1
|
Liu S, Zhu L, Xu Z, Wang L, Wang S, Seif M, Xu X. Toxic effect of chromium on nonspecific immune, bioaccumulation, and tissue structure of Urechis unicinctus. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:23077-23090. [PMID: 38416356 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32441-8] [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: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The contamination of toxic heavy metals in aquatic environments has garnered significant global attention due to its detrimental effects on marine organisms and human health. Hexavalent chromium is a typical environmental and occupational heavy metal pollutant, identified as carcinogenic heavy metal. This study aimed to assess the impact of different Cr (VI) concentrations (0.05-2.5 mg/L) on Urechis unicinctus (U. unicinctus) by investigating bioaccumulation, antioxidant defense system, expression of resistance-related genes, and histological issues. A clear concentration-effect relationship was observed in the bioaccumulation of Cr (VI) in muscle tissues of U. unicinctus. Moreover, exposure to Cr (VI) can alter the activities of lysozyme (LSZ), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) to enhance cellular defense mechanisms in U. unicinctus. Likewise, maintained the normal protein structure and functional stability by regulating protein folding. The heat shock cognitive protein (HSC70) gene showed an upward and then downward trend after Cr (VI) exposure. At 12 h, the HSC70 gene expression reached the maximum values of 4.75 and 4.61-fold in the 0.1 and 1.5 mg/L groups, respectively. The organism produced a large number of free radicals, and elevated level of metallothionein (MT) was used to scavenge free radicals and alleviate oxidative stress. Additionally, histopathological examination revealed disorganization in the midgut, atrophic changes in intestinal connective tissue, uneven distribution in respiratory tissues, and irregular shape with a significant reduction in epithelial cells within the gastric cavity. These findings can serve as a valuable reference for elucidating the toxicity mechanisms of heavy metals towards marine benthic organisms and enhancing water environment monitoring strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shun Liu
- College of Marine Science and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, Jiangsu, China
| | - Long Zhu
- College of Marine Science and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, Jiangsu, China
| | - ZhiWei Xu
- College of Marine Science and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, Jiangsu, China
| | - LeJiang Wang
- College of Marine Science and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sijie Wang
- College of Marine Science and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mohamed Seif
- College of Marine Science and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, Jiangsu, China.
- Toxicology and Food Contaminants Department, Food Industries and Nutrition Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, P.O. Box 12622, Giza, Egypt.
| | - Xinghong Xu
- College of Marine Science and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li S, Zhang Y, Zhang R, Liu J. Radial Expansion Favors the Burrowing Behavior of Urechis unicinctus. Appl Bionics Biomech 2023; 2023:2478606. [PMID: 37829521 PMCID: PMC10567378 DOI: 10.1155/2023/2478606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Urechis unicinctus can utilize the ability of large deformation to advance in sands by radial expansion, just using a small force. However, the large deformation of U. unicinctus skin and the discrete nature of the sands make it hard to analyze this process quantitatively. In this study, we aim to uncover the burrowing mechanism of U. unicinctus in granular sediments by combining discrete and finite elements. We observe that U. unicinctus will expand radially at the head, and then the head will shrink to move forward. The radial expansion will collapse the sands and let them flow, making it easy to advance. U. unicinctus mainly relies on the skin's large deformation and sufficient pressure to achieve radial expansion. Thus, we first establish the large deformation constitutive model of the skin. The stress-strain relationship can be expressed by the Yeoh model. Meanwhile, the pressure required for radial expansion is indirectly measured by the balloon experiment. To study the effect of radial expansion on the burrowing behavior, we use the finite element method-discrete element method (FEM-DEM) coupling model to simulate the expansion process of burrowing. The simulated pressure for radial expansion is very close to the experimental data, verifying the reliability of the simulation. The results show that the expansion can drastically reduce the pressure of sand particles on the head front face by 97.1% ± 0.6%, significantly decreasing the difficulty of burrowing. This unique underwater burrow method of U. unicinctus can provide new ideas for engineering burrowing devices in soft soil, especially for granular sediments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shanpeng Li
- College of Engineering, Lishui University, Lishui 323000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- College of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Ruihua Zhang
- College of Engineering, Lishui University, Lishui 323000, China
| | - Jianlin Liu
- College of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chen J, Wang Y, Yang Z, Liu D, Jin Y, Li X, Deng Y, Wang B, Zhang Z, Ma Y. Identification and validation of the reference genes in the echiuran worm Urechis unicinctus based on transcriptome data. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:248. [PMID: 37165306 PMCID: PMC10170059 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09358-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is a crucial and widely used method for gene expression analysis. Selecting suitable reference genes is extremely important for the accuracy of RT-qPCR results. Commonly used reference genes are not always stable in various organisms or under different environmental conditions. With the increasing application of high-throughput sequencing, transcriptome analysis has become an effective method for identifying novel stable reference genes. RESULTS In this study, we identified candidate reference genes based on transcriptome data covering embryos and larvae of early development, normal adult tissues, and the hindgut under sulfide stress using the coefficient of variation (CV) method in the echiuran Urechis unicinctus, resulting in 6834 (15.82%), 7110 (16.85%) and 13880 (35.87%) candidate reference genes, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses revealed that the candidate reference genes were significantly enriched in cellular metabolic process, protein metabolic process and ribosome in early development and normal adult tissues as well as in cellular localization and endocytosis in the hindgut under sulfide stress. Subsequently, ten genes including five new candidate reference genes and five commonly used reference genes, were validated by RT-qPCR. The expression stability of the ten genes was analyzed using four methods (geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and ∆Ct). The comprehensive results indicated that the new candidate reference genes were more stable than most commonly used reference genes. The commonly used ACTB was the most unstable gene. The candidate reference genes STX12, EHMT1, and LYAG were the most stable genes in early development, normal adult tissues, and hindgut under sulfide stress, respectively. The log2(TPM) of the transcriptome data was significantly negatively correlated with the Ct values of RT-qPCR (Ct = - 0.5405 log2(TPM) + 34.51), which made it possible to estimate the Ct value before RT-qPCR using transcriptome data. CONCLUSION Our study is the first to select reference genes for RT-qPCR from transcriptome data in Echiura and provides important information for future gene expression studies in U. unicinctus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yunjian Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Danwen Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yao Jin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xixi Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuhang Deng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Boya Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhifeng Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Yubin Ma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li J, Lu J, Asakiya C, Huang K, Zhou X, Liu Q, He X. Extraction and Identification of Three New Urechis unicinctus Visceral Peptides and Their Antioxidant Activity. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:293. [PMID: 35621944 PMCID: PMC9145011 DOI: 10.3390/md20050293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The viscera of Urechis unicinctus with polypeptides, fatty acids, and amino acids are usually discarded during processing to food. In order to improve the utilization value of the viscera of Urechis unicinctus and avoid resource waste, antioxidant polypeptides were isolated from the viscera of Urechis unicinctus. First, a protein hydrolysate of Urechis unicinctus (UUPH) was prepared by ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis, and the degree of hydrolysis was as high as 79.32%. Subsequently, three new antioxidant peptides (P1, P2, and P3) were purified from UUPH using ultrafiltration and chromatography, and their amino acid sequences were identified as VTSALVGPR, IGLGDEGLRR, TKIRNEISDLNER, respectively. Then, the antioxidant activity of the polypeptide was predicted by the structure-activity relationship and finally verified by experiments on eukaryotic cells. The P1 peptide exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity among these three antioxidant peptides. Furthermore, P1, P2, and P3 have no toxic effect on RAW264.7 cells at the concentration of 0.01~2 mg/mL and can protect RAW264.7 cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggested that these three new antioxidant peptides were isolated from the viscera of Urechis unicinctus, especially the P1 peptide, which might serve as potential antioxidants applied in health-derived food or beverages. This study further developed a new use of the by-product of Urechis unicinctus, which improved the comprehensive utilization of marine biological resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Li
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (J.L.); (J.L.); (C.A.); (K.H.)
| | - Jiajun Lu
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (J.L.); (J.L.); (C.A.); (K.H.)
| | - Charles Asakiya
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (J.L.); (J.L.); (C.A.); (K.H.)
| | - Kunlun Huang
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (J.L.); (J.L.); (C.A.); (K.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Organism (Food Safety), The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the P.R. China, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiuzhi Zhou
- Shandong Baier Testing Corp., Ltd., Weifang 261061, China; (X.Z.); (Q.L.)
| | - Qingliang Liu
- Shandong Baier Testing Corp., Ltd., Weifang 261061, China; (X.Z.); (Q.L.)
| | - Xiaoyun He
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (J.L.); (J.L.); (C.A.); (K.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Organism (Food Safety), The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the P.R. China, Beijing 100083, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Liu D, Qin Z, Wei M, Kong D, Zheng Q, Bai S, Lin S, Zhang Z, Ma Y. Genome-Wide Analyses of Heat Shock Protein Superfamily Provide New Insights on Adaptation to Sulfide-Rich Environments in Urechis unicinctus (Annelida, Echiura). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:2715. [PMID: 35269857 PMCID: PMC8910992 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The intertidal zone is a transitional area of the land-sea continuum, in which physical and chemical properties vary during the tidal cycle and highly toxic sulfides are rich in sediments due to the dynamic regimes. As a typical species thriving in this habitat, Urechis unicinctus presents strong sulfide tolerance and is expected to be a model species for sulfide stress research. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) consist of a large group of highly conserved molecular chaperones, which play important roles in stress responses. In this study, we systematically analyzed the composition and expression of HSPs in U. unicinctus. A total of eighty-six HSP genes from seven families were identified, in which two families, including sHSP and HSP70, showed moderate expansion, and this variation may be related to the benthic habitat of the intertidal zone. Furthermore, expression analysis revealed that almost all the HSP genes in U. unicinctus were significantly induced under sulfide stress, suggesting that they may be involved in sulfide stress response. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) showed that 12 HSPs, including 5 sHSP and 4 HSP70 family genes, were highly correlated with the sulfide stress response which was distributed in steelblue and green modules. Our data indicate that HSPs, especially sHSP and HSP70 families, may play significant roles in response to sulfide stress in U. unicinctus. This systematic analysis provides valuable information for further understanding of the function of the HSP gene family for sulfide adaptation in U. unicinctus and contributes a better understanding of the species adaptation strategies of marine benthos in the intertidal zone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danwen Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; (D.L.); (Z.Q.); (M.W.); (D.K.); (Q.Z.); (S.B.); (S.L.)
| | - Zhenkui Qin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; (D.L.); (Z.Q.); (M.W.); (D.K.); (Q.Z.); (S.B.); (S.L.)
| | - Maokai Wei
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; (D.L.); (Z.Q.); (M.W.); (D.K.); (Q.Z.); (S.B.); (S.L.)
| | - Dexu Kong
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; (D.L.); (Z.Q.); (M.W.); (D.K.); (Q.Z.); (S.B.); (S.L.)
| | - Qiaojun Zheng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; (D.L.); (Z.Q.); (M.W.); (D.K.); (Q.Z.); (S.B.); (S.L.)
| | - Shumiao Bai
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; (D.L.); (Z.Q.); (M.W.); (D.K.); (Q.Z.); (S.B.); (S.L.)
| | - Siyu Lin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; (D.L.); (Z.Q.); (M.W.); (D.K.); (Q.Z.); (S.B.); (S.L.)
| | - Zhifeng Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; (D.L.); (Z.Q.); (M.W.); (D.K.); (Q.Z.); (S.B.); (S.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya 572000, China
| | - Yubin Ma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; (D.L.); (Z.Q.); (M.W.); (D.K.); (Q.Z.); (S.B.); (S.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wu ZQ, Li K, Ma JK, Huang Q, Tian X, Li ZJ. Antioxidant activity of organic sulfides from fresh Allium macrostemon Bunge and their protective effects against oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Food Biochem 2020; 44:e13447. [PMID: 32910481 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.13447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Long-stamen chive (Allium macrostemon Bunge; AMB), which is prevalent in the Wuling Mountain area of China, is a characteristic food of the nation. In the study, we evaluated the as-yet-unknown nutritional value and antioxidant activity of fresh AMB. The free amino acid content, volatile components, and free radical-scavenging capacity of isolated organic sulfides were analyzed to evaluate the qualitative and physiological properties of fresh AMB. The plant was found to be rich in free essential amino acids and contain multiple flavor-imparting amino acids. The organic sulfides showed an apparent free radical-scavenging activity in vitro. Furthermore, these sulfides alleviated oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans. Notably, the organic sulfides isolated from AMB enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase; improved motility; and extended the lifespan in oxidative stress-affected nematodes. In conclusion, our study indicates that AMB is a nutritious vegetable with potential to be developed as a functional food. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Long-stamen chive is a wild edible vegetable belonging to the genus Allium (A. macrostemon Bunge; AMB). However, its quality and physiological properties have not been comprehensively investigated. Herein, we analyzed the free amino acid content, composition of volatile compounds, and potential antioxidative properties of AMB. Our results indicated that AMB is rich in essential amino acids, making it a highly nutritious food. Further analysis indicated that AMB contains a high proportion of organic sulfides, which have been previously been shown to have antioxidative properties. Together, our findings indicate that AMB contains important bioactive components and can be developed as a functional food or health supplement. Furthermore, our findings will enhance public awareness regarding this wild resource and provide new directions for the research and development of natural products derived from it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Qin Wu
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, PR China.,National Engineering Center of Plant Functional Components Utilization, Changsha, PR China
| | - Ke Li
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, PR China.,National Engineering Center of Plant Functional Components Utilization, Changsha, PR China
| | - Jin-Kui Ma
- School of Food & Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, PR China
| | - Qing Huang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, PR China.,National Engineering Center of Plant Functional Components Utilization, Changsha, PR China
| | - Xing Tian
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, PR China.,National Engineering Center of Plant Functional Components Utilization, Changsha, PR China.,College of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, PR China
| | - Zong-Jun Li
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, PR China.,National Engineering Center of Plant Functional Components Utilization, Changsha, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Qi G, Yu N, Xu K, Xie X, Mao Y, Chen X, Ran X, Chen X, Lin G, Hu C. Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Bcl-xl: transcriptional regulation and anti-apoptosis analysis. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2020; 46:483-500. [PMID: 31836954 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-019-00668-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Bcl-xl, Bax2, and NF-κB are well-known to be involved in anti-apoptosis response. Although Bcl-xl has been reported in fish, the NF-κB-mediated regulatory mechanism and anti-apoptotic function are still unclear. Here, we cloned and characterized the full-length cDNA sequence of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Bcl-xl (CiBcl-xl) and its promoter region sequence. The full-length cDNA of CiBcl-xl is 2836 bp with an ORF of 627 bp encoding a polypeptide of 208 amino acids. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that CiBcl-xl shared high homology with Dario rerio Bcl-xl (DrBcl-xl). After stimulation with Poly I:C, the expression of CiBcl-xl in CIK cells and various tested tissues of grass carp were significantly upregulated. To further understand the transcriptional control of fish Bcl-xl induced by NF-κB, CiC-rel and Cip65 were expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 and purified by affinity chromatography with the Ni-NTA His-Bind resin. In vitro, gel mobility shift assays demonstrated the high affinity of CiC-rel and Cip65 with CiBcl-xl promoter. Dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that CiC-rel and Cip65 activated CiBcl-xl promoter. Also, knockdown of CiC-rel and Cip65 reduced the expression of Bcl-xl. Therefore, similar to those of mammals, fish C-rel and p65 can upregulate the transcription of Bcl-xl. In addition, we found that overexpression of CiBcl-xl in CIK cells increased the cell activity and inhibited cell apoptosis, while overexpression of Bax2 promoted cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, co-transfection of CiBcl-xl and CiBax2 into cells can ease up apoptotic rate. To further investigate the molecular basis of synergistic effect of Bcl-xl and Bax2, we showed that Bcl-xl and Bax2 interacted with each other. The results suggested that Bcl-xl executed its anti-apoptotic function by binding to and inhibiting the pro-apoptotic activity of Bax2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guoqin Qi
- Department of Bioscience, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Ningli Yu
- Department of Bioscience, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Kang Xu
- Department of Bioscience, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Xiaofen Xie
- Department of Bioscience, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Yuexin Mao
- Department of Bioscience, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioscience, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Xiaoqin Ran
- Department of Bioscience, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Xingxing Chen
- Department of Bioscience, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Gang Lin
- Department of Bioscience, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
| | - Chengyu Hu
- Department of Bioscience, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zhang L, Cui W, Chen Q, Ren Q, Zhu Y, Zhang Y. Thymosin-β12 characteristics and function in Urechis unicinctus. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 239:110366. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2019.110366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
9
|
Oh HY, Kim CH, Go HJ, Park NG. Isolation of an invertebrate-type lysozyme from the nephridia of the echiura, Urechis unicinctus, and its recombinant production and activities. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 79:351-362. [PMID: 29753144 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2018.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Invertebrates, unlike vertebrates which have adaptive immune system, rely heavily on the innate immune system for the defense against pathogenic bacteria. Lysozymes, along with other immune effectors, are regarded as an important group in this defense. An invertebrate-type (i-type) lysozyme, designated Urechis unicinctus invertebrate-type lysozyme, Uu-ilys, has been isolated from nephridia of Urechis unicinctus using a series of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and ultrasensitive radial diffusion assay (URDA) as a bioassay system. Analyses of the primary structure and cDNA cloning revealed that Uu-ilys was approximately 14 kDa and composed of 122 amino acids (AAs) of which the precursor had a total of 160 AAs containing a signal peptide of 18 AAs and a pro-sequence of 20 AAs encoded by the nucleotide sequence of 714 bp that comprises a 5' untranslated region (UTR) of 42 bp, an open reading frame (ORF) of 483 bp, and a 3' UTR of 189 bp. Multiple sequence alignment showed Uu-ilys has high homology to i-type lysozymes from several annelids. Relatively high transcriptional expression levels of Uu-ilys was detected in nephridia, anal vesicle, and intestine. The native Uu-ilys exhibited comparable lysozyme enzymatic and antibacterial activities to hen egg white lysozyme. Collectively, these data suggest that Uu-ilys, the isolated antibacterial protein, plays a role in the immune defense mechanism of U. unicinctus. Recombinant Uu-ilys (rUu-ilys) produced in a bacterial expression system showed significantly decreased lysozyme lytic activity from that of the native while its potency on radial diffusion assay detecting antibacterial activity was retained, which may indicate the non-enzymatic antibacterial capacity of Uu-ilys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hye Young Oh
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Fisheries Sciences, Pukyong National University, 45 Yongso-ro, Nam-gu, Busan, 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan-Hee Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Fisheries Sciences, Pukyong National University, 45 Yongso-ro, Nam-gu, Busan, 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Jin Go
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Fisheries Sciences, Pukyong National University, 45 Yongso-ro, Nam-gu, Busan, 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam Gyu Park
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Fisheries Sciences, Pukyong National University, 45 Yongso-ro, Nam-gu, Busan, 48513, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|