Characterization of the cDNA encoding a BPI/LBP homologue in venom gland of the hundred-pace snake Deinagkistrodon acutus

Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein(BPI)and LPS-binding protein(LBP)play an important role in host defence.Current evidence shows that BPI/LBP may be widely existed in different cells and tissue types of animals.A full-length cDNA clone encoding a BPI/LBP homologue(dBPI),1757 bp in size,was characterized in venom gland of the hundred-pace snake Deinagkistrodon acutus.Its deduced amino acid sequence of 417 residues had 13.8%-21.5% identity to BPI like 1(BPIL1)and BPI like 3(BPIL3)of other animals.Co...     

Molecular identification and expression analysis of the CC chemokine gene in rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) and the biological activity of the recombinant protein

We identified the CC chemokine cDNA designated as RbCC1 (CC chemokine 1 in rock bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus), which was isolated using expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rock bream liver cDNA library. The full-length RbCC1 cDNA (850 bp) contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 366 bp encoding 122 amino acids. Results from our phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the RbCC1 was closest relationship to the orange-spotted grouper and Mi-iyu croaker CC chemokines located within the fish CC chemokine group. RbCC1 was significantly expressed in the intestine, spleen, liver, and PBLs (peripheral blood leukocytes). Rock bream PBLs were stimulated with several mitogens, LPS and Con A/PMA which significantly induced the expression of RbCC1 mRNA in the PBLs. The RbCC1 mRNA expression in several tissues under conditions of bacterial and viral challenge was examined. The experimental challenge revealed that the kidney and spleen of fish infected with Streptococcus iniae showed the most significant increases in RbCC1 expression compared to the control. In the case of RSIV infection, the RbCC1 mRNA expression was markedly up-regulated in the liver. In this study, recombinant RbCC1 (approximately 53 kDa) was produced using an Escherichia coli expression system followed by purification. Subsequently, the addition of purified rRbCC1 was examined to investigate the impact on the proliferative and chemotactic activity on kidney leukocytes from rock bream. The results demonstrated that the rRbCC1 induces significant biological activity on kidney leukocyte proliferation and attraction at concentrations in the range of 10–300 μg/mL and suggests that rRbCC1 could be utilized as an immune-stimulant and/or molecular adjuvant to enhance the immune effects of vaccines.     

Cloning and characterization of the homolog of mammalian lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and bactericidal permeability-increasing protein in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

We cloned two cDNAs denoted as RT-LBP/BPI-1 and RT-LBP/BPI-2, respectively, which were derived from the mRNA of head kidney from rainbow trout. They showed structural homology with LPS-binding protein (LBP) and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) in mammals. The full-length cDNA of RT-LBP/BPI-1 and RT-LBP/BPI-2 is 1666 and 1741 bp, respectively. Both cDNAs encoded 473 aa residues, including the amino acids conserved in mammalian LBP and BPI proteins that were assumed to be involved in LPS binding. The overall coding sequence of RT-LBP/BPI-1 has 33% amino acid homology to human LBP and 34% to human BPI, and RT-LBP/BPI-2 has 32% amino acid homology to human LBP and 33% to human BPI. Three-dimensional structure analysis by three-dimensional/one-dimensional (3D-1D) methods also demonstrated that RT-LBP/BPI-1 and RT-LBP/BPI-2 proteins showed significant similarity to human BPI, having a boomerang shape with N-terminal and C-terminal barrels. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the LBP and BPI genes seemed to be established after the divergence of mammals from teleosts. These results suggested that RT-LBP/BPI-1 and RT-LBP/BPI-2 may be a putative ortholog for mammalian LBP and/or BPI genes. This is the first study to identify the LBP family genes from nonmammalian vertebrates.     

Molecular cloning of rock bream's (Oplegnathus fasciatus) tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 and its role in NF-κB activiation

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) acts as a transducer of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-triggered cell signals which results in inflammation, cell proliferation and antiapoptotic response. In this study, we have cloned cDNA of rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) TRAF2, and analyzed its function in activation of NF-κB. The full length cDNA of rock bream TRAF2 consisted of 95 bp 5' UTR, 335 bp 3' UTR, and 1563 bp ORF encoding 520 amino acids that contained N-terminal RING-type and TRAF-type zinc finger domains and a C-terminal TRAF domain. The deduced amino acid sequence of rock bream TRAF2 showed more than 75% identity with other fish TRAF2s, and even as high as 56% identity with mouse and human TRAF2 proteins. To know whether the rock bream TRAF2 involves in NF-κB activation, Epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells harboring an NF-κB reporting vector were transfected with a vector expressing rock bream TRAF2 or a control empty vector. NF-κB activity of EPC cells was significantly increased by exposure to the rock bream recombinant TNF-α. EPC cells transfected with the vector expressing rock bream TRAF2 showed significantly higher NF-κB activity by stimulation with the recombinant TNF-α than cells transfected with a control empty vector, suggesting the present rock bream TRAF2 acts as a transducer of TNF-α-mediated cell signals that enhance NF-κB activation.     

中华鲟促性腺激素释放激素受体基因cDNA序列的克隆及表达分析

为了研究中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis)促性腺激素释放激素受体(Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor, GnRH-R)基因在中华鲟中的组织表达特征, 为中华鲟生长发育调控研究提供基础数据, 通过构建中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis)垂体的SMART cDNA质粒文库, 采用cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE), 克隆得到了中华鲟GnRH-R基因的cDNA全长序列。该序列全长1530 bp, 有478 bp的5′非翻译区, 579 bp的开放阅读框和473 bp的3′非翻译区, 共编码192个氨基酸, 其成熟多肽含有5个Ｎ连糖基化位点。通过和已知其他鱼类的GnRH-R基因进行氨基酸序列多重比对, 发现其与真鲷(Pagrus major)的同源性最高, 为76%, 与米氏叶吻银鲛(Callorhinchus milii)的同源性最低, 为39%。采用实时荧光定量PCR (Real time PCR)方法, 检测了GnRH-R的mRNA在中华鲟心、肝、脾、肾、肠道、精巢、肌肉及脑组织中的表达状况, 发现其在精巢中大量转录, 而在其他组织中则表达微弱。以上结果表明中华鲟GnRH-R基因在性腺发育特别是精子发生过程中可能起重要作用。     

赤眼鳟Mx1基因的cDNA克隆及表达特性

为探究赤眼鳟(Squaliobarbus curriculus)是否存在Mx1 (Myxovirus resistance)基因及参与抗病毒免疫反应, 研究利用RACE技术获得了赤眼鳟Mx1基因(ScMx1)的cDNA全长序列, 并对其进行了生物信息学分析; 采用荧光定量PCR技术, 检测了ScMx1在赤眼鳟健康组织中的表达情况以及感染GCRV后ScMx1和ScIFN-Ⅰ的表达特征。结果表明, ScMx1的cDNA全长为3000 bp, 包含5′非编码区124 bp, 开放阅读框1893 bp, 3′非编码区983 bp, 共编码630个氨基酸。预测的ScMx1蛋白包含GTP酶结合区域、中央核心结构域和GTP酶效应结构域。ScMx1与青鱼Mx1的相似性最高(97%), 与ScMx的相似性仅为50%。ScMx1在所检测的10种组织中均有表达, 其中在脾脏中表达量最高。经GCRV感染开始至168h, ScMx1和ScIFN-Ⅰ在肝脏和体肾中的表达量持续上调; 在脾脏和头肾中于感染后72h达到峰值。相关性分析显示脾脏中ScMx1和ScIFN-Ⅰ的表达水平呈显著相关(r=0.94, P=0.018)。研究发现赤眼鳟存在Mx1基因, 且可能参与了抗GCRV免疫应答反应。     

红树植物秋茄中受盐胁迫抑制的cyclophilin基因的鉴定与表达分析

利用代表性差异分析方法获得秋茄中两个编码亲环素(cyclophilin)蛋白的cDNA片段(称为SRGKC2和SRGKC3),该片段大小分别为282bp和160bp;序列分析表明：SRGKC2和SRGKC3是同一基因区域的不同长度片段,SRGKC3是SRGKC2片段的一部分。SRGKC2在84个氨基酸范围内与大戟属cyclophilin蛋白的氨基酸序列的一致性达到90％,SRGKC3在47个氨基酸范围内与蚕豆cyclophilin蛋白的一致性达到93％。Northern分析表明：盐分抑制SRGKC2片段的表达。依赖SRGKC2片段的序列资料,利用cDNA快速末端扩增(RACE)技术获取秋茄中cyclophilin基因的全长cDNA片段(命名为KCCYP1)(GenBank登录号：AY150052)。该cDNA全长约为0．9kb,含有一个516个核苷酸的完整开放阅读框,编码172个氨基酸,等电点为8．57,分子量18．2KDa。42—49位氨基酸残基为推测的ATP／GTP结合位点A基序(P—loop),48—54位氨基酸残基是插入的7个氨基酸残基。文中还对SRGKC2在不同种中的表达状况进行了分析。     

大黄鱼PPAR β全长cDNA的克隆和组织表达

利用RT-PCR和SMART RACE的方法从大黄鱼肝脏中克隆了PPARβ全长cDNA。该序列长3390bp,5′端非翻译区146bp,3′端非翻译区1711bp,开放阅读框1533bp,可编码一个由510个氨基酸组成的蛋白质,该蛋白质分子量为57.2kDa、等电点为6.46。氨基酸序列分析表明,PPARβ基因具有较高的保守性,大黄鱼PPARβ与花鲈、金头鲷、欧鲽、大西洋鲑、红鳍东方鲀、人、黑猩猩、牛、兔及小鼠等10个物种的同源性为72%~91%,其中与花鲈同源性最高,为91%。用RT-PCR法检测PPARβ基因的组织表达,结果表明该基因在大黄鱼肌肉、眼、脾、肾、肝、鳃、心、肠和脑等9个组织中均有表达,其中肝脏组织表达量最大,肌肉最少。     

Molecular characterisation and biological activity of a novel CXC chemokine gene in rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus)

Chemokines are chemoattractant cytokines defined by the presence of four conserved cysteine residues. In mammals, these cytokines can be divided into four subfamilies depending on the arrangement of the first two conserved cysteines in the sequence, and include the CXC(α), CC(β), C(γ), and CX3C(δ) classes. We identified CXC chemokine cDNA, designated RbCXC, isolated using expressed sequence tag analysis of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rock bream liver cDNA library. The full-length RbCXC cDNA (742 bp) contained an open reading frame of 342 bp encoding 114 amino acids. Results from phylogenetic analysis showed that RbCXC was strictly separated into a distinct clade compared to other known CXC chemokine subgroups. RbCXC was significantly expressed in the trunk kidney, liver, spleen, gill, peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), and head kidney. Rock bream PBLs were stimulated with several mitogens, including LPS and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), which significantly induced the expression of RbCXC mRNA. RbCXC mRNA expression was examined in several tissues under conditions of bacterial and viral challenge. Experimental challenges revealed that all examined tissues from fish infected with Edwardsiella tarda and red sea bream iridovirus showed significant increases in RbCXC expression compared to the control. In the case of Streptococcus iniae infection, RbCXC mRNA expression was markedly upregulated in the kidney, spleen, and liver. In addition, a maltose binding protein fusion recombinant RbCXC (～53 kDa) was produced in an Escherichia coli expression system and purified. Subsequently, the addition of purified recombinant RbCXC (rRbCXC) to kidney leukocytes was examined to investigate the impact of proliferative and chemotactic activity. The rRbCXC induced significant kidney leukocyte proliferation and attraction at concentrations ranging from 10 to 300 μg/mL, suggesting that it can be utilised as an immune stimulant and/or molecular adjuvant to enhance the immunological effects of vaccines.     

低盐度可诱导鲈鱼胞浆型PEPCK基因表达

磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧激酶(PEPCK)催化草酰乙酸生成磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸,是糖异生途径的第1个限速酶.本研究用SMARTRACE技术从鲈鱼肝脏中分离克隆了PEPCK基因的全长cDNA序列.该基因全长2215bp,包含1个123bp的5′非翻译区和217bp的3′非翻译区,开放阅读框为1875bp,编码1个由624个氨基酸组成的蛋白质,该蛋白理论分子量为69.1kD,等电点为5.87.氨基酸序列分析表明,与其它动物的胞浆型PEPCK相似性很高,与黑鲷为94.2%,与大西洋鲑为86.4%,与人为75.9%,而与该鱼线粒体型PEPCK氨基酸同源性只有70.6%.系统发育分析显示,该蛋白首先与其它动物的cPEPCK聚成一支,然后再与鱼类的mPEPCK成簇,认为该PEPCK属于胞浆型.同时用RT-PCR分析了PEPCK基因在10个组织中的表达,结果表明只有在肝脏、消化道和肾脏有较高的表达.将鲈鱼从盐度为25的海水转入盐度为12的海水48h后,肝脏和肾脏的PEPCK基因表达有增加.实验结果表明,本实验克隆的为鲈鱼胞浆型PEPCK,低盐度可诱导其表达.     

Protein fusions of BPI with CETP retain functions inherent to each

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), bactericidal/permeability inducing protein (BPI), and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) are members of the lipid transfer/lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LT/LBP) family of proteins that share a common secondary/tertiary structure. Despite this commonality of structure, very different patterns of lipid binding and protein-protein interactions are observed among the family members. BPI was previously shown to retain aspects of its own function when part of it was fused with LBP to form a chimeric protein. We have extended those observations to CETP. Some aspects of cholesteryl ester transfer function can be maintained in a chimeric protein even when over 40% of the sequence is from BPI. Further replacement of an additional 60 amino acids resulted in a complete loss of CETP function even though the chimera was able to retain some BPI-like properties. These artificial fusions retain BPI functions such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding and protein-protein interactions that are not observed with native CETP. BPI-CETP chimeras are inhibited by LPS but cannot be inhibited by small molecule CETP inhibitors as effectively as native CETP. These results localize the site of LPS binding in BPI to a region no larger than the amino terminal 155 amino acids. This region can participate in some protein-protein interactions similar to intact BPI. Chimeras containing the amino terminus of CETP and the carboxy terminus of BPI did not retain any observable CETP function. These results further confirm the modular nature of the LT/LBP family of proteins but also highlight the discrete nature of their individual functions.     

mRNA expression patterns of the BPI/LBP molecule in the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.)

Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) are important components of the mammalian innate defence system against Gram-negative infections. cDNA encoding a protein related to mammalian BPI and LBP have been cloned from several teleosts including the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.). Using real-time PCR an increase in cod BPI/LBP expression in whole blood and peritoneal cells was demonstrated one, two and four days after intraperitoneal injection of inactivated Vibrio anguillarum. Although constitutively produced in the head kidney, a moderate rise of BPI/LBP mRNA production was seen on day two in this organ. After seven days the BPI/LBP mRNA levels at the three locations examined were almost back to normal. In situ hybridisation demonstrated a leucocytic localisation and morphology of the BPI/LBP expressing cells in various tissues. A combination of in situ hybridisation and peroxidase staining of head kidney leucocytes showed that the BPI/LBP producing cells are peroxidase positive and possible neutrophil like cells. The results suggest that the cod BPI/LBP is important in the first-line defence against bacterial infections and has a function more related to the mammalian BPI molecule than the LBP counterpart.     

Isolation and Gene Expression of Yellow Grouper Ferritin Heavy Chain Subunit After Lipopolysaccharide Treatment

Ferritin is a ubiquitous and conserved iron storage protein that plays a central role in iron metabolism. The ferritin heavy chain subunit (FerH) homolog was isolated from yellow grouper (Epinephelus awoara) spleen using suppression subtractive hybridization and RACE-PCR. The nucleotide sequence of FerH full-length cDNA was 1173 bp and contained an open reading frame of 534 bp, encoding a putative protein of 177 amino acids. The encoded protein shows 78-94% identity with homologs. Based on phylogenetic analysis, yellow grouper FerH is highly conserved throughout evolution and is closer to European seabass than to other species. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that FerH was widely expressed in various healthy tissues and significantly up-regulated in liver, spleen, and anterior kidney by lipopolysaccharide. The results suggest that yellow grouper FerH may play a role in immune response.     

Molecular cloning,sequence and expression analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ZmArf2</Emphasis>, a maize ADP-ribosylation factor

A full-length cDNA encoding a maize GTP-binding protein of the ADP-ribosylation factor family was cloned by suppression subtractive hybridization and an in silico cloning approach. The cDNA was 938 bp in length and contained a complete ORF of 612 bp, which encodes a protein of 203 amino acid residues. Its deduced amino acids sequence had an 83% identity with that of a GTP-binding protein in rice. The gene was designated ZmArf2. The ZmArf2 gene consists of G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5 boxes, and Switch I and Switch II regions. Eight nucleotides differed and five amino acids changed between the popcorn inbred N04 and the dent corn inbred Dan232. One changed amino acid was in the G1 box. RT-PCR analysis showed that ZmArf2 expression increased in the early stages of endosperm development and was not tissue-specific.     

红树植物秋茄中受盐胁迫抑制的cyclophilin基因的鉴定与表达分析

利用代表性差异分析方法获得秋茄中两个编码亲环素(cyclophilin)蛋白的cDNA片段(称为SRGKC2和SRGKC3),该片段大小分别为282 bp和160 bp;序列分析表明:SRGKC2和SRGKC3是同一基因区域的不同长度片段,SRGKC3是SRGKC2片段的一部分。SRGKC2在84个氨基酸范围内与大戟属cyclophilin蛋白的氨基酸序列的一致性达到90%,SRGKC3在47个氨基酸范围内与蚕豆cyclophilin蛋白的一致性达到93%。Northem分析表明:盐分抑制SRGKC2片段的表达。依赖SRGKC2片段的序列资料,利用cDNA快速末端扩增(RACE)技术获取秋茄中cyclophilin基因的全长cDNA片段(命名为KCCYPl)(GenBank登录号:AY150052)。该cDNA全长约为0.9kb,含有一个516个核苷酸的完整开放阅读框,编码172个氨基酸,等电点为8.57,分子量18.2 KDa。42-49位氨基酸残基为推测的ATP/GTP结合位点A基序(P-loop),48-54位氨基酸残基是插入的7个氨基酸残基。文中还对SRGKC2在不同种中的表达状况进行了分析。     

斜带石斑鱼2种胰脂肪酶基因全长cDNA序列的克隆与分析

利用RT-PCR和RACE方法克隆得到斜带石斑鱼（Epinephelus coioides）肝胰脏中胆盐活化的胰脂肪酶(bile salt-activated lipase,BSAL)和依赖于辅酶的胰脂肪酶(colipase-dependent pancreatic lipase,PL)基因的全长cDNA序列.BSAL基因全长cDNA序列1 796 bp,编码558个氨基酸,该蛋白序列含有BSAL的全部特征结构区,与其他脊椎动物BSAL的氨基酸序列同源性为49.9%～57.3%.PL基因的全长cDNA序列1 503bp,编码465个氨基酸,该蛋白序列含有PL全部的特征结构区,与其它脊椎动物PL的氨基酸同源性为49.1%～73.9%.系统树分析表明,斜带石斑鱼BSAL和PL与其它物种BSAL、PL和胰脂肪酶相关蛋白(PL-RP)聚于进化树的两个不同分支,属于2种不同的胰脂肪酶.结果证实,在同一鱼类体内也存在BSAL和PL两种胰脂肪酶基因.