Target of rapamycin (TOR) inFenneropenaeus chinensis: cDNA cloning, characterization, tissue expression and response to amino acids

Abstract

Target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase is a central cell growth controller that integrates a wide array of extracellular and intracellular signals to regulate cell growth. In this study, the TOR gene of Fenneropenaeus chinensis, an important aquatic species in China, was cloned and characterized. The cDNA of fch-TOR comprises 7638 bp and contains a 7389-bp open reading frame, which encodes a peptide of 2462 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of fch-TOR contains the characteristic rapamycin-binding domain and PI3Kc domain. The fch-TOR gene was mainly expressed in muscles. When leucine or arginine was supplied to hungry shrimps, the expression of fch-TOR was significantly enhanced and the phosphorylation of protein factors including fch-TOR and S6K1 in the TOR signalling pathway was significantly promoted. The results indicated that leucine and arginine could stimulate the expression of fch-TOR and activate the TOR signalling pathway and that the gene transcription response lagged behind protein phosphorylation.