title: Characterization of cDNA encoding molt-inhibiting hormone of the crab, Cancer pagurus; expression of MIH in non-X-organ tissues.
abstract: Synthesis of ecdysteroids (molting hormones) by crustacean Y-organs is regulated by a neuropeptide, molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH), produced in eyestalk neural ganglia. We report here the molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding MIH of the edible crab, Cancer pagurus. Full-length MIH cDNA was obtained by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with degenerate oligonucleotides based upon the amino acid sequence of MIH, in conjunction with 5'- and 3'-RACE. Full-length clones of MIH cDNA were obtained that encoded a 35 amino acid putative signal peptide and the mature 78 amino acid peptide. Of various tissues examined by Northern blot analysis, the X-organ was the sole major site of expression of the MIH gene. However, a nested-PCR approach using non-degenerate MIH-specific primers indicated the presence of MIH transcripts in other tissues. Southern blot analysis indicated a simple gene arrangement with at least two copies of the MIH gene in the genome of C. pagurus. Additional Southern blotting experiments detected MIH-hybridizing bands in another Cancer species, Cancer antennarius and another crab species, Carcinus maenas.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Life Sciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wainwright
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Olohan
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D003386:Brachyura / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C012445:molt-inhibiting hormone; D004247:DNA