Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2016, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (5): 29-37.doi: 10.11978/2015155CSTR: 32234.14.2015155

• Marine Biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Gene cloning and analysis of a novel C-type lectin PhLecA from Panulirus homaus

LI Bin, LIANG Huafang, CHAN Siuming, HUANG Qixing, CHENG Zhifen, CHEN Shikun   

  1. Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
  • Received:2015-12-24 Online:2016-08-29 Published:2016-09-22
  • Contact: Corresponding author: LIANG Huafang. E-mail: hfliang@126.com
  • Supported by:
    Foundation item: This study funded by the Special Project of Science and Technology for Marine Fisheries of Guangdong Province (A201208D04)

Abstract: C-type lectins (CTLs) are a large family of proteins that exist in all deuterostomia. CTLs can bind to carbohydrate moieties normally in a calcium-dependent manner and play important roles in immune defense. The cDNA sequence of Panulirus homaus LecA (PhLecA) was obtained using rapid amplification of cDNA ends method (RACE). The full-length cDNA sequence of PhLecA was 863 bp, which contained a 729 bp complete open reading frame (ORF) encoding 243 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of PhLecA had a signal peptide containing 17 amino acid residues and a carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). RT-PCR analysis showed that the mRNA of PhLecA was widely distributed in various tissues in the embryonic period and the larval stage, with highest expression in hepatopancreas and then in stomach, intestine and eye pigment formation stage. Real-time PCR analysis indicated that PhLecA transcripts level showed significant change in hepatopancreas after the lobster was artificially challenged with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and Vibrio harveyi, the overall change trend of PhLecA transcripts first went up, and then went down to normal level. The results suggested that PhLecA might be involved in the immune response against virus and bacterial.

Key words: Panulirus homaus, C-type lectin, gene cloning, tissue distribution, immune response