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Herrera-Vázquez SE, Elizalde-Velázquez GA, Gómez-Oliván LM, Chanona-Pérez JJ, Hernández-Varela JD, Hernández-Díaz M, García-Medina S, Orozco-Hernández JM, Colín-García K. Ecotoxicological evaluation of chitosan biopolymer films particles in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio): A comparative study with polystyrene microplastics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172757. [PMID: 38670364 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
To mitigate the environmental impact of microplastics (MPs), the scientific community has innovated sustainable and biodegradable polymers as viable alternatives to traditional plastics. Chitosan, the deacetylated form of chitin, stands as one of the most thoroughly investigated biopolymers and has garnered significant interest due to its versatile applications in both medical and cosmetic fields. Nevertheless, there is still a knowledge gap regarding the impact that chitosan biopolymer films (CBPF) may generate in aquatic organisms. In light of the foregoing, this study aimed to assess and compare the potential effects of CBPF on the gastrointestinal tract, gills, brain, and liver of Danio rerio against those induced by MPs. The findings revealed that both CBPF and MPs induced changes in the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers across all organs. However, it is essential to note that our star plots illustrate a tendency for CBPF to activate antioxidant enzymes and for MPs to produce oxidative damage. Regarding gene expression, our findings indicate that MPs led to an up-regulation in the expression of genes associated with apoptotic response (p53, casp3, cas9, bax, and bcl2) in all fish organs. Meanwhile, CBPF produced the same effect in genes related to antioxidant response (nrf1 and nrf2). Overall, our histological observations substantiated these effects, revealing the presence of plastic particles and tissue alterations in the gills and gastrointestinal tract of fish subjected to MPs. From these results, it can be concluded that CBPF does not represent a risk to fish after long exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selene Elizabeth Herrera-Vázquez
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Paseo Colón intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP 50120 Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Gustavo Axel Elizalde-Velázquez
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Paseo Colón intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP 50120 Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Leobardo Manuel Gómez-Oliván
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Paseo Colón intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP 50120 Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico.
| | - José Jorge Chanona-Pérez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, Av. Wilfrido Massieu s/n y cerrada Manuel Stampa, Col. Industrial Vallejo, Ciudad de México CP 07700, Mexico
| | - Josué David Hernández-Varela
- Departamento de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, Av. Wilfrido Massieu s/n y cerrada Manuel Stampa, Col. Industrial Vallejo, Ciudad de México CP 07700, Mexico
| | - Misael Hernández-Díaz
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Acuática, Departamento de Farmacia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, Av. Wilfrido Massieu s/n y cerrada Manuel Stampa, Col. Industrial Vallejo, Ciudad de México CP, 07700, Mexico
| | - Sandra García-Medina
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Acuática, Departamento de Farmacia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, Av. Wilfrido Massieu s/n y cerrada Manuel Stampa, Col. Industrial Vallejo, Ciudad de México CP, 07700, Mexico
| | - José Manuel Orozco-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Paseo Colón intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP 50120 Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Karla Colín-García
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Paseo Colón intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP 50120 Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
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Mengkrog Holen M, Tuveng TR, Kent MP, Vaaje‐Kolstad G. The gastric mucosa of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is abundant in highly active chitinases. FEBS Open Bio 2024; 14:23-36. [PMID: 37581908 PMCID: PMC10761930 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) possesses a genome containing 10 genes encoding chitinases, yet their functional roles remain poorly understood. In other fish species, chitinases have been primarily linked to digestion, but also to other functions, as chitinase-encoding genes are transcribed in a variety of non-digestive organs. In this study, we investigated the properties of two chitinases belonging to the family 18 glycoside hydrolase group, namely Chia.3 and Chia.4, both isolated from the stomach mucosa. Chia.3 and Chia.4, exhibiting 95% sequence identity, proved inseparable using conventional chromatographic methods, necessitating their purification as a chitinase pair. Biochemical analysis revealed sustained chitinolytic activity against β-chitin for up to 24 h, spanning a pH range of 2 to 6. Moreover, subsequent in vitro investigations established that this chitinase pair efficiently degrades diverse chitin-containing substrates into chitobiose, highlighting the potential of Atlantic salmon to utilize novel chitin-containing feed sources. Analysis of the gastric matrix proteome demonstrates that the chitinases are secreted and rank among the most abundant proteins in the gastric matrix. This finding correlates well with the previously observed high transcription of the corresponding chitinase genes in Atlantic salmon stomach tissue. By shedding light on the secreted chitinases in the Atlantic salmon's stomach mucosa and elucidating their functional characteristics, this study enhances our understanding of chitinase biology in this species. Moreover, the observed capacity to effectively degrade chitin-containing materials implies the potential utilization of alternative feed sources rich in chitin, offering promising prospects for sustainable aquaculture practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Mengkrog Holen
- Center for Integrative Genetics, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of BiosciencesNorwegian University of Life SciencesÅsNorway
| | - Tina Rise Tuveng
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food ScienceNorwegian University of Life SciencesÅsNorway
| | - Matthew Peter Kent
- Center for Integrative Genetics, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of BiosciencesNorwegian University of Life SciencesÅsNorway
| | - Gustav Vaaje‐Kolstad
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food ScienceNorwegian University of Life SciencesÅsNorway
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Holen MM, Vaaje-Kolstad G, Kent MP, Sandve SR. Gene family expansion and functional diversification of chitinase and chitin synthase genes in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad069. [PMID: 36972305 PMCID: PMC10234404 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Chitin is one of the most abundant polysaccharides in nature, forming important structures in insects, crustaceans, and fungal cell walls. Vertebrates on the other hand are generally considered "nonchitinous" organisms, despite having highly conserved chitin metabolism-associated genes. Recent work has revealed that the largest group of vertebrates, the teleosts, have the potential to both synthesize and degrade endogenous chitin. Yet, little is known about the genes and proteins responsible for these dynamic processes. Here, we used comparative genomics, transcriptomics, and chromatin accessibility data to characterize the repertoire, evolution, and regulation of genes involved in chitin metabolism in teleosts, with a particular focus on Atlantic salmon. Reconstruction of gene family phylogenies provides evidence for an expansion of teleost and salmonid chitinase and chitin synthase genes after multiple whole-genome duplications. Analyses of multi-tissue gene expression data demonstrated a strong bias of gastrointestinal tract expression for chitin metabolism genes, but with different spatial and temporal tissue specificities. Finally, we integrated transcriptomes from a developmental time series of the gastrointestinal tract with chromatin accessibility data to identify putative transcription factors responsible for regulating chitin metabolism gene expression (CDX1 and CDX2) as well as tissue-specific divergence in the regulation of gene duplicates (FOXJ2). The findings presented here support the hypothesis that chitin metabolism genes in teleosts play a role in developing and maintaining a chitin-based barrier in the teleost gut and provide a basis for further investigations into the molecular basis of this barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Mengkrog Holen
- Section for Genome Biology, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås NO-1432, Norway
| | - Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad
- Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (IKBM), Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås NO-1432, Norway
| | - Matthew Peter Kent
- Section for Genome Biology, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås NO-1432, Norway
| | - Simen Rød Sandve
- Section for Genome Biology, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås NO-1432, Norway
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4
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Characterization of the innate immune response to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in zebrafish. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010586. [PMID: 36622851 PMCID: PMC9858863 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is one of the most frequent causes of pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis in humans, and an important cause of mortality among children and the elderly. We have previously reported the suitability of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) larval model for the study of the host-pathogen interactions in pneumococcal infection. In the present study, we characterized the zebrafish innate immune response to pneumococcus in detail through a whole-genome level transcriptome analysis and revealed a well-conserved response to this human pathogen in challenged larvae. In addition, to gain understanding of the genetic factors associated with the increased risk for severe pneumococcal infection in humans, we carried out a medium-scale forward genetic screen in zebrafish. In the screen, we identified a mutant fish line which showed compromised resistance to pneumococcus in the septic larval infection model. The transcriptome analysis of the mutant zebrafish larvae revealed deficient expression of a gene homologous for human C-reactive protein (CRP). Furthermore, knockout of one of the six zebrafish crp genes by CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis predisposed zebrafish larvae to a more severe pneumococcal infection, and the phenotype was further augmented by concomitant knockdown of a gene for another Crp isoform. This suggests a conserved function of C-reactive protein in anti-pneumococcal immunity in zebrafish. Altogether, this study highlights the similarity of the host response to pneumococcus in zebrafish and humans, gives evidence of the conserved role of C-reactive protein in the defense against pneumococcus, and suggests novel host genes associated with pneumococcal infection.
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Guerrero-Peña L, Suarez-Bregua P, Méndez-Martínez L, García-Fernández P, Tur R, Rubiolo JA, Tena JJ, Rotllant J. Brains in Metamorphosis: Temporal Transcriptome Dynamics in Hatchery-Reared Flatfishes. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10121256. [PMID: 34943172 PMCID: PMC8698573 DOI: 10.3390/biology10121256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Metamorphosis is a captivating process of change during which the morphology of the larva is completely reshaped to face the new challenges of adult life. In the case of fish, this process initiated in the brain has traditionally been considered to be a critical rearing point and despite the pioneering molecular work carried out in other flatfishes, the underlying molecular basis is still relatively poorly characterized. Turbot brain transcriptome of three developmental stages (pre-metamorphic, climax of metamorphosis and post-metamorphic) were analyzed to study the gene expression dynamics throughout the metamorphic process. A total of 1570 genes were differentially expressed in the three developmental stages and we found a specific pattern of gene expression at each stage. Unexpectedly, at the climax stage of metamorphosis, we found highly expressed genes related to the immune response, while the biological pathway enrichment analysis in pre-metamorphic and post-metamorphic were related to cell differentiation and oxygen carrier activity, respectively. In addition, our results confirm the importance of thyroid stimulating hormone, increasing its expression during metamorphosis. Based on our findings, we assume that immune system activation during the climax of metamorphosis stage could be related to processes of larval tissue inflammation, resorption and replacement, as occurs in other vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Guerrero-Peña
- Aquatic Biotechnology Lab., Institute of Marine Research, Spanish National Research Council (IIM-CSIC), 36208 Vigo, Spain; (L.G.-P.); (L.M.-M.)
| | - Paula Suarez-Bregua
- Aquatic Biotechnology Lab., Institute of Marine Research, Spanish National Research Council (IIM-CSIC), 36208 Vigo, Spain; (L.G.-P.); (L.M.-M.)
- Correspondence: (P.S.-B.); (J.R.)
| | - Luis Méndez-Martínez
- Aquatic Biotechnology Lab., Institute of Marine Research, Spanish National Research Council (IIM-CSIC), 36208 Vigo, Spain; (L.G.-P.); (L.M.-M.)
| | | | - Ricardo Tur
- Nueva Pescanova Biomarine Center, S.L., 36980 O Grove, Spain; (P.G.-F.); (R.T.)
| | - Juan A. Rubiolo
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas-Centro Científico y Tecnológico Acuario del Río Paraná, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario S2002LRK, Argentina;
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain
| | - Juan J. Tena
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Sevilla, Spain;
| | - Josep Rotllant
- Aquatic Biotechnology Lab., Institute of Marine Research, Spanish National Research Council (IIM-CSIC), 36208 Vigo, Spain; (L.G.-P.); (L.M.-M.)
- Correspondence: (P.S.-B.); (J.R.)
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Tonione MA, Bi K, Tsutsui ND. Transcriptomic signatures of cold adaptation and heat stress in the winter ant (Prenolepis imparis). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239558. [PMID: 33002025 PMCID: PMC7529264 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change is a serious threat to biodiversity; it is therefore important to understand how animals will react to this stress. Ectotherms, such as ants, are especially sensitive to the climate as the environmental temperature influences myriad aspects of their biology, from optimal foraging time to developmental rate. In this study, we conducted an RNA-seq analysis to identify stress-induced genes in the winter ant (Prenolepis imparis). We quantified gene expression during heat and cold stress relative to a control temperature. From each of our conditions, we sequenced the transcriptome of three individuals. Our de novo assembly included 13,324 contigs that were annotated against the nr and SwissProt databases. We performed gene ontology and enrichment analyses to gain insight into the physiological processes involved in the stress response. We identified a total of 643 differentially expressed genes across both treatments. Of these, only seven genes were differentially expressed in the cold-stressed ants, which could indicate that the temperature we chose for trials did not induce a strong stress response, perhaps due to the cold adaptations of this species. Conversely, we found a strong response to heat: 426 upregulated genes and 210 downregulated genes. Of these, ten were expressed at a greater than ten-fold change relative to the control. The transcripts we could identify included those encoding for protein folding genes, heat shock proteins, histones, and Ca2+ ion transport. One of these transcripts, hsc70-4L was found to be under positive selection. We also characterized the functional categories of differentially expressed genes. These candidate genes may be functionally conserved and relevant for related species that will deal with rapid climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Adelena Tonione
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Ke Bi
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America.,Computational Genomics Resource Laboratory (CGRL), California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Neil Durie Tsutsui
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
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Yang Y, Dong F, Liu X, Xu J, Wu X, Zheng Y. Thifluzamide induces the toxic effects on zebrafish (Danio rerio) via inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 265:115031. [PMID: 32806454 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Thifluzamide is widely used in treatment of rice diseases and has potential toxicity on aquatic organism. Although previous studies have focused on the toxic effect of thifluzamide in zebrafish, no consistent conclusions have been reached. To help to elucidate the toxic mechanism, qualities of liver and mitochondria were evaluated. The global changes in the transcriptome of zebrafish after exposure to thifluzamide were measured. Based on this, the expression and activities of chitinase and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) were further assayed. And the targeted site of thifluzamide in zebrafish was confirmed by dock study and co-exposure study. Here we report that developmental inhibition was observed along with presence of liver and mitochondrial damage. The expression of SDHa-d and genes related to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replicate and mitochondrial complexes were significantly altered. And, as the top differentially expressed genes, the expression of chia.1-6 did show apparent changes, but differences of chitinase activity between exposure groups and the controls did not reach significance. In line with that, dock study showed that the binding potentials of thifluzamide toward zebrafish chitinase and SDH exhibited in the following order: SDH> chitinase. And sdhb-sdhc-sdhd (Qp site) showed the highest binding activity toward thifluzamide. The joint exposure (thifluzamide + Q10) significantly improved the survival of zebrafish compared with single thifluzamide exposure. These results indicate that SDH, especially Qp-site, may be the target of thifluzamide in zebrafish and inhibition of SDH activity may be at least in partial responsible for the toxicity of thifluzamide in zebrafish. In addition, the antagonistic effect of Q10 on thifluzamide toxicity in zebrafish suggests that Q10 may be a useful adjunct to detoxification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Disease and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengshou Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Disease and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingang Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Disease and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Disease and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohu Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Disease and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongquan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Disease and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang QL, Li HW, Dong ZX, Yang XJ, Lin LB, Chen JY, Yuan ML. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) to explore the molecular adaptations to fresh water. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:2676-2691. [PMID: 32512643 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aquatic insects are well adapted to freshwater environments, but the molecular basis of these adaptations remains largely unknown. Most firefly species (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are terrestrial, but the larvae of several species are aquatic. Here, larval and adult transcriptomes from Aquatica leii (freshwater) and Lychnuris praetexta (terrestrial) were generated to test whether the genes associated with metabolic efficiency and morphology have undergone adaptive evolution to fresh water. The aquatic fireflies had a significantly lower ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions than the terrestrial insects, indicating a genomewide evolutionary constraint in the aquatic fireflies. We identified 341 fast-evolving genes and 116 positively selected genes in the aquatic fireflies. Of these, 76 genes exhibiting both fast evolution and positive selection were primarily involved in ATP production, energy metabolism and the hypoxia response. We identified 7,271 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in A. leii (adults versus larvae) and 8,309 DEGs in L. praetexta (adults versus larvae). DEGs specific to the aquatic firefly (n = 1,445) were screened via interspecific comparisons (A. leii versus L. praetexta) and were significantly enriched for genes involved in metabolic efficiency (e.g., ATP production, hypoxia, and immune responses) and certain aspects of morphology (e.g., cuticle chitin, tracheal and compound eye morphology). These results indicate that sequence and expression-level changes in genes associated with both metabolic efficiency and morphological attributes related to the freshwater lifestyle contributed to freshwater adaptation in fireflies. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of aquatic adaptation in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Lin Zhang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Hong-Wei Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Zhi-Xiang Dong
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Xiao-Jie Yang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Lian-Bing Lin
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Jun-Yuan Chen
- LPS, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Ming-Long Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Liu HH, Fan MH, Liu HH, Qi PZ, Zhi L. Production and Function of Different Regions from Mytichitin-1 of Mytilus coruscus. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 84:1018-1029. [PMID: 30395994 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2018.10.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Chitinase is an important enzyme for many physiological processes. Mytichitin-1 is a chitinase-like protein in Mytilus coruscus, and its C-terminal 55-AA fragment (mytichitin-CB) is a novel antimicrobial peptide, suggesting a new immune process in which chitinase is involved; mytichtin-1 may have various forms in the different biological processes of M. coruscus. Thus, the study of mytichitin-1 will be helpful for understanding the mechanism of mussel immune biology and the functional diversity of chitinase. In this study, mytichitin-1 was recombinantly expressed with different lengths, full-length mytichtin-1 (rMchi-F) and the N-terminal region (rMchi-N) in Escherichia coli BL21 with codon optimization. The results of SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and mass spectrometry confirmed that the two forms of mytichitin-1 had been successfully recombinant expressed with a yield of 40 mg purified enzyme per L culture. In addition, the 55-AA fragment of mytichitin-CB was chemically synthesized (sMchi-CB). After purification and oxidation, the functions of the three protein products were analysed, including chitin degradation, chitin binding, and antimicrobial activities. Both rMchi-F and rMchi-N displayed enzymatic activity with the optimum pH of 4.0 and optimum temperature of 40 °C, and rMchi-N showed a stronger activity than rMchi-F. Enzymatic activities of rMchi-F and rMchi-N were stimulated by the metal ions Fe2+, Ba2+, and Na+ and partially inhibited by Cu2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+. rMchi-F, rMchi-N, and sMchi-CB had the ability to combine with colloid chitin. The antimicrobial activities of these proteins were tested against bacteria and fungi, and the results indicated the strongest activity for sMchi-CB and the weakest activity for rMchi-N. Using a prepared anti-rMchi-F polyclonal antibody, immunohistochemistry and immunoprecipitation were performed and the results revealed the location of mytichitin-1 in mantle, digestive gland and blood cells. In addition, two forms of mytichitin-1, mytichitin-CB (6 kD) and full-length mytichitin-1 (48 kD), were detected, and a 35 kD protein was identified as the third form of mytichitin-1, existing in various tissues of M. coruscus. These findings suggest that mytichitin-1 may play different roles, with at least three forms, in different M. coruscus tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Han Liu
- Key Laboratory for Marine Living Resources and Molecular Engineering, College of Marine Science, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, PR China
| | - Mei-Hua Fan
- Key Laboratory for Marine Living Resources and Molecular Engineering, College of Marine Science, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, PR China
| | - Hui-Hui Liu
- Key Laboratory for Marine Living Resources and Molecular Engineering, College of Marine Science, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, PR China
| | - Peng-Zhi Qi
- Key Laboratory for Marine Living Resources and Molecular Engineering, College of Marine Science, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, PR China
| | - Liao Zhi
- Key Laboratory for Marine Living Resources and Molecular Engineering, College of Marine Science, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, PR China.
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Liu D, Yu H, Pang Q, Zhang X. Investigation of the Lipid-Lowering Effect of Vitamin C Through GSK-3β/β-Catenin Signaling in Zebrafish. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1023. [PMID: 30154726 PMCID: PMC6103266 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin C (VC) is an essential nutrient for most fish species because of the absence of L-gulonolactone oxidase in the bodies of fish. VC plays a significant role in maintaining the physiological functions and in improving the growth performance, immunity, and survival of fish. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were treated with 8.2, 509.6, and 1007.5 mg/kg VC diets for 2 weeks, and the muscle samples were collected for gene expression analysis and biochemical index analysis. The results indicated that 509.6 and 1007.5 mg/kg VC diets inhibited glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) expression and induced the expression of β-catenin in the muscle of zebrafish. The mRNA expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), FAS activity, and the content of glycerol and triglyceride (TG) were decreased in the muscle by 509.6 and 1007.5 mg/kg VC diets. In addition, GSK-3β RNA interference was observed in zebrafish fed with 8.2 and 1007.5 mg/kg VC diets. It was found that GSK-3β RNA interference induced the mRNA expression of β-catenin but decreased the mRNA expression of C/EBPα and FAS, FAS activity, as well as the content of glycerol and TG in the muscle of zebrafish. In ZF4 cells, the mRNA expression of GSK-3β, C/EBPα, and FAS was decreased, but β-catenin expression was increased by 0.1 and 0.5 mmol/L VC treatments in vitro. The glycerol and TG content, and FAS activity in ZF4 cells were decreased by 0.1 and 0.5 mmol/L VC treatments. Moreover, the result of western blot indicated that the protein expression level of GSK-3β was significantly decreased and that of β-catenin was significantly increased in ZF4 cells treated with 0.1 and 0.5 mmol/L VC. The results from in vivo and in vitro studies corroborated that VC exerted the lipid-lowering effect through GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongwu Liu
- Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
| | - Hairui Yu
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Weifang Bioengineering Technology Research Center, Weifang University, Weifang, China
| | - Qiuxiang Pang
- Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
| | - Xiuzhen Zhang
- Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
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11
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Qi S, Liu X, Zhu L, Chen X, Wang C. Racemic, R-, and S-tebuconazole altered chitinase and chitobiase activity of Daphnia magna. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART. B, PESTICIDES, FOOD CONTAMINANTS, AND AGRICULTURAL WASTES 2018; 53:171-175. [PMID: 29227191 DOI: 10.1080/03601234.2017.1399245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Tebuconazole is a chiral trizole fungicide and widely used in many crops for controlling disease. Tebuconazole is potential toxic to some aquatic organisms but relative information of its isomers is scarce. To detect the endocrine disrupting effects and difference of rac-, R-, and S-tebuconazole, the chitinase activity in Daphnia magna and chitobiase activity in each test medium were used as biomonitors after a 14-day exposure. Results showed that chitinase activity was significantly reduced by rac-, R-, and S-tebuconazole. The chitobiase activity in the test medium was reduced by rac- and R-tebuconazole before day 10, and only one peak was observed at day 10 or day 12 compared with two obvious peaks in the control group (days 6 and 12). S-tebuconazole delayed and reduced the reproduction of D. magna, but did not delay the first chitobiase activity peak, whereas the second peak could not be characterized as the exposure concentration and time increased. Compared with chitinase activity, chitobiase activity can still be used as a rudimentary model for identifying molt-interfering xenobiotics, and further studies should focus on the analysis of correlations between these parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzhen Qi
- a Key Laboratory of Pesticide Chemistry & Application Technology, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , P.R. China
- b Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Beijing , P. R. China
| | - Xue Liu
- a Key Laboratory of Pesticide Chemistry & Application Technology, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , P.R. China
| | - Lizhen Zhu
- a Key Laboratory of Pesticide Chemistry & Application Technology, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , P.R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Chen
- a Key Laboratory of Pesticide Chemistry & Application Technology, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , P.R. China
| | - Chengju Wang
- a Key Laboratory of Pesticide Chemistry & Application Technology, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , P.R. China
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12
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Gao C, Cai X, Zhang Y, Su B, Song H, Wenqi W, Li C. Characterization and expression analysis of chitinase genes (CHIT1, CHIT2 and CHIT3) in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) following bacterial challenge. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 64:357-366. [PMID: 28286313 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Chitinases are hydrolytic enzymes which have been employed to breakdown chitin coats of pathogenic microorganisms, thereby weaken the defense system of several pathogens and insects. In this regard, we identified the chitinase genes of turbot and characterized their expression patterns in mucosal tissues following Vibrio anguillarum and Streptococcus iniae challenge. In present study, transcripts of three chitinase genes (CHIT1, CHIT2 and CHIT3) were captured, as well as their protein structures and expression patterns following different bacterial infection were also characterized. The chitinases were widely expressed in all tested tissues with the highest expression levels of CHIT1 and CHIT2 in intestine, and CHIT3 in skin. Finally, these three genes showed different expression patterns following bacterial challenge. The significant quick induction of chitinases in mucosal surfaces against infection indicated their key roles to prevent pathogen attachment and entry in mucosal immunity. Functional studies should further characterize the chitinases and avail utilization of their function to increase the disease resistance in maintaining the integrity of the mucosal barriers against infection and facilitating the disease resistant family/strain selection in turbot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengbin Gao
- Marine Science and Engineering College, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Xin Cai
- Marine Science and Engineering College, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Laboratory for Evolution & Development, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Department of Marine Biology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Baofeng Su
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Breeding, Heilongjiang Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin 150070, China; Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Biotechnology and Breeding, Heilongjiang Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin 150070, China
| | - Huanhuan Song
- Marine Science and Engineering College, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Wang Wenqi
- Marine Science and Engineering College, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Chao Li
- Marine Science and Engineering College, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
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Pohls P, González-Dávalos L, Mora O, Shimada A, Varela-Echavarria A, Toledo-Cuevas EM, Martínez-Palacios CA. A complete chitinolytic system in the atherinopsid pike silverside Chirostoma estor: gene expression and activities. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2016; 88:2130-2143. [PMID: 27161769 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The expression and digestive activity of pike silverside Chirostoma estor endogenous chitinases were analysed in samples from four life stages: whole eggs; larvae; juvenile intestine and hepatopancreas and adult intestine and hepatopancreas. A chitinase cDNA was cloned and partially sequenced (GenBank accession number: FJ785521). It was highly homologous to non-acidic chitinase sequences from other fish species, suggesting that it is a chitotriosidase. Quantitative PCR showed that this chitinase was expressed throughout the life span of C. estor, with maximum expression in the hepatopancreas of juveniles. Chitotriosidase and chitobiosidase activities were found at all life stages, along with a very high level of N-acetyl glucosaminidase (NAGase). The chitotriosidase activity could be encoded by the cloned complementary (c)DNA, although additional chitinase genes may be present. The chitotriosidase activity appeared to be transcriptionally regulated only at the juvenile stage. The expression and activity of chitinases tended to increase from the early to juvenile stages, suggesting that these variables are stimulated by chitin-rich live food. Nevertheless, the feeding of juvenile and adult fish with both live food and a balanced commercial diet seemed to provoke significant reductions in pancreatic NAGase secretion and/or synthesis in the gut. Moreover, all chitinase activities were lower in adults, probably reflecting a higher intake and use of the balanced diet. The observation of chitotriosidase and chitobiosidase activities together with a very high NAGase activity suggest the presence of a complete and compensatory chitinolytic chitinase system that enables this stomachless short-gut fish species to use chitin as an energy substrate. These novel findings suggest that dietary inclusions of chitin-rich ingredients or by-products might reduce the farming costs of C. estor without impairing performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Pohls
- Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias de la Producción y de la Salud Animal (PPCPSA), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México City, México
| | - L González-Dávalos
- Laboratorio de Rumiología y Metabolismo Nutricional (RuMeN), Facultad de Estudios Superiores-Cuautitlán (FES-C), UNAM, Querétaro, Qro., 76140, México
| | - O Mora
- Laboratorio de Rumiología y Metabolismo Nutricional (RuMeN), Facultad de Estudios Superiores-Cuautitlán (FES-C), UNAM, Querétaro, Qro., 76140, México
| | - A Shimada
- Laboratorio de Rumiología y Metabolismo Nutricional (RuMeN), Facultad de Estudios Superiores-Cuautitlán (FES-C), UNAM, Querétaro, Qro., 76140, México
| | | | - E M Toledo-Cuevas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, San Juanito Itzícuaro, Morelia, Michoacán 58330, México
| | - C A Martínez-Palacios
- Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, San Juanito Itzícuaro, Morelia, Michoacán 58330, México
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14
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Zhang S, Dong Y, Cui P. Vitellogenin is an immunocompetent molecule for mother and offspring in fish. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 46:710-715. [PMID: 26282682 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2015.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Revised: 08/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of the function of vitellogenin (Vg) in reproduction has undergone a transformation over the past decade in parallel with new insights into the role of Vg in immunity. Initially, Vg was regarded as a female-specific reproductive protein, which is cleaved into yolk proteins such as phosvitin (Pv) and lipovitellin (Lv), stored in egg, providing the nutrients for developing embryos. Recently, Vg is shown to be an immune-relevant molecule involved in the defense of the host against the microbes including bacterium and virus. Furthermore, Pv and Lv, that both are proteolytically cleaved products of Vg, play a defense role in developing embryos. Importantly, yolk protein-derived small peptides also display antimicrobial activity. These data together indicate that Vg, in addition to being involved in yolk protein formation, plays a non-reproductive role via functioning as an immune-relevant molecule in both parent fishes and their offspring. It also shows that yolk proteins and their degraded peptides are novel players in maternal immunity, opening a new avenue to study the functions of reproductive proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shicui Zhang
- Laboratory for Evolution & Development, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity and Department of Marine Biology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
| | - Yuan Dong
- Laboratory for Evolution & Development, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity and Department of Marine Biology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Pengfei Cui
- Laboratory for Evolution & Development, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity and Department of Marine Biology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
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15
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Yan J, Yuan SS, Jiang LL, Ye XJ, Ng TB, Wu ZJ. Plant antifungal proteins and their applications in agriculture. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:4961-81. [PMID: 25971197 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6654-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2015] [Revised: 04/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Fungi are far more complex organisms than viruses or bacteria and can develop numerous diseases in plants that cause loss of a substantial portion of the crop every year. Plants have developed various mechanisms to defend themselves against these fungi which include the production of low-molecular-weight secondary metabolites and proteins and peptides with antifungal activity. In this review, families of plant antifungal proteins (AFPs) including defensins, lectins, and several others will be summarized. Moreover, the application of AFPs in agriculture will also be analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Virology of Fujian Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China,
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Koch BEV, Stougaard J, Spaink HP. Keeping track of the growing number of biological functions of chitin and its interaction partners in biomedical research. Glycobiology 2015; 25:469-82. [PMID: 25595947 PMCID: PMC4373397 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwv005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chitin is a vital polysaccharide component of protective structures in many eukaryotic organisms but seems absent in vertebrates. Chitin or chitin oligomers are therefore prime candidates for non-self-molecules, which are recognized and degraded by the vertebrate immune system. Despite the absence of polymeric chitin in vertebrates, chitinases and chitinase-like proteins (CLPs) are well conserved in vertebrate species. In many studies, these proteins have been found to be involved in immune regulation and in mediating the degradation of chitinous external protective structures of invading pathogens. Several important aspects of chitin immunostimulation have recently been uncovered, advancing our understanding of the complex regulatory mechanisms that chitin mediates. Likewise, the last few years have seen large advances in our understanding of the mechanisms and molecular interactions of chitinases and CLPs in relation to immune response regulation. It is becoming increasingly clear that their function in this context is not exclusive to chitin producing pathogens, but includes bacterial infections and cancer signaling as well. Here we provide an overview of the immune signaling properties of chitin and other closely related biomolecules. We also review the latest literature on chitinases and CLPs of the GH18 family. Finally, we examine the existing literature on zebrafish chitinases, and propose the use of zebrafish as a versatile model to complement the existing murine models. This could especially be of benefit to the exploration of the function of chitinases in infectious diseases using high-throughput approaches and pharmaceutical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bjørn E V Koch
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark Leiden University, Institute of Biology, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jens Stougaard
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Herman P Spaink
- Leiden University, Institute of Biology, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Kakizaki H, Ikeda M, Fukushima H, Matsumiya M. Distribution of Chitinolytic Enzymes in the Organs and cDNA Cloning of Chitinase Isozymes from the Stomach of Two Species of Fish, Chub Mackerel (<i>Scomber japonicus</i>) and Silver Croaker (<i>Pennahia argentata</i>). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.4236/ojms.2015.54032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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