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Nicosia A, Bennici C, Biondo G, Costa S, Di Natale M, Masullo T, Monastero C, Ragusa MA, Tagliavia M, Cuttitta A. Characterization of Translationally Controlled Tumour Protein from the Sea Anemone Anemonia viridis and Transcriptome Wide Identification of Cnidarian Homologues. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9010030. [PMID: 29324689 PMCID: PMC5793182 DOI: 10.3390/genes9010030] [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: 11/10/2017] [Revised: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene family encoding translationally controlled tumour protein (TCTP) is defined as highly conserved among organisms; however, there is limited knowledge of non-bilateria. In this study, the first TCTP homologue from anthozoan was characterised in the Mediterranean Sea anemone, Anemonia viridis. The release of the genome sequence of Acropora digitifera, Exaiptasia pallida, Nematostella vectensis and Hydra vulgaris enabled a comprehensive study of the molecular evolution of TCTP family among cnidarians. A comparison among TCTP members from Cnidaria and Bilateria showed conserved intron exon organization, evolutionary conserved TCTP signatures and 3D protein structure. The pattern of mRNA expression profile was also defined in A. viridis. These analyses revealed a constitutive mRNA expression especially in tissues with active proliferation. Additionally, the transcriptional profile of A. viridis TCTP (AvTCTP) after challenges with different abiotic/biotic stresses showed induction by extreme temperatures, heavy metals exposure and immune stimulation. These results suggest the involvement of AvTCTP in the sea anemone defensome taking part in environmental stress and immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Nicosia
- National Research Council-Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR), Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Via del mare, 91021 Torretta Granitola (TP), Sicily, Italy.
| | - Carmelo Bennici
- National Research Council-Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR), Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Via del mare, 91021 Torretta Granitola (TP), Sicily, Italy.
| | - Girolama Biondo
- National Research Council-Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR), Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Via del mare, 91021 Torretta Granitola (TP), Sicily, Italy.
| | - Salvatore Costa
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Sicily, Italy.
| | - Marilena Di Natale
- National Research Council-Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR), Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Via del mare, 91021 Torretta Granitola (TP), Sicily, Italy.
| | - Tiziana Masullo
- National Research Council-Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR), Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Via del mare, 91021 Torretta Granitola (TP), Sicily, Italy.
| | - Calogera Monastero
- National Research Council-Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR), Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Via del mare, 91021 Torretta Granitola (TP), Sicily, Italy.
| | - Maria Antonietta Ragusa
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Sicily, Italy.
| | - Marcello Tagliavia
- National Research Council-Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR), Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Via del mare, 91021 Torretta Granitola (TP), Sicily, Italy.
| | - Angela Cuttitta
- National Research Council-Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR), Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Via del mare, 91021 Torretta Granitola (TP), Sicily, Italy.
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Pinkaew D, Fujise K. Fortilin: A Potential Target for the Prevention and Treatment of Human Diseases. Adv Clin Chem 2017; 82:265-300. [PMID: 28939212 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Fortilin is a highly conserved 172-amino-acid polypeptide found in the cytosol, nucleus, mitochondria, extracellular space, and circulating blood. It is a multifunctional protein that protects cells against apoptosis, promotes cell growth and cell cycle progression, binds calcium (Ca2+) and has antipathogen activities. Its role in the pathogenesis of human and animal diseases is also diverse. Fortilin facilitates the development of atherosclerosis, contributes to both systemic and pulmonary arterial hypertension, participates in the development of cancers, and worsens diabetic nephropathy. It is important for the adaptive expansion of pancreatic β-cells in response to obesity and increased insulin requirement, for the regeneration of liver after hepatectomy, and for protection of the liver against alcohol- and ER stress-induced injury. Fortilin is a viable surrogate marker for in vivo apoptosis, and it plays a key role in embryo and organ development in vertebrates. In fish and shrimp, fortilin participates in host defense against bacterial and viral pathogens. Further translational research could prove fortilin to be a viable molecular target for treatment of various human diseases including and not limited to atherosclerosis, hypertension, certain tumors, diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, hepatic injury, and aberrant immunity and host defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Decha Pinkaew
- University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Ken Fujise
- University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States; The Institute of Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States.
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Gu MM, Kong JR, Peng T, Xie CY, Yang KY, Liu Y, Wang WN. Molecular characterization and function of the Prohibitin2 gene in Litopenaeus vannamei responses to Vibrio alginolyticus. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 67:177-188. [PMID: 27756688 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2016.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Revised: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Prohibitin2 (PHB2), a potential tumor suppressor protein, plays important roles in inhibition of cell cycle progression, transcriptional regulation, apoptosis and the mitochondrial respiratory chain. To explore its potential roles in crustaceans' immune responses we have identified and characterized LvPHB2, a 891 bp gene encoding a 297 amino acids protein in the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Expression analyses showed that LvPHB2 is expressed in all examined tissues, and largely present in cytoplasm, correlating with its known anti-oxidation function in mitochondria. Luciferase reporter assays showed that over-expression of LvPHB2 could activate the p53 pathway, indicating that it might participate in apoptosis regulation. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that infection with Vibrio alginolyticus induces its up-regulation in hepatopancreas. Moreover, RNAi knock-down of LvPHB2 in vivo raises mortality rates of L. vannamei infected by V. alginolyticus, and affects expression of STAT3, Caspase3 and p53 genes. We found significantly higher reactive oxygen species production, DNA damage and apoptosis rates in LvPHB2-silenced shrimp challenged with V. alginolyticus than in controls injected with a Green Fluorescent Protein-silencing construct. Our results suggest that LvPHB2 plays a vital role in shrimp responses to V. alginolyticus infection through its participation in regulation of oxidants and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Mei Gu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Jing-Rong Kong
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Ting Peng
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Chen-Ying Xie
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Kai-Yuan Yang
- Guangdong Experimental School, Guangzhou 510375, PR China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Wei-Na Wang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China.
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Suppression of intestinal immunity through silencing of TCTP by RNAi in transgenic silkworm, Bombyx mori. Gene 2015; 574:82-7. [PMID: 26302749 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.07.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Intestinal immune response is a front line of host defense. The host factors that participate in intestinal immunity response remain largely unknown. We recently reported that Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein (BmTCTP) was obtained by constructing a phage display cDNA library of the silkworm midgut and carrying out high throughput screening of pathogen binding molecules. To further address the function of BmTCTP in silkworm intestinal immunity, transgenic RNAi silkworms were constructed by microinjection piggBac plasmid to Dazao embryos. The antimicrobial capacity of transgenic silkworm decreased since the expression of gut antimicrobial peptide from transgenic silkworm was not sufficiently induced during oral microbial challenge. Moreover, dynamic ERK phosphorylation from transgenic silkworm midgut was disrupted. Taken together, the innate immunity of intestinal was suppressed through disruption of dynamic ERK phosphorylation after oral microbial infection as a result of RNAi-mediated knockdown of midgut TCTP in transgenic silkworm.
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Cha GH, Wang WN, Peng T, Huang MZ, Liu Y. A Rac1 GTPase is a critical factor in the immune response of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) to Vibrio alginolyticus infection. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 51:226-237. [PMID: 25892021 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2015.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Revised: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The small GTPase Rac1 acts as a molecular switch for signal transduction that regulates various cellular functions. However, its functions in crustaceans remain unclear. In this study, a cDNA encoding a RAS GTPase (LvRac1) in the Pacific white shrimp (L. vannamei) was identified and characterized. A recombinant variant of this GTPase, rLvRac1, was expressed in the model organism P. pastoris and its expression was confirmed by mass spectrometry. Biochemical assays indicated that the recombinant protein retained GTPase activity and was expressed in all of the organism's tested tissues. Injection of the bacterium V. alginolyticus into L. vannamei induced hepatopancreatic upregulation of LvRac1 expression. Moreover, knocking down LvRac1 in vivo significantly reduced the expression of the L. vannamei p53 and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase genes (Lvp53 and LvCu/Zn SOD, respectively) while increasing that of the galectin gene (Lvgal). Hemolymph samples from control and LvRac1-silenced L. vannamei individuals were analyzed by flow cytometry, revealing that the latter exhibited significantly reduced respiratory burst activity and total hemocyte counts. Cumulative mortality in shrimp lacking LvRac1 was significantly greater than in control groups following V. alginolyticus challenge. The silencing of LvRac1 by double-stranded RNA injection thus increased the V. alginolyticus challenge sensitivity of L. vannamei and weakened its bacterial clearance ability in vivo. Suppressing LvRac1 also promoted the upregulation of Lvp53, LvCu/ZnSOD, and Lvgal following V. alginolyticus injection. Taken together, these results suggest that LvRac1 is important in the innate immune response of shrimp to V. alginolyticus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui-Hong Cha
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Wei-Na Wang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China.
| | - Ting Peng
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Ming-Zhu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
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