Isolation of a novel LPS-induced component of the ML superfamily in Ciona intestinalis. Issue 1 (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vizzini, Aiti; Bonura, Angela; Longo, Valeria; Sanfratello, Maria Antonietta; Parrinello, Daniela; Cammarata, Matteo; Colombo, Paolo
• Is Part Of: Developmental and comparative immunology. Volume 53:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 70
• Page End: 78
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Immunology -- Periodicals; Developmental immunology -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2015.06.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-305X

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="abs0010"> <title id="sectitle0010">Abstract</title> <sec> <p id="abspara0010">ML superfamily represents a group of proteins playing important roles in lipid metabolism and innate immune response. In this study, we report the identification of the first component of the ML superfamily in the invertebrate <italic>Ciona intestinalis</italic> by means of a subtractive hybridization strategy. Sequence homology and phylogenetic analysis showed that this protein forms a specific clade with vertebrate components of the Niemann-Pick type C2 protein and, for this reason, it has been named <italic>Ci</italic>-NPC2. The putative <italic>Ci</italic>-NPC2 is a 150 amino acids long protein with a short signal peptide, seven cysteine residues, three putative lipid binding site and a three-dimensional model showing a characteristic β-strand structure. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that the <italic>Ci</italic>-NPC2 protein is positively upregulated after LPS inoculum with a peak of expression 1 h after challenge. Finally, <italic>in-situ</italic> hybridization demonstrated that the <italic>Ci</italic>-NPC2 protein is preferentially expressed in hemocytes inside the vessel lumen.</p> </sec> </abstract>