were identified from the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. Homology and domain searches classified these CgPGRPs as short-type PGRPs for extracellular PGN recognition. Amidase activity was predicted in all CgPGRPs, and defensin-like domains were found in CgPGRP-S1S and -S1L, suggesting that they may also function as antimicrobial proteins. Although phylogenetic analysis indicated that CgPGRPs are closely related to each other, they showed different tissue expression patterns; CgPGRP-S1S in the mantle and the gill, -S1L in the mantle, -S2 in the hemocytes and -S3 in the digestive diverticula. The CgPGRPs seem to survey bacterial invasion in their corresponding expression tissues. This is the first report of the possibility that bivalve mollusks have PGN recognition systems as suggested by the identification of multiple PGRPs distributed in various tissues.