Two carboxypeptidase counterparts from rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus): Molecular characterization, genomic arrangement and immune responses upon pathogenic stresses

Abstract

Carboxypeptidases (CPs) are proteases that hydrolyze C-terminal peptide bonds. They are involved in regulating the complement system of the immune system. Here, we report the molecular characterization and immune response of two carboxypeptidases, named carboxypeptidase A (Rb-CPA) and carboxypeptidase N1 (Rb-CPN1), from rock bream. The genomic sequence of Rb-CPA contains 12 exons interrupted by 11 introns, while the genomic sequence of Rb-CPN1 has 9 exons and 8 introns. The cDNA sequence of Rb-CPA encodes a 421-amino-acid (AA) polypeptide (48kDa), and the cDNA of Rb-CPN1 encodes a 448-AA polypeptide (51kDa). The amino acid sequences of Rb-CPA and Rb-CPN1 were found to harbor two characteristic Zn-binding signature domains and a peptidase-M14 Zn carboxypeptidase site. Pairwise analysis revealed that Rb-CPA and Rb-CPN1 had the highest identity with the corresponding proteins from Anoplopoma fimbria (87.6%) and Dicentrarchus labrax (96.9%), respectively. qPCR results indicated that Rb-CPA and Rb-CPN1 were constitutively expressed mainly in the kidney, heart, liver, and head kidney. Both genes were transcriptionally regulated in the liver upon challenge with pathogenic bacteria (Streptococcus iniae, Edwardsiella tarda), rock bream iridovirus (RBIV), and the immune modulators polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid and lipopolysaccharide. Taken together, our findings suggest that Rb-CPA and Rb-CPN1 have immune-related functions in rock bream.