Characterization and expression analysis of a chitinase gene (PmChi-4) from black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) under pathogen infection and ambient ammonia nitrogen stress. Issue 62 (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Kaimin; Zhou, Falin; Huang, Jianhua; Yang, Qibin; Jiang, Song; Qiu, Lihua; Yang, Lishi; Zhu, Caiyan; Jiang, Shigui
• Is Part Of: Fish & shellfish immunology. Issue 62(2017)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 40
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Penaeus monodon -- Chitinase -- Vibrio harveyi -- Streptococcus agalactiae -- Ammonia nitrogen stress; Fishes -- Immunology -- Periodicals; Shellfish -- Immunology -- Periodicals; Poissons -- Immunologie -- Périodiques; Crustacés -- Immunologie -- Périodiques; 571.9617
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.01.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-4648

Abstract

Abstract: Chitinase is a multi-gene family, which play important physiological roles in crustaceans, involved in several biological processes, including digestion, molting and defense against viruses. In the present study, a chitinase-4 gene ( PmChi-4 ) was cloned from Penaeus monodon by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full length of PmChi-4 cDNA was 2178 bp, including an 1815 bp open reading frame (ORF) which encoded 604 amino acid residues. The predicted PmChi-4 protein was 67.7 kDa and shared 61%–88% identity with the type of Chi-4s from other crustaceans. Quantitative real-time (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that PmChi-4 was expressed ubiquitously with the high expression level in hepatopancreas. PmChi - 4 was expressed throughout the whole larvae stages, and the highest level of PmChi-4 transcripts was detected at Mysis3 stage, which indicated that PmChi-4 may be involved in larval metamorphosis. In order to know whether PmChi-4 was related to the immune response of shrimp, Streptococcus agalactiae and Vibrio harveyi were chosen to challenge the shrimp, PmChi-4 transcripts were significantly increased and reached to the maximum at 6 h in hepatopancreas and at 12 h in gill, respectively. The results suggested that PmChi-4 participated in the immune defenses to pathogen infection. Besides, the ammonia nitrogen stress treatment was also carried out, PmChi-4 transcripts were significantly decreased in hepatopancreas and gill and the result showed that PmChi-4 may be involved in ammonia nitrogen stress in P. monodon . Overall, our present study lay a foundation for further research into the biological function and regulation of chitinase in P. monodon . Highlights: A chitinase-4 gene was cloned from P. monodon by RACE method. The full length of PmChi-4 cDNA was 2178 bp, including an 1815 bp ORF. qRT-PCR was performed to study the PmChi-4 expression pattern in different tissues and larvae stages. PmChi-4 expression level increased after S. agalactiae and V. harveyi infection. PmChi-4 expression level declined after ammonia nitrogen stress treatment.