Positive Acute Protein Research Articles

CDNA cloning and expression characterization of serum transferrin gene from oriental weatherfish Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

In this study, the cDNA coding serum transferrin (stf) of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (mastf) was cloned. mastf cDNA is composed of 2326 bp with a 2007 bp open reading frame encoding 668 amino acids. The deduced Mastf protein consists of a signal peptide, two lobes (N and C-lobes) and signature motifs of transferrin (Tf) family. The results of tissue distribution indicated that mastf mRNA was predominantly expressed in the liver. The results indicate that the mastf expression increased significantly in liver, blood, spleen and head kidney after the challenge with Aeromonas sobria, acting as a positive acute protein, suggesting that mastf is related to the immune response. The cloning and expression analysis of mastf further demonstrates the evolutionary conservation of Stf and immune function in vertebrates.

Cloning and expression characterization of the serum transferrin gene in the Chinese black sleeper (Bostrichthys sinensis)

In this study, the gene encoding serum transferrin (STF) in the Chinese black sleeper (Bostrichthys sinensis) was cloned and sequenced. The full BsSTF cDNA is 2324bp in length with an open reading frame (ORF) of 2067bp encoding 688 amino acids and has 47.1%–65.7% identity with other fish homologues. The BsSTF genomic DNA is composed of 17 exons and 16 introns and is well conserved with respect to other vertebrate species in the number of exons and in the position of introns. The expression of the BsSTF mRNA was examined in all tissues tested including liver, blood, muscle, spleen, stomach, skin, intestine, brain, head kidney, fin, gill and gonad, with the highest expression levels found in the liver. Temporal transcriptional changes of BsSTF during embryonic development of the Chinese black sleeper were detected, and the results showed a substantial decrease in the early stages, from the cleavage stage to the blastula stage, reaching minimum levels at the blastula stage and increasing gradually until the pre-hatching stage, indicating that BsSTF is likely an important factor in early embryonic development. After infection with Vibrio harveyi, BsSTF expression was found to increase mainly in the liver and stomach, acting as a positive acute protein, suggesting that BsSTF is involved in the immune response.